Michael Brecker
On Saturday January 13. 2007, jazz musician Michael Brecker past away
in a New York hospital.
Brecker, borne in 1949 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was a saxophone player who had great influence in the “jazz-rock-fusion”. This jazz style established its ground in the seventies and eighties and is a combination of jazz, rock and pop-music. Michael Brecker has been a studio musician for many years. In this period he worked with Paul Simon, Yoko Ono, Aerosmith and Dutch guitar player Jan Akkerman. Michael was also a member of the bands Deams and Steps Ahead. Together with his brother Randy, on trumpet, he formed The Brecker Brothers.
As a studio musician Michael worked on more than 900 albums and got 11 Grammy’s.
In 1987 he released his first album as bandleader. In 2001 his first balled-album Nearness of you, a cooperate project with Herbie Hancock and Pat Metheney, was released. On the North Sea Jazz Festival 2004, (The Hague, Holland), he was the Artist in Residence and during this festival he had many performances with other musicians of his own choice. Because of his illness, he was not able to perform on this annual event the following year.
In the summer of 2006 studio recording with Hancock, Metheney, Mehldau, Partitucci and DeJohnette have been made for a new. This cd will probably be released coming May.
The North Sea Jazz Cruise 2007
The North Sea Jazz Festival is proud to announce the inaugural sailing of the North Sea Jazz Cruise. Holland America’s m/s Rotterdam, will embark from Copenhagen on July 5, 2007, cruise the North Sea and the Elbe, visit major European cities, then dock in Rotterdam, where the ship will serve as a “floating hotel” for guests while they enjoy the North Sea Jazz Festival July 13-15, 2007.
Bassist/composer/producer Marcus Miller will be your host and artistic director on this cruise. On top of that he is also responsible for the musical programme on board this ship. For more info: www.northseajazz.com
Brain McKnight morning show
Smooth Jazz radio station The Wave in Los Angeles, Ca. has a new radio host.
From January 15. Brian McKnight will do his morning show on weekdays from 06.00 till 09.00 am. And his co-hostess is Pat Prescott.