Brecker trumpet brings us a set of contemporary jazz via Brazil which resulted in a Grammy win.
Randy Brecker’s Into The Sun. Not bad for a post-bop horn player who cut his teeth with groups like Blood, Sweat & Tears.
Originally published by Connect Brazil, September 6, 1997
For most of trumpeter Randy Brecker’s adult life, Brazil has been just a heartbeat away; his former wife, pianist Eliane Elias, nurtured his early passion for those intoxicating Brazilian rhythms.
With Into The Sun, Brecker has paid careful attention to the nuances of a different kind of marriage. Mating contemporary jazz with Brazil. It resulted in a nomination for this year’s Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Jazz Performance.
Not bad for a post-bop horn player who cut his teeth with Blood, Sweat & Tears, and Larry Coryell’s Eleventh House.
Into The Sun boasts an all-star cast of supporting musicians for each of its ten tracks. Saxophonist David Sanborn guests with streetwise sensibility on “The Sleaze Factor,”
Randy Brecker’s Brazilian vision
Other guests frame a proper introduction of Brecker’s Brazilian vision for US audiences, including Brazilian vocalist Maucha Adnet. Adnet’s credentials include her years as a backup vocalist with Antonio Carlos Jobim’s New Band. While she’s been included on a few lesser-known releases, Into The Sun will bring her newfound praise.
Brecker’s penchant for involved melodies often finds Adnet’s clear, flowing voice. Often paired in unison as a perfect match for his intricate horn lines. Both Brecker’s trumpet and flugelhorn are used to capture the full effect of the music. Talented keyboardist Gil Goldstein’s orchestrations make for compelling moments.
Cafe’s percussion riffs open ‘Village Dawn,’ setting the stage for Brecker’s languid tones. ‘Just Between Us’ is a Bossa ballad, delicately nesting Brecker’s melody comfortably over Adent’s always perfect vocals.
The uptempo Samba pacing of the title track, ‘Buds’ and ‘Four Worlds’ recall flashes of Freddie Hubbard or Eddie Henderson. Brecker provides just the right spice for this musical feijoada.
There’s an undeniable pop sense to Randy Brecker’s Into The Sun. It avoids the obvious clichés that many such albums gravitate toward. This CD is a true fusion of two unique and exclusively creative musical forms.
With Into The Sun, the emphasis is squarely centered on musicianship and mood.
Randy Brecker’s Into The Sun
- Into The Sun – Randy Brecker
- Village Dawn
- Just Between Us
- The Sleaze Factor
- Into The Sun
- After Love
- Gray Area
- Tijuca
- Buds
- Four Worlds
- The Hottest Man In Town
Prophecy
Growth
Realization / The Horn
Finale
Personnel: Randy Brecker (trumpet, flugelhorn), Maucha Adnet (vocals), David Sanborn (saxophone), David Bargeron (trombone), David Taylor (bass trombone, tuba), Keith Underwood (alto & bass flutes), Lawrence Feldman (bass flute), Bob Mintzer (bass clarinet), Gil Goldstein (accordion, keyboards), Adam Rogers (acoustic & electric guitars), Bakithi Kumalo (bass), Jonathan Joseph (drums), Cafe (percussion), Richard Sussman (programming).
Produced by Gil Goldstein and Randy Brecker. Recorded at Power Station, New York, December 1995. Includes liner notes by Randy Brecker.
Randy Brecker’s Into The Sun
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From The Label:
BIOGRAPHY
Randy Brecker
– By Chuck Berg
Press Release for Into The Sun
Trumpeter Randy Brecker’s love affair with Brazil comes full circle with Into The Sun. This is a compelling date showcasing the trumpeter’s innovative writing and arranging as well as his brilliant playing.
‘Conceptually,” Brecker notes, “the seeds of this album were planted in the fall of 1979… my first trip to Brazil as a member of the Mingas Dynasty.
Unlike many American jazz musicians who set foot upon Brazilian soil, I didn’t return to New York as planned. The beauty and spirit of the people, their sensibilities and love of life, kept me there many extra joyous days.
Later, my long-time relationship with Brazilian pianist Eliane Elias and her family would seal my fate. I am an addicted lover of Brazil and Brazilians. This love goes way beyond the music. Music is the heartbeat of Brazilian culture, and this album is an expression of that love… and that music.”
This is music that sizzles and sings. With its soaring melodies, crisp rhythms, and Amazonian atmospherics, there is an emotional immediacy that keeps toes tapping and fingers snapping.
It’s music whose lyrical allure and dance-inspiring insouciance is accessible to all. Brecker’s sophisticated playfulness — a quirky time shift here, a sudden melodic burst there, provides sound-of surprise delights that even the most experienced listener will savor.
Randy Brecker’s Studio Group
Brecker is among those who have set the standard for jazz trumpeting for over two decades. He is a risk-taker to be admired.
Brecker explained in the album’s notes.“With the help of producer Gil Goldstein,” “I chose musicians with whom I had never played, and barely knew. Moreover, the musicians themselves had never played together and barely knew each other.”
For fresh rhythmic finesse, “we decided to call Bakithi Kumalo, a wonderful bass player from South Africa. We called Miami drummer Jonathan Joseph, who grew up with Cuban and Latin American influences. He seemed a perfect choice for the drum chair.”
