Wednesday, January 30, 2013

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-The Brecker Brothers

Artist:The Brecker Brothers
Song:Some Skunk Funk
Album:Sneakin' Up Behind You: The Very Best Of The Brecker Brothers




Randy Brecker and his brother Michael were at the forefront of the jazz rock fusion movement of the late 60s. In the 70s, they had a lot of success as The Brecker Brothers. Some Skunk Funk is one of their signature songs. Trumpeter Randy Brecker was born Nov. 27, 1945 in the Philadelphia suburb of Cheltenham, PA. Sax player Michael Brecker was born Mar. 29, 1949. Randy was in Horace Silver's band in the mid-60s and then was an original member of Blood, Sweat & Tears. He left when Al Kooper was fired and recorded the album Score for Solid State Records in 1969. That album was Michael's first appearance on record. They formed the jazz rock group dreams with drummer Billy Cobham, Jeff Kent and Doug Lubahn. Dreams recorded two albums but constant personnel changes and especially Cobham's departure for The Mahavishnu Orchestra killed the band. The Brecker Brothers became hot session musicians and they toured with Cobham. Randy formed The Eleventh House with guitarist Larry Coryell in 1973. When former Columbia Records head Clive Davis started Arista Records in 1975, he signed The Brecker Brothers to a contract. Their debut album was very successful. Sneakin' Up Behind you was even a hit single. Among the band members were David Sanborn, Don Grolnick, Will Lee and Sammy Figeroa. Some Skunk Funk is one of their most popular songs. They toured and recorded. But all the members were studio musicians and would come and go depending on availability. This comp is a good intro to the Arista years. Randy and Michael have both had successful solo careers but over the years they would reunite The Brecker Brothers until Michael's 2007 death. They are recommended to jazz rock fusion fans. Here are The Brecker Brothers performing Some Skunk Funk at the 1980 North Sea Jazz Festival.

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