The Volokh Conspiracy

[Orin Kerr, January 15, 2007 at 12:47am] Trackbacks

The Jazz World Lost Two Important Figures This Weekend,

as the influential saxophonist Michael Brecker succumbed to leukemia at the age of 57 and pianist Alice Coltrane (John Coltrane's wife) died of respiratory failure at the age of 69. Coltrane's last recording was issued in 2004; Brecker wrapped up his final album just two weeks ago, and it will be released posthumously.

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James Grimmelmann (mail) (www):

Brecker also did a great deal of studio work, playing for many rock and pop artists. I first learned the name after hearing a remarkable solo of his on Paul Simon's Concert in Central Park album.

1.15.2007 11:50am

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Q the Enchanter (mail) (www):

I can't believe I didn't know about this. He was my favorite contemporary jazz musician, bar none. The whole approach I took to jazz guitar when I was developing was pretty much grounded on how Brecker played the horn.

Interestingly, although Brecker was a tenor player, Eric Marienthal told me that Brecker once picked up an alto in front of him and started playing, and he said it was the best alto playing he'd ever heard. (And Marienthal ain't no slouch on the alto.) Brecker was also an astonishingly good jazz drummer. Just an amazing, natural talent.

1.15.2007 12:49pm

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Duffy Pratt (mail):

I'd like to throw a word in for Alice Coltrane. I wasn't current with her work, but the stuff that she did with her husband had this amazing rippling effect, like waves of sound. I liked it at least as much as the great, great stuff he did with Tyner.

1.15.2007 2:06pm