A Requiem for Michael Brecker
I just read some very sad news. Jazz saxophonist legend Michael Brecker has just died after a long struggle with leukemia. 
I know many of our jazz faculty at NYSMF have had the honor or performing with Mr. Brecker through the years. These include saxophonist Dick Oatts, who gave a master class and an incredibly memorable concert at NYSMF this summer; bassist John Patitucci and pianist/composer Michael Holober also honored us with a Master Class and Concert in August 2006; and drummer John Riley was the very first Visiting Artist of NYSMF's history last June.
Michael Brecker was the first jazz saxophonist I ever heard of. My first year of music camp was at the New York State Music Camp in 1982, where I was overwhelmed by an entire universe of music that I never even suspected could exist. One of my best friends there, Andrew Wolin of Norwich, NY, was a tenor sax player that listened to Brecker all the time. He even sent a tape to me with an incredible recording of "Hesitation", with Brecker and Wynton Marsalis, and I was hooked on the first listen.
Although I never became a total Brecker fanatic, I loved his sound and style for the next 25 years. Mr. Brecker was the model of excellence for jazz sax players for his entire career, and the world is diminished with his loss.
Keisuke Hoashi
NYSMF Director of Communications
I know many of our jazz faculty at NYSMF have had the honor or performing with Mr. Brecker through the years. These include saxophonist Dick Oatts, who gave a master class and an incredibly memorable concert at NYSMF this summer; bassist John Patitucci and pianist/composer Michael Holober also honored us with a Master Class and Concert in August 2006; and drummer John Riley was the very first Visiting Artist of NYSMF's history last June.
Michael Brecker was the first jazz saxophonist I ever heard of. My first year of music camp was at the New York State Music Camp in 1982, where I was overwhelmed by an entire universe of music that I never even suspected could exist. One of my best friends there, Andrew Wolin of Norwich, NY, was a tenor sax player that listened to Brecker all the time. He even sent a tape to me with an incredible recording of "Hesitation", with Brecker and Wynton Marsalis, and I was hooked on the first listen.
Although I never became a total Brecker fanatic, I loved his sound and style for the next 25 years. Mr. Brecker was the model of excellence for jazz sax players for his entire career, and the world is diminished with his loss.
Keisuke Hoashi
NYSMF Director of Communications
posted by NYSMF at
3:00 PM
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