Michael Brecker Recent Video

[dhampex]

Already miss him,,, there's no other mike.....!

[romainlabaye]

Who are the 2 assholes who dislike that video?? !  Michael, RIP... you're always missed...

[yambaoclub]

Thank You AKAI, i love that's instrument , regards from Cuba

[RoGuExXxAsSaSiN]

Truly the most inspiring saxophonist since Bird and Coltrane in my opinion

[Sax121Man]

how do you connect the ewi to the computer

[ewi4000]

This EWI has midi out. You'll need a midi interface. There's also a EWI USB which has no sounds on board, but you can hook it up directly to the computer via USB

[ewi4000]

Maybe you should change the title. "recent video" Mike passed away in january 2007.

Regards, Louis Gerrits

[Matcat25]

I like the Japanese Flute mode.

[wickymoo]

love the Tuvan sound

[nickr753]

The EWI doesn't have a tone, so it's silly to say that the tone is soulless-really, the EWI is no different from a non-acoustic keyboard instrument. Electronic pianos and MIDI keyboards usually drive sampled piano sounds since there's a size consideration with your typical concert grand, but anyone looking to expand their tonal possibilities with synths is going to find use for a MIDI keyboard. Mr. Brecker didn't play the keyboard, so the EWI is what he uses to expand his tonal possibilities.

[usetheforce207]

wow you guys should stop talking about stuff you havent experienced. I play saxophone and EWI. And only a good saxophonist can play an ewi, thats what its made for, the EWI is actually harder to play and takes more skill to play. You have to have just as much skill to play the EWI becuase you(not the macine) still controls what notes are played and so you still have to know as much music theory to play to different scales and rythms. The electronic part is just like a guitarist would use effects

[Modes9]

I don't know why some people can't love electric and acoustic instruments equally...

[randomking345]

it sort of depends on the instrument

[frasny14]

R.I.P. Michael....

[toptenhits]

He is very much alive

[sallenmd]

Michael Brecker died on 1/13/2007. Check Wikipedia.

[ukkelberg]

oh come on...

[Planeview99]

Michael Brecker

get down like you always do

[FrancoSandalo]

I love Michael Brecker!

[rockrhapsody123]

This sounds waaaay better than the ones from the 80s. Damn!

[eyeheartchrist]

The samples improved over time, that's for sure!

[randomking345]

good sax player, the EWI is AWFUL!!!! it sounds like crap unless your into this electrical stuff

[eyeheartchrist]

Are you expecting it to be like an acoustic instrument? Think again. It's a whole different animal. I have the same instrument displayed in this video, and I play saxophone as well. I'd do without the EWI before giving up saxophone, but I believe that the EWI allows for what a wind player can do...because there are countless amount of midi samples out there. Open your mind! :-)

[randomking345]

My mind is fairly open to such things and I understand the concept of what you're saying as it wasn't built to sound like a sax but anything you can make on your computer. I just think it's that MIDI side of it that doesn't sound particulary nice you might as well pick the instrument on a cheapo keyboard.

[eyeheartchrist]

for sure...it's cool :-)

[randomking345]

nah

[keyguy13]

The whole idea is to have the expressive capabilities of breath control using a fingering style that many wind players already know (i.e. sax, flute, etc.). And the sounds can be really rich and complex using multiple soft synths/hardware samplers, etc.

If your mind were truly open you would see the advantages of this instrument instead of your out dated idea that a sax is the only wind instrument that sounds nice. It's a shame you feel so threatened by another way to make music.

[randomking345]

I didn't say the sax is the only wind instruments that sounds nice, I have a profound respect for all other instruments (except oboes-they make me cringe) but I think these electric instruments are going to ruin the technique of sounding good. It's very similar to people who think they can play the guitar if they play guitar hero...

[keyguy13]

That comparison is ridiculous. The EWI is an instrument. You have to blow into it just like a sax. You have to have technique and learn all the same fingerings that you would have to learn on a sax. You have to have breath control just like a sax. Vibrato is made by biting on the mouthpiece, similarly to lip pressure on a sax mouthpiece. The only difference is that it makes its noise through triggering notes and expression with midi.

[keyguy13]

You might as well say that anyone that uses a midi keyboard controller isn't playing music either. You obviously have never used an EWI and have no idea what you're talking about. How about you start posting something intelligent when you have a leg to stand on.

