UPDATE: MICHAEL BRECKER MEMORIAL
Tuesday, February 20th
Town Hall Theater,
123 West 43rd Street, New York City,
6:00-7:30pm,
General Admission, Public Invited,
Doors open at 5.15pm
Jazz saxophonist, music educator and recording artist. Born March 29, 1949
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
He recorded only 13 albums as leader, yet his technique was taught to more
students and emulated by more of his peers than that of perhaps any other tenor
saxophone player, and certainly any tenor player of the last 25 years. The
humble Brecker named John Coltrane as his biggest inspiration and influence.
Although he produced only 13 lead albums, his discography as a sideman
boasts over 900 albums. Brecker's the most-recorded jazz saxophonist to date. He's earned an astounding 11 Grammy awards during his
career. He was the first to win the "Best Jazz Instrumental Performance" and
"Best Jazz Instrumental Solo" Grammies two years in a row. Extremely versatile
in genre while still producing amazing jazz-flavored improvisation "on cue"
for recording sessions and concerts alike, the list of people he's recorded with
reads like a "who's who" of pop, rock and jazz. For instance, there are two
Franks (Sinatra and Zappa). There are two Jameses
(Taylor — his collaboration with Taylor lasted over 25 years
and included the use of pop vocalist Taylor on Brecker's recording of jazz
Standards —
and Brown). John Lennon and Yoko Ono. White Elephant and
The Average White Band. Carly Simon and Paul Simon.
Both of his feet firmly planted in jazz, Brecker could adapt to myriad
genres, including:
- Disco (Candi Staton), (Kiki Dee);
- Funk (Parliament Funkadelic, James Brown, Wild Cherry, Cameo, more);
- Rock/Jazz Fusion (The Brecker
Brothers, James Taylor, Larry Coryell, Dave Matthews, Bruce Springsteen, Steely Dan,
Billy Joel, more);
- and all sub-genres of jazz from Smooth Jazz to Post-Bop and
everything in-between (George Benson, Earl Klugh, Charles Mingus,
Horace Silver, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Roy Hargrove, Mark
Murphy, more.
Stars who tapped him for his services include: Ringo Starr, Michael
Franks, Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton, Donald Fagen, Dire Straits, The
Carpenters.
Musical Beginnings
Brecker and his older brother, Randy (a trumpet player and very accomplished
in his own right) grew up in a household filled with music. The boys started
playing from a young age (Michael took up the clarinet at the tender age of 6,
switching finally to tenor saxophone in high school). The Breckers' father was
an attorney who played jazz piano recreationally. Michael would often play along
with his father, or play along to records from his father's vast jazz
collection. Brecker's first idol was "Cannonball" Adderley. He'd learn the
difficult solos and commit them to memory (at that time he either couldn't or
wouldn't notate the solos but would either play them or, in his
words, "sing" them).
Michael and Randy organized a popular funk-jazz ensemble known as "The Brecker Brothers" which recorded and was popular in large venues worldwide.
The Brecker brothers were mentioned by name by Frank Sinatra in a rhyming,
musical ad-lib tribute to his band on Sinatra's recording, The Main Event
(Warner Bros.) during the cut "Mack the Knife" performed by the Quincy Jones orchestra. Also
mentioned were Newman Foster, Lionel Hampton and Quincy Jones.
"The Hardest Working Musician in Showbusiness"
Myriad musicians (as well as actors and comedians) try to earn the title
'Hardest-Working _______ in Show Biz.' Of all the jazz musicians this writer can conjure
up, Michael Brecker takes the cake, (jazz-wise), from a pure frequency of live performance
and appearance on record. Throughout most of his career (spanning three
decades), Michael Brecker recorded more often, and in a wider variety of musical
styles, than any of his peers, on any instrument. The discography
at the bottom of this writeup will make clear the tremendous variety of
performers Brecker has recorded with.
In an interview taken about ten years ago, Brecker expressed his growing
interest in the saxophone's use in the classical genre, although he never
pursued it on recording. He listed the names of three well-known saxophone
coaches with whom he'd worked in the recent past, but kept the name of his
current coach under wraps. Imagine the most emulated performer; one whose work
is included as essential to study for saxophone and jazz students alike; seeking
the aid of a coach. His response: "I need to check in with another player, who
can be objective and look at what I’m doing, at the very least from a technical
standpoint. I’m out there touring a lot on the road and sometimes begin to
develop bad habits, ever so slowly. Not only that, I just found myself wanting
some suggestions for possible things I could change. So I contacted a great
woodwind player friend of mine for coaching."
Four of the sources for this writeup cited Jazziz Magazine as best
describing Brecker's place in jazz history: "You'll find no better example of
stylistic evolution than Michael Brecker, inarguably the most
influential tenor stylist of the last 25 years."
He Put His Money Where His Mouth Was
Michael and Randy Brecker were co-owners of New York City's venerable jazz
venue "Seventh Avenue South." This is important to note because many, many jazz
musicians approach club owners and other music industry movers
and shakers and often suggest that they open a night club. Suffice it to say
that a) a jazz club is one of the most difficult entertainment venues in which
to make a profit, and b) in the business of jazz clubs, ten profit-making years
is a business home-run; most make a little money for three to five years. The problem is that
the jazz crowd is fickle. In fact, there's no such thing as just a "jazz club,"
really. Each venue becomes popular for the sub-genre of jazz that it's most
popular for presenting to its clientele. This comes first, even before
atmosphere or acoustics. Who better than a pair whose experience and versatility
seemed to please everybody, all the time, to open a jazz venue?
