Nearness Of You: The Ballad Book

Performer: Michael Brecker
Artist: James Taylor; Jack DeJohnette; Herbie Hancock; Pat Metheny; Charlie Haden
Engineer: James Farber
Producer: Pat Metheny; Steve Rodby
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Personnel: Michael Brecker (saxophone); James Taylor (vocals); Herbie Hancock (piano); Pat Metheny (guitar); Charlie Haden (bass); Jack DeJohnette (drums); Dave Samuels (percussion). Recorded at Right Track Recording, New York, New York from December 18-20, 2000. "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" won the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. "Chan's Song" won the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo. Personnel: Michael Brecker (saxophone, tenor saxophone); Pat Metheny (guitar); Herbie Hancock (piano); Jack DeJohnette (drums). Recording information: Right Track Recording, New York, NY (12/18/2000-12/20/2000). The seven-time Grammy award-winning tenor saxophonist, Michael Brecker brings an all-star band together on this first ever ballad project titled Nearness of You: The Ballad Book. Accompanied by Herbie Hancock on piano, Pat Metheny on guitars, Charlie Haden on bass, Jack DeJohnette on drums, and a special guest appearance by James Taylor, singing his sensational hit "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" and Hoagy Carmichael's "The Nearness of You," the tenor saxophonist creates rich resonant statements on 11 songs collected in two chapters and their epilogue. Brecker has updated these great songs with the addition of Pat Metheny's excellent production prowess on such great ballads as Joe Zawinul's "Midnight Mood" and the Kurt Weill-Ira Gershwin standard "My Ship." "Midnight Mood" is sensual and seductive, complete with a blithe piano solo by Herbie Hancock in the middle section. Hancock fills in the beauty of Brecker's saxophone lines on this arrangement that is partially based on guitarist Wes Montgomery's version. James Taylor sings one of the best renditions of his "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight," and it's clearly due to the excellent musicians on this CD. Pat Metheny excels as a serious jazz artist with his well thought out treatment of "Nascente," which was inspired by Gil Evans' classic 1948 arrangement for Miles Davis on Miles Ahead. Michael Brecker has clearly maintained his status as one of the best tenor saxophonists on the jazz scene, and this, his eighth CD as a leader, is well within the musical excellence previously recorded. ~ Paula Edelstein

Q (8/01, p.123) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...It's beautiful, finely hued music; and not only does Brecker's soft side prove completely convincing, but Methany and Hancock play as well as they have in an age." JazzTimes (9/01, p.93) - "...Holds together well as an hour-long romantic fire..." Mojo (Publisher) (6/01, p.110) - "...An all-star band...more or less does what it says on the tin - and delightfully - the brawn is never far below the music's sheened surface..."

As one half of the famous Brecker Brothers, saxophonist Michael Brecker defined the sound of modern electric funk-jazz in the '70s. Since the 1980s, he has been one of the most in-demand session players, appearing on hundreds of recordings in both the jazz and pop fields, and his solo albums have received several Grammys. Brecker is known for his powerful tone, monstrous chops, and endless soloing stamina. He passed away from a leukemia-related illness in early 2006.

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