🎷 AotW: Jazz The Brecker Brothers - HEAVY METAL BE-BOP

[Captain Bacardi]

The Brecker Brothers
HEAVY METAL BE-BOP
Arista Records AB 4185

Released 1978

Peaked at #14 on the Jazz Album chart (1978)

Produced by Randy and Michael Brecker for Backer Productions
"East River" Produced and Arranged by Neil Jason and Kash Monet in association with the Brecker Brothers for Backer Productions

Songs:

1. East River (Jason/Monet/Mazur) - 3:37
2. Inside Out (Randy Brecker) - 9:31
3. Some Skunk Funk (Randy Brecker) - 6:59
4. Sponge (Randy Brecker) - 6:24
5. Funky Sea, Funky Dew (Michael Brecker) - 8:02
6. Squids (Randy Brecker) - 7:55
​

Musicians:
Randy Brecker - Electric Trumpet & Keyboards
Michael Brecker - Electric Tenor Saxophone
Barry Finnerty - Guitars, Guitorganizer, Background Vocals
Terry Bozzio - Drums, Background Vocals
Neil Jason - Bass, Lead Vocals
Sammy Figueroa - Percussion
Rafael Cruz - Percussion

Musicians for East River:
Neil Jason - Bass, Lead Vocals
Kash Monet - Handclaps, Percussion, Background Vocals
Jeff Schoen & Roy Herring - Background Vocals
Paul Schaeffer - Fender Rhodes
Victoria - Tambourine
Randy Brecker - Trumpet and Handclaps
Michael Brecker - Tenor Sax and Handclaps
Barry Finnerty - Guitar
Terry Bozzio - Drums
Alan Schwartzberg - Drums
Bob Clearmountain and various friends - Handclaps

Recorded live at My Father's Place, Roslyn Long Island by the Fedco Mobile Unit
Engineered by Gerald Block
Overdubs and live mixes at Sigma Sound Studios, NY
Engineered by Gerald Block
Assistant Engineers: Carla Bandini, Jim Dougherty, J.D. Stewart

"East River" recorded at The Power Station, NY
Engineered by Bob Clearmountain and Don Berman
Mixed by Bob Clearmountain
Assistant Engineers: Tom Milmore, Neal Dorfsman
Remixed at House of Music, West Orange, NJ
Engineered by Ron Bacchiocchi

Art Direction: Donn Davenport
Handlettering: Ray Barber
Photography: Owen Brown
Michael Brecker's Space Shirt by Larry Le Gaspi
Additional Photography: Ed Caraeff


Available at Amazon.com (with song samples): http://www.amazon.com/Heavy-Metal-Be-Bop-Brecker-Brothers/dp/B000QCQ7AY/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1393719618&sr=1-2&keywords=brecker brothers



Capt. Bacardi

 

[Dave]

A fair, somewhat failed, sometimes feeble, a bit fey, kind'a frayed, but at least not really fatal stab at a Live set by The Bros. Brecker...

Nothing much Heavy Metal about this, though--and of course it's "East River" that is this LP's really only redemption...

It's mostly a modest, but slow-paced outing, w/ a few solos but otherwise very little high-lights, other than Neil Jason singing out about NYC's famous river (of which you'd have to "go at least 40-miles westward, before there's any water", so the Locals tend to joke)...


-- Dave

 

[Captain Bacardi]

Wow, I couldn't disagree more!

This is by far the hippest and strongest album the Brecker Brothers ever did. Aside from their debut album I never really cared for their LPs since most of them were in the disco-ish vein. But this album was a huge shot of redemption. I remember when I was at Berklee it was hard to find any student who didn't have this album in their collection. It was kind of a musician's wet dream album, so to speak.

"East River" is the only studio cut that has an engaging vamp on the chorus, although I must admit the mix of this song could've been better. The live cuts show the high intensity of the Breckers, who played more than "a few solos". "Inside Out" is pretty much a blues jam that has Randy playing his best solo of the album. The Brecker standard "Skunk Funk" is done at a ridiculous tempo where Michael is just lights out on tenor. "Sponge" has a slight TJB chorus to it and Michael gets some well-deserved solo space on his "Funky Sea". Both Breckers add some electronic gadgets on some of their solos to keep the electric vibe going. This is an album where I wish I was in the audience, because I was in awe of this when it first came out and I still get that feeling to this day.



Capt. Bacardi