Until recently, jazz fans have traditionally had one favored style of
jazz — be-bop, Dixieland, swing, free jazz or whatever subdivision attracted
attention — disdaining all others. Club owners and concert producers tended
to follow the same lines, aiming at one specific element of the jazz
audience. And just as adherents of one type of jazz viewed followers of
other styles with irritation — after all, there was only one "real jazz" —
rival club owners and promoters kept their distance from each other.
— John Wilson, The New York Times
When things are easy, complacency develops ... you can book easy, safe
acts. Now we have to be creative to be competitive. There's a feeling of
excitement now, a feeling that things are happening.
— Phyllis Weisbart, jazz promoter, who took over co-ownership
of NY jazz venue "Sweet Basil" in 1982
Seventh Avenue South, as well as The Blue Note and several other venues
popped up in New York's Greenwich Village all at once in the early 1980s. Jim
Merry, founding owner of Sweet Basil, saw the unpredictable changes coming like a freight
train and sold to Ms. Weisbart and her partner, Mel Litoff in 1981. Sadly, the
club, once home to mostly bebop and swing acts, died a slow and unpleasant death
due to diversification (a two-edged sword that Ms. Weisbart attests to in the
quote hereinabove). Seventh Avenue South, perhaps merely because of the
reputation and integrity of its owners, survived the cutthroat competition in
the '80s and only shut its doors after things got too hectic for the Breckers
and they could no longer have any semblance of "hands-on" management of the
place.
Late Start Recording was Worth the Wait
Although Brecker earned the acclaim and respect of both fans and musicians
alike as a sideman during the 1970s and 1980s, it took him until 1987 to cut his
first album as leader. Michael Brecker was voted "Jazz Album of the Year"
in Jazziz and Down Beat magazines. His next lead outing, Don't
Try This At Home, earned him his first Grammy. Solo releases and a reunion
with brother Randy brought Grammys in 1994 and 1997 as well as more accolades
in the jazz press. Of note is Brecker's achievement Nearness of You: The
Ballad Book on which he gathered a "dream team" ensemble featuring Pat
Metheney (who also produced), Herbie Hancock, Charlie Haden and Jack DeJohnette.
Of course a vocalist is necessary on an album of Standard ballads. Brecker
tapped James Taylor for two of the cuts. Yet two more Grammys were added to
Brecker's collection, as well as accolades from the U.S. and Japanese jazz
press. By the way, the album was a popular hit; sales of the album topped
anything Brecker had done previously, and many albums that had held their own as
"best-sellers" until that time.
2002's Directions in Music, featuring Herbie Hancock and Roy Hargrove,
was recorded live. The Directions tour became very high-profile, selling
tickets in the hundreds of thousands. The album picked up a Grammy for "Best
Jazz Instrumental Album." Brecker's most recent album, 2004's Wide Angles,
the first to feature a big band (the 15-piece Michael Brecker Quindectet) won
two Grammys. The Quindectet sold-out tours of Japan and Europe and was very
well received in the U.S.
The Music Fades; Then Ends Tragically
Mr. Brecker, 56, was recently found to have myelodysplastic syndrome,
a form of cancer in which the bone marrow stops producing enough healthy
blood cells. His doctors say he needs a blood stem cell and bone marrow
transplant, a harrowing procedure that will be possible only if Mr. Brecker
finds a stem cell donor with a specific enough genetic match for his tissue
type. So far, they have been unable to find one from the millions of people
on an international registry for bone marrow donors.
— Corey Kilgannon, The New York Times, August 18, 2005
As fans, friends and family watched helplessly, Brecker's health began to
fail. Soon, the myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) became full-blown leukemia. His
red blood cell count was decimated by chemotherapy. Legions of new potential
donors were recruited via statements by colleagues and family to the press,
music industry promotion, and the involvement of the Jewish community (the blood
stem cells necessary for Brecker were genetically determined to most likely
come from an person with Eastern-European Jewish heritage). No donor was
found. (Donor testing, by the way, involves no needles; just a smear from inside
one's cheek. As Brecker's quest for a donor became more urgent, a charitable
organization began paying for the smears to be taken and testing performed.)
Brecker's wife and sister utilized email lists and mailing lists of major
music-industry and Jewish organizations to drum up more donor registration. A
New York-based Russian saxophonist who goes by the name "Arkady" mounted his own
tremendous effort. Arkady also details on his website the anguish of having
email recipients send him "remove from list" requests with explanations ranging
from 'I've given to enough charities' to 'I receive enough SPAM.' Some
responses displayed anger along the lines of 'there are millions of people
suffering in this world, why encourage people to help one of them who, by his
celebrity, has better means than the others to have his plight be
known.'
The Brecker family stressed many times that they'd prefer that potential
blood stem cell donors and bone marrow donors be tested to be put on the
International Donor Registry, not just Brecker's own registry. It was their way
of helping many while fighting their own private battle.
In his final interview in The New York Times, from his hospital room,
he said, "I'm functioning as if it's going to work out," and joked about his
fellow hospital patients "not liking it very much" if he were to regain the
strength to practice the saxophone for a little while each day.
Brecker passed away at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York City on
January 13, 2007.
Discography as Leader:
Swish (1980) EWCD
Cityscape (1983) Warner Bros.
Michael Brecker (1986) Impulse!