Brazilian percussionist Edson “Café Da Silva and Brazilian singer Maucha Adnet joined the band. So did keyboard wizard Gil Goldstein and versatile guitarist Adam Rogers. Brecker s simpatico percussion mates percolate with bubbling melting-pot brio.
Brecker, of course, is best known for his agile and multifaceted post-bop trumpeting.
In the world of contemporary jazz, his horn has helped lift bandstands with Horace Silver, Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, and Charles Mingus. Add Clark Terry, Joe Henderson, and the Thad Jones & Mel Lewis Orchestra to the list.
Randy Brecker’s Early Years
As a first-call studio player, Brecker‘s trumpet has energized outings by artists ranging from James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, and Parliament/Funkadelic. He’s played with David Sanborn, Jaco Pastorius, and Frank Zappa.
When it comes to cutting-edge jazz-rock Fusion, Brecker has contributed to Blood, Sweat & Tears, Larry Coryell’s Eleventh House, and Dreams.
His most visible calling card, though, is as co-founder (with brother Mike) of the celebrated Brecker Brothers Band. Established with great popularity and critical acclaim in the mid-1970s, the Brothers reunited in the mid-1990s. They won a pair of Grammies for their Out Of The Loop album (1994).
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RANDY BRECKER WINS GRAMMY AWARD
FOR CONCORD VISTA DEBUT “INTO THE SUN”
Trumpeter’s First Solo Effort in Six Years a Triumph
Randy Brecker was on stage at Ronnie Scott’s jazz club in London Wednesday night when he discovered that he was a Grammy winner.
“I was especially surprised since I thought the Grammys were held a day later!” said the trumpeter in a phone call from his hotel room in London. “I’m proud of this album and very gratified and thankful for having received this award.”
Brecker won his first Grammy as a leader (for Best Contemporary Jazz Performance), for his acclaimed jazz/Brazilian/fusion release Into the Sun (Concord Vista 4671). It was his first solo album in six years, featuring an all-star cast of U.S. and Brazilian musicians. The guest list includes Gil Goldstein, David Sanborn, Café, Bob Mintzer, and others.
Reviews
Down Beat, in reviewing Into the Sun, declared that it is an “… impressive disc… [Brecker’s] fluid lines and smart intervals grab the listener.”
Jazziz called the album “… a sumptuous collection of long-form works with evocative, oblique melodies, sonorous arrangements, and brilliant bop-tinged solos.”
Brecker is best known for his agile and multifaceted post-bop trumpeting.
His horn has been an integral and exciting part of bands led by Horace Silver, Art Blakey, and Charles Mingus. He’s played with Joe Henderson, Thad Jones & Mel Lewis and others.
Brecker’s Pioneering Horn
Brecker was also a pioneer in the jazz/rock/fusion movement, too. He brought energy to Blood Sweat & Tears, Frank Zappa, Larry Coryell’s Eleventh House, Jaco Pastorius’s Word of Mouth as well as the legendary band Dreams.
Randy and his brother Michael pushed the envelope of contemporary jazz with their celebrated Brecker Brothers band in the mid-70s. An early 90s reunion crafted two well-received albums, one of which (Out of the Loop) won pair of Grammies in ’94.
Into the Sun is the first Grammy nominee, and winner, for the fledgling Concord Vista label. Vista is a contemporary jazz-oriented subsidiary of Concord Records, Inc., now celebrating its 25th Anniversary as a premier Jazz, Latin-jazz, and Classical music label.
From Randy Brecker’s Liner Notes for Into The Sun:
Conceptually the seeds of this album were planted in the fall of 1979. It was my first trip to Brazil as a member of the Mingus Dynasty.
As was the tendency of many an American jazz musician who set upon Brazilian soil, I did not return to New York as planned. The beauty and spirit of the people, their sensibility and love of life, kept me there many extra joyous days. Later, my long-time relationship with Brazilian pianist Eliane Elias and her family would seal my fate as an addicted over of Brazil and Brazilians. This love goes way beyond the music — but music is the heartbeat of Brazilian culture and this album is an expression of that love.. .and that music.
Musical Intent
It was the intent of this project to present my impression of the music of Brazil mixed with my experiences in life and music as a North American who has traveled the world over and been influenced by many sights and sounds. To give this project the spontaneity one would find in a jazz context, with the help of producer Gil Goldstein, I chose musicians with whom I had never played and barely knew. Moreover, the musicians themselves had never played together and barely knew each
To ignite some new rhythmic possibilities we decided to call Bakithi Kumalo, a wonderful bass player from South Africa, and Jonathan Joseph, a great drummer from Miami, who growing up in the midst of Cuban and Latin American influences seemed a perfect choice for the drum chair. These elements mixed with the Brazilian styling of percussionist Edson ‘Cafe’ Da Silva and Brazilian singer Maucha Adnet along with the multi-faceted guitarist Adam Rogers and brilliant producer, arranger, pianist Gil Goldstein made for a truly original musical meeting of many cultures. I would like to thank everyone involved, for helping make this experience unforgettable and for bringing to life the sounds I had conceived.
Thank you from Randy Brecker
In closing the album, the seeds of my life are presented by my Dad, Bobby Brecker, now 80 years old- my biggest fan and influence. When I was two weeks old, he wrote, sang, played, and recorded the song “The Hottest Man In Town.” I thank him for his everlasting inspiration.
This is for you, Dad.
