A Taste From "The Late Show"

You can PURCHASE this CD at: Elegant Thoughts

Michael Brecker.... Too Soon Gone....

The soundtrack:


Let's talk....

Just found out today that Jazz saxophonist Michael Brecker passed this past Saturday.

Together with his brother, trumpeter Randy in the early seventies they formed the group The Brecker Brothers. They were among my favorite groups back then and I still have great love and respect for their work.

The sountrack today, "Pick Up The Pieces" is from the 1974 album 'AWB' by the Average White Band. Michael and his brother played on this album and many others as sidemen.

'Back in the day', there were only a few horn sections that made a record worth listening to. If Tower Of Power horns were on a song, it was worth checkin' out. If the Brecker Brothers were on it, oh yeah, check it out. Likewise with James Browns' Horny Horns and Earth, Wind, and Fire.

Those early years were just the start though. It was later on that Michael Brecker really began to exercise his chops. Listen to any of his solo CDs and you'll hear a serious musician at work.

Michael Brecker will surely be missed. He was an inspiration to me as a studio sideman, and then later in life he inspired me with his thoughtful phraseology and technique.

I remember seeing him on a PBS show working with young music students. I could feel the warmth of his personality even from that distance. And I admired his dedication to his craft, and the perpetuation of the jazz tradition.

Michael Brecker - 57 years.... too soon gone.

We'll talk....

Hath Charm To Soothe....

Let's talk....

We need a soundtrack for this conversation so:



This has been such a warm winter that I almost forgot what real winter was like. Usually, here in Detroit, we would have been through two or three deep snows by now. I was complaining about how unnaturally warm it was - until yesterday.

Suddenly the the real winter weather arrived, now sitting here with the sniffles, I'm reminiscing about a love of mine who has gone away for a season.... Summertime!

So, I thought I'd share some music with you today to help you and I get over these winter blues.

I'm really looking forward to this summer in Detroit. Seems we're finally getting the hang of doing great festivals. Downtown is coming back to life, and the River Walk from downtown to Belle Isle is supposed to be finished by then.

Since the countdown to summer has already begun, and there are only 5 months and a few days till summer's start - June 23, 2007. We might as well start getting ready.

The song we're listening to as we converse is "Summertime" by Herbie Hancock, with Joni Mitchell singing from his 1998 CD 'Gershwin's World'. (That's Wayne Shorter on the horn, and Stevie Wonder on the harmonica.)

Take a few minutes and listen to the whole track, escape the grayness of winter and let your mind go back to the days of short sleeves, shorts, flip-flops, and barbecue....

These songs are just a reminder of what is coming.... Enjoy....

You know the drill by now.... JSATCS!

The Beatles with "Here Comes The Sun"


Earl Klugh - "Once Upon A Summertime"



Michael Franks - "Lady Wants To Know" (a summer night song)



Earth, Wind and Fire - "Fantasy"



And of course, anything from 'Authentic'


We'll talk....