Don't Try This At Home (1988) Impulse!
Now You See It...Now You Don't (1990) GRP
Tales from the Hudson (1996) Impulse!
Two Blocks from the Edge (1997) Impulse!
Cost of Loving (1999) Jazz Door
Time is of the Essence (1999) Verve
Nearness of You: The Ballad Book (2001) Verve
Wide Angles (2003) Verve
Jazz Academy (2006) C&B Productions
Michael Brecker Band in Japan (2006) Toshiba
An incomplete discography (as sideman) culled from
www.united-mutations.com follows
the "Sources" listing below:
SOURCES:
- "Saxophonist Michael Brecker dies at age 57" by Nahal Toosi, Associated
Press (Feed - Courtesy email from The Hartford (Connecticut) Jazz Society)
1/13/07 4:52 EST
- "Michael Brecker Dies at 57; Prolific Jazz Saxophonist" by Ben Ratilff,
The New York Times January 14, 2007
- Website: www.michaelbrecker.com
(accessed 1/14/07)
- Website of Ukranian Jazz Musician "Arkady"
http://home.nyc.rr.com/arkady/jfletter.html (accessed 1/14/07)
- Website of Verve Records:
http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/artist.aspx?aid=2703 (accessed 1/14/07)
- Website of The Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music: "Talking
Saxophone with Michael Brecker: A Different Set of Sensibilities" by John
Robert Brown:
http://www.abrsm.org/?page=newsArticles/item.html&id=101 (accessed
1/14/07)
- "Not Notes, but 'Herbie's World'" by Ben Ratliff, The New York Times
June 24, 2006
- Website of Peter Van Laarhoven, United Mutations "Mike Brecker"
http://www.united-mutations.com/b/mike_brecker.htm (accessed 1/14/07)
- "His Saxophone is Silent; His Life Hangs in the Balance" by Corey
Kilgannon, The New York Times August 18, 2005 (accessed 1/14/07)
- "A New Spirit of Eclecticism in Jazz" by John Wilson, The New York
Times September 12, 1982.
The following discography omits some records and has been corrected where it
provides misinformation:
