Randy Brecker: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• Tom Harrell
• Bill Hardman
• Lew Soloff

• Lee Morgan
• Freddie Hubbard
• Clifford Brown
• David Baker
• Horace Silver
• Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers

• Marcio Montarroyos
• Kenny G

• Christos Rafalides
• Rosario Giuliani
• David Lahm
• Claudio Slon

• Carla Bley

• Dreams
• Blood, Sweat & Tears
• The Brecker Brothers

• Steve Gadd
• Don Grolnick
• David Sanborn
• Jon Faddis
• Ralph MacDonald
• Will Lee
• Michael Brecker

Born:

Nov 29, 1945 in Philadelphia, PA

Genres:

Music, Jazz Music, Bop Jazz Music, Fusion Jazz Music, Classical Music, Contemporary Jazz Music

Decades Active:

1960's|1970's|1980's|1990's|2000's

Artistic Quality

Medium

Cultural Impact

Medium

Popularity

Medium

Ratings Guide

Randy Brecker is essentially a fine hard bop trumpet soloist, but one versatile enough to fit into nearly any setting, including in the pop world, funk bands, and electronic fusion. He studied classical trumpet and attended Indiana University. Brecker was with Blood, Sweat Tears in 1967, and spent 1968-1969 playing with Horace Silver's quintet. He also appeared with the big bands of Clark Terry, Duke Pearson, Frank Foster, and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis orchestra. After playing with the early fusion group Dreams in 1969, he worked with Larry Coryell's Eleventh House and Billy Cobham, in addition to keeping very busy with studio work. He teamed up with Michael Brecker in the popular funk-oriented Brecker Brothers (1974-1979); in the 1980s often collaborated with his wife, pianist/vocalist Eliane Elias; and in the '90s toured with the reunited Brecker Brothers. But Randy Brecker still sounds best when in a freewheeling bebop combo, and fortunately he occasionally records in that type of spontaneous setting.

- Scott Yanow, All Music Guide