Randy Brecker with Michael Brecker

Some Skunk Funk: Live At Leverkusener Jazztage

Telarc Jazz  SACD-63647

            The Brecker Brothers - trumpeter Randy Brecker and his younger brother, saxophonist Michael Brecker - have been a mainstay of the funk-jazz movement since the mid-1970s. The Brothers are back together again on Some Skunk Funk (Telarc Jazz), this time performing expanded big band arrangements of familiar Brecker Brothers tunes. Recorded live in Cologne, Germany, in November 2003, captures Randy and Michael in a rare concert form with Germany's WDR Big Band, conducted by Vince Mendoza. 

Brecker's project has been nominated for Grammy gold in two categories at the 49th Grammy Awards set for Feb.11 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles:  Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album and Best Jazz Instrumental Solo. Also competing for top honors in the Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album field are Bob Brookmeyer New Art Orchestra (Spirit Music - ArtistShare); Joe Lovano Ensemble (Streams Of Expression - Blue Note Records); Mingus Big Band (Live In Tokyo At The Blue Note - Sunnyside/Sue Mingus Music); and The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra (Up From The Skies: Music Of Jim McNeely - Planet Arts Recordings).  (See 2007 Grammy Nominations)

Michael Brecker, an 11-time Grammy Award winner, who passed away January 13 from leukemia at age 57,  has been nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo for his titanic tenor work on the tune, Some Skunk Funk. Other competitors in that same category include Paquito D'Rivera on Paq Man from the CD, From The Heart (Hilario Duran And His Latin Jazz Big Band - Alma Records); pianist Taylor Eigsti on Freedom Jazz Dance  from Lucky To Be Me - Concord Jazz); drummer Roy Haynes on Hippidy Hop from Whereas - Dreyfus Jazz); and saxophonist Branford Marsalis on Hope from Braggtown - Marsalis Music/Rounder). (See 2007 Grammy Nominations)

The ten-track disc features eight Randy Brecker compositions spanning the past 30 years, including the title track, Sponge, And Then She Wept and Levitate.

The project was inspired by the presence of the WDR Big Band, which is powered by former Weather Report drummer Peter Erskine and anchored by Bassist Will Lee (an original Brecker Brothers band mate).

Track selections:  Some Skunk Funk, Sponge, Shanghigh, Wayne Out, And Then She Wept, Starp-Hangin', Let It Go, Freefall, Levitate, Song For Barry.

Recorded live on November 11, 2003, during the Leverkusener Jazztage at the Forum, Leverkusen, Cologne, Germany.

- Stephen Fratallone/Jazz Connection Magazine

Rating:  ****

*****