1964 MOUZON, ALPHONSE- DISTANT LOVER
1964 SILVER, HORACE: BEST OF HORACE SILVER, VOL. 2
1965 BENSON, GEORGE: THIS IS JAZZ
1969 BRECKER, RANDY: SCORE
1969 MAINIERI, MIKE: WHITE ELEPHANT
1970 MICHAEL BRECKER: DREAMS
1971 PRAIRIE MADNESS: PRAIRIE MADNESS
1972 DREAMS: IMAGINE MY SUPRISE
1972 SUNSHINE: SUNSHINE
1972 WHITE ELEPHANT: WHITE ELEPHANT
1972 CORYELL, LARRY: REAL GREAT ESCAPE
1972 SILVER, HORACE: IN PURSUIT OF THE 27TH MAN
1972 RUNDGREN, TODD: SOMETHING/ANYTHING?
1972 TAYLOR, JAMES: ONE MAN DOG
1972 BROWN, JAMES: GET ON THE GOOD FOOT
1972 WASHINGTON, GROVER JR.: HOUSE FULL OF LOVE
1972 ALLISON, LUTHER: MOTOWN YEARS 1972-1976
1972 MURPHY, MARK: STOLEN & OTHER MOMENTS
1973 FABULOUS RHINESTONES: FREEWHEELIN'
1973 PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC: STARRING CHARLIE ALLEN
1973 STARDRIVE: INTERGALACTIC TROT
1973 MURPHY, MARK: BRIDGING A GAP
1973 LENNON, JOHN: MIND GAMES MDASH>
1973 REED, LOU: BERLIN
1973 RUNDGREN, TODD: WIZARD, A TRUE STAR
1973 CROWBAR 1: CROWBAR
1973 ONO, YOKO: FEELING THE SPACE
1974 JONAH: JOHAN
1974 THOMAS, B.J.: LONGHORN & LONDON BRIDGES
1974 COBHAM, BILLY: TOTAL ECLIPSE
1974 COBHAM, BILLY: SHABAZZ
1974 AVERAGE WHITE BAND: AWB
1974 SIMON, CARLY: HOTCAKES
1974 TAYLOR, JAMES: WALKING MAN
1974 RUNDGREN, TODD: TODD
1974 WINTER, JOHNNY: JOHN DAWSON WINTER III
1974 COBHAM, BILLY: CROSSWINDS
1974 ABERCROMBIE, JOHN: WORKS
1975 CAVALIERE, FELIX: DESTINY
1975 SATTEN, STEVE: WHATCHA GONNA DO FOR ME?
1975 MARDIN, ARIF: JOURNEY
1975 ALLISON, LUTHER: NIGHT LIFE
1975 CARTER, RON: ANYTHING GOES
1975 SEBESKY, DON: RAPE OF EL MORRO
1975 COBHAM, BILLY: FUNKY THIDE OF SINGS
1975 PHILLIPS, ESTHER: WITH JOE BECK
1975 MORRIS, RUSSELL: RUSSELL MORRIS
1975 STARK & MCBRIAN: BIG STAR
1975 SIMON, CARLY: BEST OF CARLY SIMON
1975 SIMON, PAUL: STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS
1975 SPRINGSTEEN, BRUCE: BORN TO RUN
1975 BENSON, GEORGE: GOOD KING BAD
1975 PAVLOV'S DOG: SOUND OF THE BELL
1975 PHILLIPS, ESTHER: WHAT A DIFF'RENCE A DAY MAKES
1975 MURPHY, MARK: MARK MURPHY SINGS
1975 MANHATTAN TRANSFER: MANHATTAN TRANSFER
1975 BRECKER BROTHERS: BRECKER BROTHERS
1975 BRECKER BROTHERS: BRECKER BROTHERS COLLECTION, VOL. 1
1975 SANBORN, DAVID: TAKING OFF
1975 BRECKER BROTHERS: BRECKER BROTHERS COLLECTION, VOL. 2
1975 TRIUMPHANT SAX: TRIUMPHANT SAX!
1976 COLLINS, BOOTSY: STRETCHIN' OUT IN BOOTSY'S RUBBER B
1976 MATTHEWS, DAVE 2: SHOOGIE WANNA BOOGIE
1976 MURPHY, ELLIOTT: NIGHT LIGHTS
1976 ORLEANS: WAKING AND DREAMING
1976 GALE, ERIC: GINSENG WOMAN
1976 PHILLIPS, ESTHER: CAPRICORN PRINCESS
1976 CHERRY, DON: HEAR AND NOW
1976 CORYELL, LARRY: ASPECTS
1976 CORYELL, LARRY: TWIN HOUSE
1976 GREEN, GRANT: MAIN ATTRACTION
1976 LEE, JOHN 1: STILL CAN'T SAY ENOUGH
1976 SIDRAN, BEN: FREE IN AMERICA
1976 TROPEA, JOHN: JOHN TROPEA
1976 ATLANTIC FAMILY LIVE AT: ATLANTIC FAMILY LIVE AT MONTREUX
1<976 THOMAS, JOE SAX #2: FEELIN'S FROM WITHIN
1976 AVERAGE WHITE BAND: SOUL SEARCHING
1976 BLUE OYSTER CULT: AGENTS OF FORTUNE
1976 BUCHANAN, ROY: STREET CALLED STRAIGHT
1976 FRANKS, MICHAEL: ART OF TEA
1976 JOHN, ELTON: BLUE MOVES
1976 NYRO, LAURA: SMILE
1976 PARLIAMENT: CLONES OF DR. FUNKENSTEIN
1976 PARLIAMENT: MOTHERSHIP CONNECTION
1976 STARR, RINGO: RINGO'S ROTOGRAVURE
1976 TAYLOR, JAMES: IN THE POCKET
1976 TAYLOR, JAMES: GREATEST HITS
1976 BENSON, GEORGE: GEORGE BENSON COLLECTION
1976 STATON, CANDI: YOUNG HEARTS RUN FREE
1976 MANHATTAN TRANSFER: COMING OUT
