Randy Brecker
is one of the most proficient trumpeters of his generation and brilliantly shows why he has achieved this stature on
34th N Lex
. The 11-song paean to his Manhattan, NY, neighborhood is a potent, in-your-face program of
hard bop
and funky
jazz
with the likes of his brother,
Michael Brecker
, on tenor sax;
David Sanborn
on alto saxophone;
Ronnie Cuber
on baritone saxophone; and the great trombonist
Fred Wesley
. The set opens with the
free funk
and
fusion
of horn blasts and honks in different registers, which depict the hustle and bustle of
"34th N Lex."
The ensemble pulls this off without a hitch and clearly conveys the energy associated with this street corner. On
"All 4 Love,"
adds a mute to his trumpet and gives a cool tone to the swaggering
funk
of
Gary Haase
's programming and urban vocals supplied by
J Phoenix
. The
gets funkier on
"Let It Go,"
a party jam with vocal effects and prime horn playing that lends itself to the younger generation but clearly represents the talent of
masters in an awesome blowing session.
"Foregone Conclusion"
is a beautiful
ballad
that features outstanding cool harmonizing and modal synchronicity that is reminiscent of
Miles Davis
in his heydey. As a whole,
clearly outdoes himself on this one and it's clearly evident that these musical masters came to play. ~ Paula Edelstein