Michael Brecker Pilgrimage CD

Personnel: Michael Brecker (EWI); Pat Metheny (guitars); Herbie Hancock, Brad Mehldau (piano); John Patitucci (bass instrument); Jack DeJohnette (drums).
It's impossible to listen to the last album that Michael Brecker recorded before succumbing to cancer without a sense of profound regret at the loss of a significant talent. Brecker sounds more soulfully energized than ever on a selection that includes complex workouts such as "Anagram," as well as the beautiful, lyrical "Pilgrimage," the last tune the saxophonist recorded. Joined by an all-star roster that includes the pianists Herbie Hancock and Brad Mehldau, the drummer Jack DeJohnette, and the guitarist Pat Metheny, Brecker gives a thrilling series of performances that encompass the exhilarating "Cardinal Rule," the commercial-sounding "Five Months From Midnight," and the valedictory title track.
Given the heartbreaking context in which this album was released -- this was the final recording by saxophonist Michael Brecker, who died of myelodysplastic syndrome and leukemia only a few months before its release -- there might be a certain temptation to cut it some slack for sentimental reasons. However, leniency is hardly needed. Leading a group comprised of jaw-dropping talents (pianists Herbie Hancock and Brad Mehldau, guitarist Pat Metheny, bassist John Patitucci, drummer Jack DeJohnette) and playing for the first time a program consisting entirely of original compositions, Brecker delivers an emotionally rich and startlingly powerful album of straight-ahead modern jazz that will stand as his musical epitaph and will effectively confound anyone who has ever been tempted to dismiss him as a mere jazz-pop fusioneer. It will also frustrate anyone looking for maudlin emotion or even any obvious product of existential angst; the only concession to sentiment here is on the title of a ballad, "When Can I Kiss You Again?," a quote from Brecker's teenage son during a period in his treatment when his family was not allowed to touch him. But even that track, with its unusual chord progression and sometimes rather arid solos, retains a core of tough-mindedness within the tenderness. Most of the rest of the program consists of uptempo and medium-tempo burners that swing with a powerful sense of urgency and life, and precious little foreshadowing of the tragedy that all involved knew was soon to come. This is a brilliant and inspiring album -- and would be whether or not it had anything to do with the death of one of the great figures in American jazz. This CD was nominated in 2007 for a Grammy award as Best Jazz Instrumental Album (Individual or Group), and Brecker's improvisation on "Anagram" was nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo. ~ Rick AndersonDown Beat (p.66) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Crisp and joyful, with perky guitar riding on top and a driving energy, 'The Mean Time' lets you know straight out of the gate that a real band made this album..."
JazzTimes (p.88) - "[H]is phrasing is more acute than ever, and the CD includes some of his best compositions."