1976 BRECKER BROTHERS: BACK TO BACK
1976 LEWIS, MEL: MEL LEWIS AND FRIENDS
1976 PASTORIUS, JACO: JACO PASTORIUS
1976 GALPER, HAL: REACH OUT
1976 MOFFETT, CHARNETT: NET MAN
1977 ARTFUL DODGER: BABES ON BROADWAY
1977 JEFFREYS, GARLAND: GHOST WRITER
1977 AVERAGE WHITE BAND: BENNY & US
1977 DEE, KIKI: KIKI DEE
1977 GRIMES, CAROL: CAROLE GRIMES
1977 PRATT, ANDY: SHIVER IN THE NIGHT
1977 RIVERA, SCARLET: SCARLET RIVERA
1977 SIEFERT, ZBIGNIEW: ZBIGNIEW SIEFERT
1977 SIMON, PAUL: GREATEST HITS ETC
1977 TORNADER: HIT IT AGAIN
1977 TROIANO, DOMENIC: BURNING AT THE STAKE
1977 WILD CHERRY: ELECTRIFIED FUNK
1977 TROPEA, JOHN: SHORT TRIP TO SPACE
1977 BRACKEEN, JOANNE: TRING-A-LING
1977 MAINIERI, MIKE: LOVE PLAY
1977 KHAN, STEVE: TIGHTROPE
1977 COBHAM, BILLY: INNER CONFLICTS
1977 CRAWFORD, HANK: TICO RICO
1977 TOMLINSON, MALCOM: COMING OUTTA NOWHERE
1977 EARLAND, CHARLES: REVELATION
1977 AUSTIN, PATTI: HAVANA CANDY
1977 FRANKS, MICHAEL: SLEEPING GYPSY
1977 GEILS, J. BAND: MONKEY ISLAND
1977 SNOW, PHOEBE: NEVER LETTING GO
1977 STARR, RINGO: RINGO THE 4TH
1977 OGERMAN, CLAUS: GATE OF DREAMS
1977 WILKINS, JACK: MERGE
1977 JAMES, BOB: HEADS
1977 BAKER, CHET: YOU CAN'T GO HOME AGAIN
1977 SIDRAN, BEN: CAT AND THE HAT
1978 AVERAGE WHITE BAND: WARMER COMMUNICATIONS
1978 MELANIE: PHONOGENIC NOT JUST ANOTHER PRETTY
1978 ALESSI BROTHERS: ALL FOR A REASON
1978 BABY GRAND: BABY GRAND
1978 BERNHARDT, WARREN: BLUE MONTREUX
1978 BERNHARDT, WARREN: BLUE MONTREUX 2
1978 CHINNOCK, BILL: BADLANDS
1978 FUKAMACHI, JUN: J F & N Y ALL STARS: LIVE
1978 FRISAURA, LORRAINE: BE HAPPY FOR ME
1978 HALL, JOHN: JOHN HALL
1978 HOLMES, RUPERT: PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
1978 JEFFREYS, GARLAND: ONE EYED JACK
1978 LARSEN, NEIL: JUNGLEFEVER
1978 MACDONALD, RALPH: PATH
1978 SPINOZZA, DAVID: SPINOZZA
1978 VANLEER, THIJS: NICE TO HAVE MET YOU
1978 BLUE MONTREUX: BLUE MONTREUX, VOLS. 1 & 2
1978 BLUE MONTREUX: BLUE MONTREUX, VOL. 2
1978 FARRELL, JOE: LA CATHEDRAL Y EL TORO
1978 GALPER, HAL: SPEAK WITH A SINGLE VOICE
1978 KHAN, STEVE: BLUE MAN
1978 MINGUS, CHARLES: ME, MYSELF AN EYE
1978 MINGUS, CHARLES: SOMETHING LIKE A BIRD
1978 SIDRAN, BEN: LIVE AT MONTREAUX
1978 HARRIS, ALLEN: OCEANS BETWEEN US
1978 SYMS, SYLVIA: SHE LOVES TO HEAR THE MUSIC
1978 HINZE, CHRIS: BAMBOO MAGIC
1978 GALPER, HAL: CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT
1978 BENSON, GEORGE: IN YOUR EYES
1978 BROTHERS JOHNSON: BLAM!!
1978 JONES, QUINCY: SOUNDS & STUFF
1978 PALMER, ROBERT: DOUBLE FUN
1978 SIMON, CARLY: BOYS IN THE TREES
1978 FRANK ZAPPA: ZAPPA IN NEW YORK
1978 PLAYERS ASSOCIATION: BORN TO DANCE
1978 WIZ: WIZ
1978 BLUE MONTREUX: BLUE MONTREUX
1978 BRECKER BROTHERS: HEAVY METAL BE-BOP
1978 FADDIS, JON: GOOD AND PLENTY
1978 GALPER, HAL: REDUX 1978
1978 SANBORN, DAVID: HEART TO HEART
1978 WILLIAMS, TONY: JOY OF FLYING
1978 AVERAGE WHITE BAND: WARMER COMMUNICATIONS... AND MORE
1979 BAD NEWS TRAVELS FAST: ORDINARY MAN
1979 BEAR, RICHARD T: RED HOT & BLUE
1979 BROOKLYN DREAMS: SLEEPLESS NIGHTS
1979 FOTOMAKER: TRANSFER STATION
1979 KHAN, CHAKA: CHAKA
1979 LARSEN, NEIL: HIGH GEAR
1979 LLOYD, IAN: GOOSE BUMPS
1979 LONGMIRE, WILBERT: CHAMPAGNE
1979 MACDONALD, RALPH: COUNTERPOINT
1979 MAYALL, JOHN: BOTTOM LINE
1979 PAGES: FUTURE STREET
1979 TEE, RICHARD: STROKIN'
1979 TURNER, TINA: LOVE EXPLOSION
1979 WALDEN, NARADA MICHAEL: AWAKENING
1979 COLOMBIER, MICHEL: MICHAEL COLOMBIER
