Brecker, Michael Leonard

▪ 2008

      American tenor saxophonist

born March 29, 1949 , Philadelphia, Pa.

died Jan. 13, 2007, New York, N.Y.

was among the most active of studio musicians, playing on 900 recordings with a parade of jazz, pop, and Latin musicians that included Frank Zappa, Joni Mitchell, Funkadelic, Aerosmith, and Herbie Hancock, as well as in jazz-rock fusion groups with his brother, trumpeter Randy Brecker. Both Breckers played in the fusion group Dreams (1970–72), in Horace Silver's hard bop combo (1973), and in the Brecker Brothers combo (1975–81). His style, an adaptation of John Coltrane's, was widely influential, and he was especially noted for his work in the group Steps Ahead (1979–86). Beginning in 1987 he frequently led his own bands, recorded, and toured as a sideman in all-star units. He won 11 Grammy Awards.

* * *