[randomking345]

Bloody hell no need for the insults for people just making opinions. Your rihgt I've never tried the EWI but if it anything like the other electrical instruments I have tried I contemplated it would be awful but obviously I'm wrong but it does have the capabilitie to take away technique if you can plug it into a computer and modify the sounds

[Muze42]

You basically said that the aid of technology to alter your sound takes away from the 'skill' in playing. You'll have to return your fancy ligatures and high quality reeds then. Oh yea, give me those knobs on your amp while you're at it. That's such an elitist mind set, it's ridiculous.

The only way this instrument could cheat out a 'more skilled' player is the fact that you can alter the key it's tuned to. But even then, music is about creativity and art, not skill.

[randomking345]

Why are you going on about amp knobs?

Anyway my point is take this for example; A saxophone player (such as myself) may not be particulary brilliant at a technique such as vibrato but if I use this instrument then I can make some effect on the computer that enables my vibrato to sound good instead of me improving my technique thus taking away the skill needed

[Muze42]

If you want a good sax vibrato, you practice it on a sax, if you want a synth sound with vibrato, that's an entirely different situation.

Either way, the goal is to sound good and sound the way you want. So what if a good sound is 'harder' to get on a sax, personally I think a sax sounds better than a sax soundfont. If someone wants to be lazy, they'll sound bad saxwise either way, so I don't know what's so horrible about the EWI.

And I was talking about tone and effect knobs on amps.

[randomking345]

What I find horrible about the EWI is that it has the distinct computer tone to it which I think is horrible and not the same as playing and caring for the real thing. An acoustic sax has more soul in it but in the end fi you like this, its up to you I didn't watch this video intending to cause an argument over it, i just said my feeling about it after i heard this video

[mrlowdangle]

How can you not see the appeal?! even if its just to play around with for fun as you could play anything with an ewi,like a huge church style organ,big wobbly synth basslines,banjo,virtual instrument synths,cats,i'd even try wind powered drums if i had one.

I cant see any skills or techniques being lost because of things like this, the opposite IMO.

But maybe your one of those miserable old traditionalists,who'd have people burned at the stake for making that ungodly electronic rackett?

[randomking345]

No i understand there is a fun side to it but I'm sure at some point back in this ridiculous argument i did express my feelings to electric instruments in general and electric music which I'm open to but 1. my age is probably similar to yours so dont call me miserable and old and 2. yes i do prefer the traditional instruments rather then electric instruments such as synthesisers and yes, the EWI

[mrlowdangle]

too late now, but there was meant to be a smiley after the rackett bit, it really wasnt intended as a dig at you or your age.

I dont think its a rediculous argument,its not a bad read by youtube standards.. im sure plenty of people share your opinion too, their loss if they dont want to experience the pleasure of experimenting with multiple instruments all at the same time using midi,or trying strange new unheard of virtual instruments and reaktor ensembles.

[randomking345]

yeah but from my point of view its your loss if you find pleasure in playing this instrument unless it is for humour value and nothing else

[mrlowdangle]

I dont understand why any musician would think being so closed minded was a good thing, but fair enough if its not your bag.

I reckon you'd be suprised if you actually tried a ewi that was set up with some decent virtual instruments,synths and samplers.I thought it was great,the endless possibilities of midi controllers/instruments like this are exciting and inspiring to me, theyre getting better and more responsive all the time too.

[Muze42]

/watch?v=kOEF7f2HGoE&fmt=18

Watch the whole thing and tell me that an EWI is nothing more than a toy. If you don't like the synthy awesomeness in the middle, skip to 5;20. He's using samples, recordings of acoustic instruments, that are manipulated through MIDI, which is a code language, not a 'sound quality.'

[6erAnimeBassist]

i read all your arguments its quite silly, i mean sure its your opinion but to say "its your loss if you find pleasure in playing this instrument" haha thats ridiculous. All i can say is all the great musicians in this world have always been really open to any types of different music and sound like Brecker, Zawinul, Coltrane, Miles. So if you want to be close minded well i say its YOUR loss and it'll really take away from any creativity you attempt to have in your own musical endevours.

[usetheforce207]

By the way a vibrato on EWI is done by you, not a computer, you bite down on the mouthpiece...just like saxophone(execpt you doing it to the reed)

[somiberico]

Michael Brecker will live forever,he like Zawinul let a tremendous legacy.

[tlmxxx]

Brecker is a genius!!! He fly in the keys...

Respect lord :)

[stubs13]

It's so sad he had to die, I never got to see him in Concert, I keep on missing out on the Jazz greats :(

[jumbleothia]

Michael is a MONSTER player, and always will be!! Those few cats who can play this good should be recognized at a much higher level than what the music press offers today. Shame on them!!! I'd also like to bet if Britney Spears had his same illness, she would of treated it by now!! The world only seems to care about what's on TV these days!