1979 JOHNSON, MICHAEL: DIALOGUE
1979 SANTAMARIA, MONGO: RED HOT
1979 KHAN, STEVE: ARROWS
1979 TROPEA, JOHN: TO TOUCH YOU AGAIN
1979 BAD NEWS TRAVELS FAST: LOOK OUT
1979 AUSTIN, PATTI: LIVE AT THE BOTTOM LINE
1979 AVERAGE WHITE BAND: FEEL NO FRET
1979 JAMES, BOB: LUCKY SEVEN
1979 LOGGINS, KENNY: KEEP THE FIRE
1979 ROSS, DIANA: BOSS
1979 SIMON, CARLY: SPY
1979 GARFUNKEL, ART: FATE FOR BREAKFAST
1979 SPYRO GYRA: MORNING DANCE
1979 BROWNE, TOM: BROWNE SUGAR
1979 WATANABE, SADAO: MORNING ISLAND
1980 AKKERMAN, JAN: 3
1980 KHAN, CHAKA: NAUGHTY
1980 SCHLITZ, DON: DREAMERS MATINEE
1980 STEPS AHEAD: STEP BY STEP
1980 MITCHELL, JONI: SHADOWS & LIGHT
1980 PARLIAMENT: TROMBIPULATION
1980 STEELY DAN: GAUCHO
1980 GIBB, ANDY: AFTER DARK
1980 SIMON, PAUL: ONE TRICK PONY O.S.T.
1980 DIBANGO, MANU: GONE CLEAR
1980 BRECKER BROTHERS: DON'T STOP THE MUSIC
1980 BRECKER BROTHERS: STRAPHANGIN'
1980 METHENY, PAT: 1980-1981
1980 SPYRO GYRA: CARNIVAL
1980 WATANABE, KAZUMI: TO CHI KA
1980 BRECKER BROTHERS: DETENTE
1981 KHAN, CHAKA: WHAT CHA' GONNA DO FOR ME
1981 FOGELBERG, DAN: INNOCENT AGE
1981 GARFUNKEL, ART: SCISSORS CUT
1981 JEFFREYS, GARLAND: ESCAPE ARTIST
1981 ROSS, DIANA: WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE?
1981 SIMON, CARLY: TORCH
1981 HORNE, LENA: LIVE ON BROADWAY (LENA HORNE: THE L
1981 CHIC: TAKE IT OFF
1981 ONO, YOKO: SEASONS OF GLASS
1981 FUNKADELIC: ELECTRIC SPANKING OF WAR BABIES
1981 COREA, CHICK: THREE QUARTETS
1981 PASTORIUS, JACO: WORD OF MOUTH
1981 MAINIERI, MIKE: WANDERLUST
1981 PASTORIUS, JACO: BIRTHDAY CONCERT
1982 FINNERTY, BARRY: NEW YORK CITY
1982 STEPS AHEAD: SMOKIN' IN THE PIT: LIVE!
1982 STEPS AHEAD: PARADOX
1982 FAGEN, DONALD: NIGHTFLY
1982 FRANKS, MICHAEL: OBJECTS OF DESIRE
1982 STEELY DAN: GOLD
1982 VANDROSS, LUTHER: FOREVER FOR ALWAYS FOR LOVE
1982 CARLTON, LARRY: SLEEPWALK
1982 ERSKINE, PETER: PETER ERSKINE
1982 UZEB: FAST EMOTION
1983 MANCHESTER, MELISSA: EMERGENCY
1983 WATANABE, KAZUMI: MOBO, VOL. 1
1983 AMBROSETTI, FRANCO: WINGS
1983 DUDZIAK, URSZULA: SORROW IS NOT FOREVER...BUT LOVE IS
1983 JOEL, BILLY: INNOCENT MAN
1983 SIMON, CARLY: HELLO BIG MAN
1983 TRAMAINE: SEARCH IS OVER
1983 CARLTON, LARRY: FRIENDS
1983 KNOPFLER, MARK: LOCAL HERO
1983 STEPS AHEAD: STEPS AHEAD
1983 WATANABE, KAZUMI: MOBO, VOLS. 1 & 2
1983 WHEELER, KENNY: DOUBLE, DOUBLE YOU
1983 MULLIGAN, GERRY: LITTLE BIG HORN
1983 MOUZON, ALPHONSE: MORNING SUN
1983 JAMES, BOB: GENIE
1984 ASHFORD & SIMPSON: SOLID
1984 LENNON, JULIAN: VALOTTE
1984 REED, LOU: NEW SENSATIONS
1984 ROSS, DIANA: SWEPT AWAY
1984 SINATRA, FRANK: L.A. IS MY LADY
1984 M+M: MYSTERY WALK
1984 GIBB, BARRY: NOW VOYAGER
1984 FOOTLOOSE: FOOTLOOSE
1984 ABERCROMBIE, JOHN: NIGHT
1984 SANBORN, DAVID: STRAIGHT TO THE HEART
1984 STEPS AHEAD: MODERN TIMES
1985 FORMAN, MITCHELL: TRAIN OF THOUGHT
1985 AMBROSETTI, FRANCO: TENTETS
1985 GOMEZ, EDDIE: DISCOVERY
1985 CAMEO: WORD UP
1985 CARPENTERS: LOVELINES
1985 DIRE STRAITS: BROTHERS IN ARMS
1985 FRANKS, MICHAEL: SKIN DIVE
1985 TAYLOR, JAMES: THAT'S WHY I'M HERE
1985 BECK, JOE: JOE BECK AND FRIENDS
1985 GROLNICK, DON: HEARTS AND NUMBERS
1985 WATANABE, KAZUMI: MOBO SPLASH
1985 AMBROSETTI, FRANCO: GIN & PENTATONIC
1985 ROBERTO GATTO: NOTES
1986 DENON JAZZ SAMPLER VOL.: DENON JAZZ SAMPLER, VOL. 1
1986 WILLIAMS, PATRICK: TENTH AVENUE
1986 CLAPTON, ERIC: AUGUST
1986 JOEL, BILLY: BRIDGE
1986 TYLER, BONNIE: SECRET DREAMS & FORBIDDEN FIRE
1986 FRANKLIN, ARETHA: ARETHA
