Michael Brecker - Original Rays

[bandmansteve71]

This was the first time heard and saw Michael Brecker play on the PBS special. I was 15 at the time and loved it! Been a Brecker fan ever since.  I love the look of pure joy on Brecker's face during Stern's solo. Saw Brecker in concert the one and only time at 16 with this group. Took some girl on a date - yeah she didn't really get it, but I didn't care, she's long gone but I still listen to Brecker's every note and he influences me musically. Wish you were still with us, I miss your sound

[meltingpot8]

qu'elle classe !!

[saxoflute5701]

stepdad was 16 and was at this performance no lie

[ChevronConsulting]

This is fantastic. Bringing back many great memories. I taped this from PBS back when it had originally aired.. when I was a sophomore in High School and doing everything I could to emulate Brecker's inimitable tone. I practically wore out that VHS tape from all the replays and pauses I did while watching this. This concert also had the fantastic Crusaders with Wilton Felder playing some fantastic tenor sax as well. Thanks!!

[WhatTheFlyinFudge]

8:31 [one eye open, scanning the crowd]

"Is Kenny G out there, sucking his thumb like the musical baby that he is? [sees Kenny G in fetal position] OK, good."

[Returns to closed eyes, completely killing it]

[WhatTheFlyinFudge]

I really, really wish he didn't leave us so soon.....

[studionyc]

Michael kills it!

[legendtype1]

they play their hearts out...

[legendtype1]

mike stern too... amazing!

[legendtype1]

one of the great michael brecker solos...

[Guitfiddlejase]

I just commented to the JazzVideoGuy about this clip-and here it is again!!!! I knew this had been on youtube before-but I thought it had been taken down.THANKYOUFORPOSTING!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[schwabjr]

It was in fact the Newport Jazz Festival, I had the same s-vhs tape form a store that I worked at. one of my favorite performances

[tymanski1]

seriously, how many high-tingle moments has MB given you in your lives?

as he put it w pat metheny: everyday i thank you........

[funkeemon]

That is the way music should be play!!!!!!!

[jridge327]

Check out the album version with DeJohnette, Metheny....

[Medjai411]

STERN IS A MONSTER

[pusztai777]

I watch this video at least a couple times a week and still get goosebumps each time, especially during Mike's solo at 6:37 and 6:54 . Whoever uploaded this, I fucking love you! lol

[theinvisiblelight]

Guitar player is amazing but oblivious at the start of the tune lol. Michael had been trying to signal something(not sure what) to him for like 20 seconds it seems haha.

[dangerbooboo]

lol Stern was destroying... that's disgusting

[RegularJohn789]

Excuse me while I pick up all the pieces that were formally known as my brain

[Jimbobway228]

The start of it reminds me of the Rugrats for some reason...

[earthchild100]

the first phrase when he puts on the tenor he plays is so beautiful

[Smokeahdabuddha]

2:49 - 5:30 cut, saved to ipod :D repeat, repeat, repeat :D

[nitakuma]

yeah!!!!! i love that sax solo! wow! :D :D :D

[tymanski1]

brecker lives!!! thanks for great post

[nagydann]

Michael Brecker was the one and ONLY!!! In sax, in rhythm, in melody, in jazz, in improvisation, in everything!!!!

[bandmangb]

Thanks a million for posting this amazing performance. This recording is from the PBS broadcast of the Newport Jazz Festival 1987 (see "Jazz on Film and Video in the Library of Congress" by Rebecca D. Clear). In addition to Brecker and crew, the video includes performances by the Crusaders, Kenny G, Branford Marsalis, and Nancy Wilson. I only wish I could find a commercial copy of this amazing video. RIP MB

[bandmangb]

Thanks a million for posting this amazing performance. This recording is from the PBS broadcast of the Newport Jazz Festival 1987 (see "Jazz on Film and Video in the Library of Congress" by Rebecca D. Clear). In addition to Brecker and crew, the video includes performances by the Crusaders, Kenny G, Branford Marsalis, and Nancy Wilson. I only wish I could find a commercial copy of this amazing video. RIP MB.

[catboyzee]

Mike Stern absolutely killed this solo! Still gives me chills after all these years...

[indaplace2b]

Does anyone know how brecker got harmony he used at the begining of this tune here and on the album .... its ben bugging me for years .... I'm figuging it has something to do with asigning each chord of the 16 chords on the original ewi module to a note but i cant work out what each chord is..... or did he get the harmony effect via another module?

