Search - Randy Brecker :: Randy in Brasil

A tasty, colourful cocktail of jazz and latin vibes.

southgate | New York, N.Y. | 02/12/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Randy Brecker's misfortune is that he's been overshadowed for most of his career by his brother Michael, one of the most admired tenor saxophonists.

It could also be because he is the possessor of a gorgeous trumpet sound and a set of chops that allows him to make whatever he plays sound easy. In fashion or not, musicians know the elder Brecker brother's worth.

He has kept a relatively low profile since the high octane fusion heyday of the Brecker Brothers. While younger brother Mike's barnstorming appearances with Pat Metheny gave him jazz cred, the trumpeter's been content to issue the odd date as leader in between his countless studio sessions.

To some critics, he's atechnically accomplished if slightly anonymous player, and prone to the odd lapse of taste too.

On this new offering, recorded two years ago in Brazil and release only now for some strange reasons related to the music industry's market, the material is largely chosen from popular Brazilian writes including Djavan, Gilberto Gil, Ivan Lins and Joao Bosco, though Brecker's two contributions - the ballad "Guarujá" and a jazzy samba-ish "Sambop" - fit seamlessly into the program.

Ruriá Duprat (keyboards), Ricardo Silveira (guitars), Teco Cardoso (saxophones, flute), Sizão Machado (bass) and various percussionists form the basis of the accompaniment.

Randy Brecker is no stranger to Brazilian music having guested with Flora Purim, Joao Donato and Hector Martignon.

"Randy always had an interest in Brazilian music. His marriage with pianist Eliane Elias (from São Paulo) gave extra fuel to that and also brought him in contact with many of São Paulo's session musicians".

He revisits some of the Brazilian classic catalogue, breathing new life into them: when he shifts focus to more acoustic settings things get more interesting, turning out some typically attractive soloing, getting a hand from "the craftsmanship of (acoustic) pianist André Mehmari.

And then there's a wonderful participation of pianist Gilson Peranzzetta on his own composition "Fazendo Hora," maybe the highlight of this album". - Kees Shoof

Trust me, you will not grow tired of hearing this CD while listening. The musicians have so much talent, and "Randy in Brasil" truly exhibits their expertise.

The 12-track album is his first for smart Mama Records and is all live, no sequencing, no tricks, nothing but real musicians playing real music.

Everything from the songs' choice, to the production is amazing.

"Most remarkable about "Randy in Brasil" is perhaps how he places a firm stamp on the music, with a sometimes pervasive Brecker Brothers vibe despite the lack of a rhythm section on most tracks". - Allaboutjazz

Producer/Arranger Ruriá Duprat did a wonderful job to give Randy Brecker the opportunity to do his own thing in the music he loves so much: "his appreciation for Brecker's distinct horn voicings makes Lins' funky, synth bass-driven "Aiaiai" feel, in fact, as if it were drawn straight from The Brecker Brothers' songbook".

All in all,"Randy in Brazil" is as startling and inspired as anything Randy's ever cut in his long and varied career."