1986 SMITH, MICHAEL W.: BIG PICTURE
1986 KENIA: INITIAL THRILL
1986 KLUGH, EARL: LIFE STORIES
1986 STEPS AHEAD: MAGNETIC
1987 FOGELBERG, DAN: EXILES
1987 FRANKS, MICHAEL: CAMERA NEVER LIES
1987 SIMON, CARLY: COMING AROUND AGAIN
1987 ABERCROMBIE, JOHN: GETTING THERE
1987 BULLOCK, HIRAM: GIVE IT WHAT U GOT
1987 JAMES, BOB: OBSESSION
1987 MEMBERS ONLY: MEMBERS ONLY
1987 SANBORN, DAVID: CHANGE OF HEART
1987 STERN, MIKE: TIME IN PLACE
1987 WILLIAMS, PATRICK: 10TH AVENUE
1988 SUPERFRIENDS: TASTE OF SUPERFRIENDS
1988 AUSTIN, PATTI: REAL ME
1988 DIRE STRAITS: MONEY FOR NOTHING
1988 SIMON, CARLY: GREATEST HITS LIVE
1988 SIMON, PAUL: NEGOTIATIONS AND LOVE SONGS 1971-19
1988 TAYLOR, JAMES: NEVER DIE YOUNG
1988 IGLESIAS, JULIO: NON STOP
1988 NINE AND A HALF WEEKS: 9 1/2 WEEKS O.S.T.
1988 TUCK & PATTI: TEARS OF JOY
1988 CARLTON, LARRY: COLLECTION
1988 ELIAS, ELIANE: SO FAR SO CLOSE
1988 ERSKINE, PETER: MOTION POET
1988 OGERMAN, CLAUS: FEATURING MICHAEL BRECKER
1988 SOS ALL-STARS: NEW YORK RENDEZVOUS
1988 BURTON, GARY: TIMES LIKE THESE
1988 GRP ALL-STAR BIG BAND: GRP ALL-STARS: WNUA 95.5 : SMOOTH S
1988 GRP ALL-STAR BIG BAND: GRP ALL-STARS: WQCD : COOL SOUNDS O
1989 KNIGHT, HOLLY: HOLLY KNIGHT
1989 BELLE, REGINA: STAY WITH ME
1989 BOLTON, MICHAEL: SOUL PROVIDER
1989 KING, CAROLE: CITY STREETS
1989 LITTLE FEAT: REPRESENTING THE MAMBO
1989 STARR, RINGO: STARR STRUCK: BEST OF RINGO STARR,
1989 OCONNOR, MARK: ON THE MARK
1989 THIRD WORLD: SERIOUS BUSINESS
1989 KNOPFLER, MARK: LAST EXIT TO BROOKLYN
1989 STERN, MIKE: JIGSAW
1989 SOME OTHER TIME: TRIBUTE TO CHET BA
1989 BAILEY, VICTOR: BOTTOM'S UP
1989 BEIRACH, RICHIE: SOME OTHER TIME
1989 TOLVAN BIG BAND: COLOURS
1989 GROLNICK, DON: COMPLETE BLUE NOTE RECORDINGS
1990 TAYLOR, JAMES: BEST OF JAMES TAYLOR
1990 COLINA, MICHAEL: RITUALS
1990 EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL: LANGUAGE OF LIFE
1990 ORLEANS: STILL THE ONE
1990 SIMON, CARLY: MY ROMANCE
1990 SIMON, CARLY: HAVE YOU SEEN ME LATELY
1990 SIMON, PAUL: RHYTHM OF THE SAINTS
1990 BUTLER, JONATHAN: DELIVERANCE
1990 GROLNICK, DON: WEAVER OF DREAMS
1990 JAMES, BOB: GRAND PIANO CANYON
1990 LOEB, CHUCK: LIFE COLORS
1990 PATITUCCI, JOHN: SKETCHBOOK
1990 WECKL, DAVE: MASTER PLAN
1990 BRECKER, RANDY: TOE TO TOE
1991 AEROSMITH: PANDORA'S BOX
1991 COLINA, MICHAEL: SHADOWS OF URBANO
1991 HOLLIDAY, JENNIFER: I'M ON YOUR SIDE
1991 TAYLOR, JAMES: NEW MOON SHINE
1991 TWO ROOMS: CELEBRATING THE SONGS OF
1991 SIMON, PAUL: PAUL SIMON'S CONCERT IN THE PARK, A
1991 BEARD, JIM: SONG OF THE SUN
1991 REYNOLDS, L.J.: L. J. REYNOLDS
1991 CALDERAZZO, JOEY: IN THE DOOR
1991 METHENY, PAT: WORKS II
1991 METHENY, PAT: WORKS I
1991 OGERMAN, CLAUS: CLAUS OGERMAN FEATURING MICHAEL BRE
1992 DEWINKEL, TORSTEN: MASTERTOUCH
1992 REED, LOU: BETWEEN THOUGHT AND EXPRESSION: THE
1992 JEFFREYS, GARLAND: DON'T CALL ME BUCKWHEAT
1992 ONO, YOKO: WALKING ON THIN ICE COMPILATION
1992 ONO, YOKO: ONO BOX
1992 MANHATTAN TRANSFER: ANTHOLOGY: DOWN IN BIRDLAND
1992 FRANK ZAPPA: YOU CAN'T DO THAT ON STAGE ANYMORE, VOL. 6
1992 BRECKER BROTHERS: RETURN OF THE BRECKER BROTHERS
1992 DREAMS: DREAMS
1992 SIMON, JOHN: OUT ON THE STREET
1993 SIMON, CARLY: CARLY SIMON'S ROMULUS HUNT: A FAMIL
1993 SIMON, PAUL: BORN AT THE RIGHT TIME VIDEO
1993 NYRO, LAURA: WALK THE DOG & LITE THE LITE (RUN T
1993 SIMON, PAUL: 1964-1993
1993 DELANO, PETER: PETER DELANO
1993 THIRD WORLD: REGGAE AMBASSADORS: 20TH ANNIVERSAR
1993 GARFUNKEL, ART: UP 'TIL NOW