[SFuNk24]

@indaplace2b I've been working on figuring this out myself for a long time. I understand how it works, he's assigning the synth to play 2 notes underneath his played pitch at (somewhat) randomly generated intervals. I don't know how to program something like this, but look up "Oberheim Trick" posted by Flagoletten. He seems to know how to do it

[SFuNk24]

@indaplace2b oh, and if you do figure it out. PLEASE let me know how to do it

[hyperdash123]

Mike Stern's playing here is NICE!!!!

[mrgone78]

I would kill to have a great quality audio copy of this performance!!!

[dla7165073]

He was a pure class act. And you can see here how Brecker wasn't just a leader, but a fan during Mike Stern's solo; it's as if he were in the audience.

[Brunototguitar]

which tune is this? is it from Brecker or from Stern?

[WesMetheny]

@Brunototguitar It's Brecker's tune. You can hear the original on his debut album, "Michael Brecker."

[julphan]

This is the best concert I have ever seen.

[stratocastermax]

you hear in the solo the songs bibidibabidiboo from cinderella from the good fairy from disney

[theviolentvicar]

Had this very cassette when I worked in a stereo store that sold JVC. The company gave it to us to demo their S-VHS machines, IIRC. Watched it so many times each note is permanently tattoed onto my cortex! I think Nancy Wilson was also on there and possibly Branford Marsalis. Perhaps Newport 1987?

[CommonGroundMusic]

thats nice - thanks for your comment

Nancy, Brandford :) you're absolutely right

Kenny G too I think

but this was the cream of the crop !

[jonbebop]

@CommonGroundMusic I believe the Jazz Crusaders played also. I don't remember if they called themselves the Crusader or Jazz Crusaders at that point. Great show!

[Sax4Him]

I remember seeing this on PBS and quickly grabbing a spare VHS tape to record it. I recall it was from a performance at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival in Florida. Nancy Wilson sang with the Crusaders. Branford blew crazy tenor wearing his shorts and ballcap. It was a great show!

[ChevronConsulting]

@theviolentvicar Same here, too!! As a saxophonist AND a guitar player, this tune held a particular fascination for me. ;)

[hanj31]

micheal brecker we miss you!

[johnnymeanstreak]

Thank you for uploading this video, it made my day>

[microcosmic2]

Un morceau sidérant qui m'a fait découvrir Michael Brecker et Mike Stern.

[Eeklair]

There was a miniature (5") Laserdisc of this - certainly it's out there somewhere - that will be of much better quality than this. I remember because I demo'ed it for Laserdisc Machines back in 1989... Someone please upload that..

Great post though - in any quality.

[jazzzzdude]

Mike Stern looks about 14 years old here!

[ladiezroom]

I LIKE STERN MOST WHEN HE´S A SIDEMAN

[jazzzzdude]

errr - is that a compliment?

[ladiezroom]

just my impression

[kobsdh5p]

Michael to the stars

T'es la bombe du sax !!!!

Merci pour toujours

Love

[reckber28]

Newport?

[evildelul]

How does michael config the xpander? anyone knows?

[dethrising]

brecker is just amazing, but i've got to hand it to mike on this tune to bring so much more energy to the stage. even though brecker brought so much already. take two amazing guys, omfg....sooooo amazing, certainly a great job.

[velahsrab]

Wonderful.

R.I.P Dear Michael

[steffenbrix]

Beautiful!!

[usetheforce207]

man it's been killing me, does anybody recognize what mouthpiece he's using here, is it the MB or the studio

[ksinghification]

sofa king happy you posted this! been looking for that entire newport for 20 years, but esPECially for this one!

thanks!

[zaphodfortytoo]

Such a kick ass piece....wow

[billes335]

After that solo i wouldn't call Stern part of the rhythm section haha....holy shit.

[usetheforce207]

4:42-4:47 that is an amazing idea, i'm so stealing that

[usetheforce207]

omg i wouldve given my middle nut to see michael brecker live in concert, that is the one thing i wish i couldve done the most

[chazzy968]

I saw this group back in the late 80's at the old Musicians Exchange Cafe in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl; I miss that place! They blew me away! Stern just rips my heart out with those bends and Brecker was AMAZING! In my opinion, the three most influential Sax players in Jazz history were Charlie Parker, John Coltrane and Michael Brecker. RIP Michael Brecker, your music will live forever!

[AleGorymusic]

i think i agree with the 3 most influential sax players.

[pusztai777]

God. Damn. This is fucking unreal! Thanks a million for uploading!

[bjorliin]

great stuff

[nosnetromj]

Phenomenal.

[vittoriluca]

Who know who's on rhythm section here? On records there were Haden/DeJohnette/Kirkland.

[bwthtew]

Mike Stern, Adam Nussbaum, Jeff Andrews, Joey Calderazzo

[tonyfreejazz20]

Awesome.

[jdriessen]

they're having so much fun!!