Michael Brecker, Pilgrimage
Featured Album
Session great calls in some favors for his final album.
Although he was the most in-demand of studio session men, one gets the sense that on Pilgrimage the only clock Michael Brecker was watching was his own: it was the last album he made prior to his untimely death from a rare form of cancer in January 2007. Brecker knew the seriousness of his condition and wanted to record a legitimate jazz album as his farewell. Still in possession of his full technical prowess, Brecker enlisted an all-star rhythm section consisting of Herbie Hancock and Brad Mehldau alternating on piano, Pat Metheny on guitar, bassist John Patitucci, and Jack DeJohnette on drums, and got down to business.
The result is a no-nonsense album that illustrates Brecker's total mastery of the saxophone. His steely tenor effortlessly navigates the twists and turns of both "The Mean Time" and "Anagra" with DeJohnette nipping at his heels. Patitucci is a forceful presence throughout, allowing both Hancock and Mehldau the freedom to comment in spontaneous ways. Pat Metheny interjects a bluesier, down-home quality to the solos, and his entrances often jump-start new strains of logic. The album balances between uptempo smokers, the yearning title piece, and the lovely theme "Half Moon Lane." Pilgrimage is a worthy final addition to Michael Brecker's legacy.