1993 WORLD OF CONTEMPORARY JAZZ GROUPS
1993 BLUESIANA HOT SAUCE: BLUESIANA HOT SAUCE
1993 KHAN, STEVE: CROSSINGS
1993 BLENZIG, CHARLES: SAY WHAT YOU MEAN
1993 PASQUA, ALAN: MILAGRO
1993 SILVERTSEN, KENNETH: REMEMBERING NORTH
1993 LEONHART, JAY: WITH HIS FRIENDS LIVE AT FAT TUESDA
1994 NGUINI, VINCENT: SYMPHONY-BANTU
1994 JAMES, BOB: RESTLESS
1994 SALVATORE, SERGIO: TUNE UP
1994 BRICKELL, EDIE: PICTURE PERFECT MORNING
1994 JARREAU, AL: TENDERNESS
1994 BRECKER BROTHERS: OUT OF THE LOOP
1994 HAMMER, JAN: DRIVE
1994 GRP ALL-STAR BIG BAND: ALL BLUES
1994 SANDKE, RANDY: CHASE
1994 BEACCO, MARC: SCAMPI FRITTI
1994 MILES, JASON: WORLD TOUR
1994 BRUBECK, DAVE: YOUNG LIONS & OLD TIGERS
1994 URBANATOR: URBANATOR
1995 STATON, CANDI: BEST OF CANDI STATON
1995 PARLIAMENT: BEST OF PARLIAMENT: GIVE UP THE FUN
1995 TYNER, MCCOY: INFINITY
1995 FRANKS, MICHAEL: ABANDONED GARDEN
1995 JAZZ TO THE WORLD: JAZZ TO THE WORLD
1995 MIRAMAR COLLECTION, VOL. 2
1995 SIXUN: LUNATIC TAXI
1995 MCLAUGHLIN, JOHN: PROMISE
1995 HANCOCK, HERBIE: NEW STANDARD
1995 GROLNICK, DON: MEDIANOCHE
1995 DOKY BROTHERS: DOKY BROTHERS
1995 WILLIAMS, TONY: WILDERNESS
1995 PASQUA, ALAN: DEDICATIONS
1995 COSTER, TOM: FROM THE STREET
1995 BLUE SUEDE SNEAKERS: BLUE SUEDE SNEAKERS
1995 FLYING MONKEY ORCHESTRA: BACK IN THE POOL
1995 PATITUCCI, JOHN: ONE MORE ANGEL
1996 BOLIN, TOMMY: FROM THE ARCHIVES, VOL. 1
1996 CAMEO: BEST OF CAMEO, VOL. 2
1996 LOEB, CHUCK: MUSIC INSIDE
1996 PEOPLE MAKE THE WORLD GO 'ROUND
1996 FOR OUR CHILDREN TOO: FOR OUR CHILDREN TOO
1996 MILES, JASON: MR. X
1996 BACK TO THE BASICS, VOL. 1
1996 COLE, NATALIE: STARDUST
1996 CARPENTER, KAREN: KAREN CARPENTER
1996 WALDEN, NARADA MICHAEL: ECSTASY'S DANCE: THE BEST OF NARADA
1996 WHITE, LENNY: RENDERERS OF SPIRIT
1996 INSTANT FUNK: GREATEST HITS
1996 URBANIAK, MICHAL: URBANATOR II
1996 PURDIE, BERNARD: SOUL TO JAZZ
1996 CASIOPEA: SUPER BEST OF CASIOPEA
1996 GROOVY: A COLLECTION OF RARE CLUB T
1996 FRANK ZAPPA: LÄTHER
1996 LEDFORD, MARK: MILES 2 GO
1997 LANDGREN, NILS: PAINT IT BLUE
1997 ITOH, KIMIKO: SOPHISTICATED LADY
1997 KAWASAKI, RYO: MIRROR OF MY MIND
1997 NORBY, CAECILIE: MY CORNER OF THE SKY
1997 GARFUNKEL, ART: ACROSS AMERICA
1997 TAYLOR, JAMES: HOUR GLASS
1997 RANKIN, KENNY: HERE IN MY HEART
1997 JAZZ FUSION, VOL. 1: JAZZ FUSION, VOL. 1
1997 JAZZ FUSION, VOL. 2: JAZZ FUSION, VOL. 2
1997 ORLEANS: WE'RE STILL HAVING FUN: THE BEST OF
1997 DALTREY, ROGER: MARTYRS & MADMEN: THE BEST OF ROGER
1997 ONO, YOKO: STORY
1997 RONEY, WALLACE: VILLAGE
1997 RUNDGREN, TODD: VERY BEST OF TODD RUNDGREN
1997 VANGUARD COLLECTOR'S ED: VANGUARD COLLECTOR'S EDITION SET
1997 JOEL, BILLY: GREATEST HITS, VOL. 3
1997 CTI RECORDS: THE BIRTH: CTI RECORDS: THE BIRTH OF GROOVE
1997 RCA VICTOR 80TH ANNIVER: RCA VICTOR 80TH ANNIVERSARY, VOL. 6
1997 STERN, MIKE: GIVE AND TAKE
1997 ART OF SAXOPHONE: ART OF SAXOPHONE
1997 SILVER, HORACE: PRESCRIPTION FOR THE BLUES
1997 RHODES, RICK: DEEP IN THE NIGHT
1997 BEST OF SMOOTH JAZZ: BEST OF SMOOTH JAZZ
1997 MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD & EVIL : SOUNDTRACK
1997 SPYRO GYRA: BEST OF SPYRO GYRA: THE FIRST TEN YEARS
1997 ITOH, KIMIKO: STANDARDS MY WAY
1997 FRANK ZAPPA: HAVE I OFFENDED SOMEONE?
1998 WALDMAN, RANDY: WIGGED OUT
1998 MARTHA AND THE MUFFINS / M+M: THEN AGAIN: A RETROSPECTIVE
2000 JASON MILES / VARIOUS ARTISTS: CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF WEATHER REPORT