[Listendudeok]

Wow... reminds me a bit of Allan Holdsworth's Synthaxe.

[trestresbrel]

Vends mon ewi 4000s (neuf)

[bimmerfun]

One of the greatest sax players of all time. Michael must have been quite sick when he made this recording. He played as incredibly as ever to the end. RIP Michael.

[bradyamerson]

I ordered an EWI4000s and am eagerly waiting for it to arrive....Michael Brecker endorsing it reassures me it was well worth it to get one.

It's been nearly a year now since he died....it was my birthday last year...

RIP Michael

[jthemump]

I just saw a talented sax player play ewi and it sounded cheesy, yet Brecker makes it sound cool.

[akfish47]

RIP Michael Brecker

[Craigios]

Hope all is well in the afterlife Michael. RIP, you are truely missed by all jazz fans.

[moviestar11]

i am a fan of Michael's and i an truly saddened that he is no longer with us... the jazz world wept when he passed.

[saxaz24]

RIP, Michael, we miss you so much.

[davistino]

The jazz world has lost another beautiful musician. Rest in peace Michael and our spiritual Father above will comfort and take care of your family. You and your music will be missed by all of us.

[dadaddo]

If the measure of a man is taken by how many people remember him after he is gone then Michael was truly loved.

Rest in peace, Mike.

[MarkFromHawaii]

He's gone now. But clearly not forgotten. Michael's up there jamming with Miles, Bird, Trane... All the greats.

[TrippingOverGod]

Rest In Peace Mike...

Apparently he finished his final album just 2 weeks ago.. now that's going to be a very strage album to buy.

[modifiedcontent]

RIP :-(

[dadaddo]

Well, you people better enjoy Mike while he's around. Mike is extremely sick and he may not make it. He's got Lukemia and it's not looking too good right now.

Please..say a prayer for Mike. There isn't a sweeter soul on this earth than Mike. Please pray for him.

[bayouhazard]

Not every corporate thank you is shilling. If Akai didn't build it he wouldn't have it to play and he likes it. It's not like someone advertising for Lay's where they've made mediocre potato chips for years and you could easily laud one as the other. It IS cool that Akai made this and why not be grateful for it?

[ewi4000]

This is the latest EWI 4000S Just came out a few months ago

[Alphamale69]

is this an older model ewi? i thought they were much smaller than that. also, which is better, the akai or the yamaha?

[gr8tbigtreehugger]

I have an EWI and it is super easy to play fast. The keys don't move, they are touch sensitive and your pitch is always perfect (unless you change the parameters of the instrument as such) so you can really wind up!

[dustypuppy]

Well put mobiusll - that makes good sense.

I enjoyed this video saxybenny . . . thanks for posting it - I've learned more about Michael here today but now I want to know - what is his present condition ? when was this "recent video" taken ?

[mobiusII]

When you play fast passages like that, you are not 'thinking' of the sound of each note. After much practice and application, you can 'hear' the quality of a group of notes (such as a major scale) and apply it instantly without thinking of the individual notes. The same applies to patterns that you have practiced up to that point and can call up in an instant.

[YanaSAX17]

one thing i don't understand: one says, that a "real" musician HEARS the things he's going to play in his head before he actually plays it.. NO LIVING THING can think as fast as Brecker is playin'!!!!? so is this more intellectual or some acrobatic skills of your fingers.. (i'm talkin' about his VERY (!!!) fast passages..)

please help me! (-;

[alienfingersboy]

It takes practice. All great musicians can hear the notes before you play 'em. Even I'm getting there. People like Michael, however, have so much experience and so much practice under their belt, that their mental musical capacity has been pushed to the limit. They CAN hear what they play and EVERY NOTE is thought out. It is unbelievable, but very achievable (given you have a lifetime to practice it)

[YanaSAX17]

WHAT DO I HAVE to practise, to play such things??? you can exercise to play fast, but WHAT do you play fast? i would do everything, but i don't know where to start?! are scales the right things? apreggios? are there books that teach you FUNK licks or s.th.?

[soultaker1083]

he has a shortage of bone marrow...he got a transfusion but it wasn't enough...its good that hes gaining strength...i saw him play live with his brother when i was like 6...and then i saw randy play when i was like 9-10...when was this taken

[Alphamale69]

what happened to him?

[soultaker1083]

he has a shortage of bone marrow...he got tranfusion but it wasn't the right kind...but hes gaining strength...i'm glad...i saw the brecker brothers play once when i was like 6...and randy brecker at like 10...

[CJ81]

he is still in great playing shape! wonderful! I hear he is returning to strength slowly.