The Brecker Brothers: Funky Sea, Funky Blue

The Brecker Brothers have had a profound impact on a great range of modern music. Trumpeter Randy and saxophonist Michael were virtuoso instrumentalists, but they also made music that drove jazz, pop, rock, soul and blues in new directions. Both men topped lists of ‘most wanted’ session musicians, and by their presence as sidemen on great numbers of albums, their style of music permeated the industry. However, it was their 1970s work as leaders of the ground-breaking band, The Brecker Brothers, that helped drive the engine of jazz-rock-soul fusions and contribute significantly to the way we hear music today. This book is as much about the amazing contributions made by a community of brilliant session musicians as it is about cutting-edge work by disciples of Miles and Trane. Musicians such as Steve Gadd, David Sanborn, Don Grolnick, Will Lee, Steve Khan and Peter Erskine are just some of the many musicians who appear throughout this study. The full story of the Brecker Brothers’ contributions to music is told here for the first time through a detailed study of their recorded works. Listeners will be guided through a selection of Brecker recordings, whilst fans of LPs and CDs will find rich rewards amongst the comprehensive discography.

Play the music of… Randy Brecker

A wonderful collection of 13 original jazz songs by the masterful artist/composer Randy Brecker, comprising a wide variety of modern and straight-ahead styles. Book includes the lead line and harmony parts transposed for all instruments.

Although notably most famous for his work as one-half of the Brecker Brothers group, Randy is highly regarded as one of the best jazz trumpeters in the world. Randy played on the first Blood Sweat & Tears album, Child Is Father to the Man, was a charter member of Larry Coryell’s seminal jazz fusion band The Eleventh House in 1973, and is currently a part of the GRP All-Star Big Band.

The Brecker Bros… And All Their Jazz

Hal Leonard Transcription Book #HL0067236

15 jazz transcriptions for trumpet, tenor sax, and small ensemble. Includes Lovely Lady, Night Flight, Oh My Stars, Rocks, Some Skunk Funk and more…

Randy Brecker – Artist Transcriptions

Hal Leonard Transcription Book #HL00673234

17 of his best transcribed note-for-note, including:

  • Above and Below
  • A Creature of Many Faces
  • Imagine My Surprise
  • Inside Out
  • Jacknife
  • No Scratch
  • On the Backside
  • Petals
  • Slick Stuff
  • Some Skunk Funk
  • Sozinho (Alone)
  • Sponge
  • Squids
  • Tabula Rasa
  • There’s a Mingus Amonk Us
  • Threesome
  • Why Can’t I Be There.

The Best of the Brecker Brothers

Hal Leonard Transcription Book #HL00672447

This collection of 11 sketch scores features tracks from Return of the Brecker Brothers and the double Grammy winner Out of the Loop. Tunes include:

  • Above and Below
  • African Skies
  • And Then She Wept
  • Big Idea
  • Good Gracious
  • Harpoon
  • King of the Lobby
  • Slang
  • Song for Barry
  • Sozinho (Alone)
  • Spherical.

Also includes an introduction and a discography.

Brecker Brothers – Aebersold, Vol.83

For years, musicians have been requesting a high quality funk/fusion Play-A-Long of well- known recorded hits; this is it! The Grammy winning Brecker Brothers band has successfully blended jazz, electronics, and contemporary rhythms into exciting, energetic jazz that has become accessible to popular audiences without compromising quality. Produced by former Brecker Brothers Band keyboardist George Whitty, these tracks contain “”killer”” electronic sounds and are awesome to play with. Includes:

  • Sponge
  • African Skies
  • Inside Out
  • Funky Sea Funky Dew
  • Some Skunk Funk
  • Song For Barry
  • And Then She Wept
  • Slang
  • Above And Below
  • Straphangin’
  • Some Skunk Funk

    Hal Leonard Big Band Chart
    Professional Editions for Jazz Ensemble Series

    Composed by Randy Brecker
    Arranged by Mark Taylor

    Instrumentation:

    • 5 Saxophones (2 Altos, 2 Tenors, Baritone)
    • 4 Trumpets
    • 4 Trombones
    • Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Percussion
    • Full Score

    UNC Jazz Press

    3 Big Band Arrangements from the UNC (University of Northern Colorado) Jazz Press.

     

    Composer: Randy Brecker
    Arranger: Tom Matta

    Click each title to reach the UNC Jazz Press page for that chart.

    Alfred Music Publishing

    Big Band Charts:

    The Music of Randy Brecker

    Solo Transcriptions and Performing Artist Master Class CD
    Alfred Music

    Brilliant trumpeter Randy Brecker, a Grammy® Award-winning composer, arranger, and leader of his own jazz groups, has shaped the sound of jazz for more than three decades. His trumpet and flugelhorn have graced hundreds of albums by a wide range of artists such as George Benson, David Sanborn, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, and Chaka Khan. For this book, Randy has selected 12 of his jazz works to teach his techniques for improvisation and composition. Included in the Performing Artist Master Class CD are instrumental demonstrations performed by Randy, excerpts of his trancribed solo recordings, and an in-depth discussion on the following topics: rhythmic improvisation, soloistic tension, time and technique, live vs. studio recordings, composition techniques, the flugelhorn, interacting with the drummer, double time ballad style, Brazilian influences, and chromatic techniques. The Music of Randy Brecker features: 12 condensed score lead sheets in concert key, 13 transcribed solos in B-flat, Performing Artist Master Class CD, and a discography/biography.