The Brecker Brothers - 1975 - The Brecker Brothers

The Brecker Brothers

1975 

The Brecker Brothers

01. Some Skunk Funk (5:50)
02. Sponge (4:05)
03. A Creature Of Many Faces (7:41)
04. Twilight (5:44)
05. Sneakin' Up Behind You (4:54)
06. Rocks (4:38)
07. Levitate (4:32)
08. Oh My Stars (3:14)
09. D.B.B. (4:46)

Randy Brecker / trumpet, electric trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals
Michael Brecker / tenor sax

With:
- Bob Mann / guitar
- Don Grolnick / keyboards
- David Sanborn / alto sax
- Will Lee / bass, vocals (5)
- Harvey Mason / drums
- Christopher Parker /drums (5)
- Ralph MacDonald / percussion

Randy Brecker's time with the original line-up of Blood, Sweat & Tears proved short-lived unfortunately, and I heard nothing more significant from this talented trumpeter until he joined up with brother Michael (sax) in another fleeting group called Dreams (which also included ace drummer Billy Cobham).

Eventually, however, the siblings found a more permanent gig for themselves by forming The Brecker Brothers, which released its first album back in '75.

Certainly initial comparisons to Blood, Sweat & Tears are understandable, but instead of sticking to strictly Jazz-Rock, the band also injected a healthy dose of Funk into its overall style. Heck, the vigorous and buoyant opening track is called "Some Skunk Funk"—which lives up to its name, by the way—and other flamboyant ditties such as "Twilight," "Rocks," "A Creature of Many Faces," and "Sneakin' Up Behind You" occasionally toss more Funk influences into the sophisticated song arrangements, although often blended with Jazz, Soul, and even Progressive Rock due to their general complexity. Thus, the debut album by The Brecker Brothers becomes almost a melding of Blood, Sweat & Tears with Tower of Power, only a mostly instrumental version of such.

Regardless, this debut, featuring—as one would expect—an impressive blaring-and-blazing horn section (the brothers along with the legendary David Sanborn on alto sax), plus a stunning array of Jazz-oriented backing musicians, is a thoroughly energetic and enjoyable affair, not only for "brass enthusiasts" like myself, but also for those who delight in often-intricate Jazz-Fusion material.

While it wasn't the first attempt at melding jazz, rock and funky R&B (Herbie Hancock got a head start), the Brecker Borthers took it to a whole new level of inventiveness. It was as if they were thinking "What would happen if Stevie Wonder and Thelonious Monk had a meeting of the minds.

What comes out is a fiery brew of twisty angular melodies, inspired playing, soulful Stevie Wonder-esque songcraft, frighteningly tight ensemble playing ("Skunk Funk") and a funky good time had by all. Randy Brecker's writing is one fo the most outstanding features of the disc, using lots of witty unpredictable twists, while his Coltrane-inspired brother Michael lays out huge slabs of tenor sax brilliance. Randy even lets off a poignant solo in "Twilight"

Nearly every track is a winner, even the lesser tracks are great fun. "Sneakin' Up Behind You" is their obligatory radio-play tune and it even comes up miles ahead of so much radio fare back then (1975), Randy's exxagerated vocals here are a scream not to mention that catchy melody line! "Oh My Stars" puts Randy in the lead vocal spot, though many would say "Randy, don't quit 'yer day job (trumpeting), the performance is oddly endearing with some funny lyrics and him sounding a lot like the Multiplication Bunny on ABC's Schoolhouse Rock series of yore.

Their early experiments here would be perfected on subsequent albums but there's just nothing like the first one in its raw charm!