Top 10 of 2014

Here are 10 albums I enjoyed in 2014:

1. Pat Metheny Unity Group - Kin (<-->) (Nonesuch)
The guitarist combines the sounds of his many projects - Pat Metheny Group, Unity Band, Orchestrion & more - into one cohesive whole.

2. Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band - Landmarks (Blue Note)
The Fellowship returns once again with another collection of songs that traverse music genres with ease.

3. James Farm - City Folk (Nonesuch)
A leader-less all-star quartet performing music that both honors tradition and is reflective of its time.

4. Jacob Young - Forever Young (ECM)
The Norwegian guitarist's third album for ECM features beautiful melodies and heartfelt improvisations performed by an international quintet.

5. Snarky Puppy - We Like It Here (Ropeadope)
The latest in a series of live-in-the-studio releases by this Dallas/NYC collective features an infectious mix of jazz, funk and world music executed with equal parts passion and precision.

6. Dirty Loops - Loopified (Verve)
7. Pink Floyd - The Endless River (Columbia)
8. Foo Fighters - Sonic Highways (Roswell)
9. U2 - Songs of Innocence (Island)
10. Coldplay - Ghost Stories (Parlophone)

What music did you enjoy in 2014?

A Tribute to Michael Brecker 7 - featuring the music of Don Grolnick

DJ Bill McCann was once again gracious enough to invite me on to his Saturday Morning Edition of Jazz radio program on WCDB 90.9 FM to pay tribute to the late Michael Brecker. This year we extended the tribute to include pianist/composer/producer Don Grolnick and were joined by his widow, vocalist Jeanne O'Connor. As an added bonus, Jeanne arranged for Susan Brecker to call in and share some memories of her late husband.

Over the course of four hours we played music by Steps, the Brecker Brothers, James Taylor and of course Michael Brecker & Don Grolnick.  Here's the playlist:

“Six Persimmons” (6:10)
Steps – Step By Step (1980)
Composed by Don Grolnick
Michel Brecker (tenor sax), Mike Mainieri (vibes), Don Grolnick (piano), Eddie Gomez (bass), Steve Gadd (drums)

“The Cost of Living”  (7:49)
Michael Brecker – Michael Brecker (1987)
Composed by Don Grolnick
Michael Brecker (tenor sax), Pat Metheny (guitar), Kenny Kirkland (piano), Charlie Haden (bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums), Don Grolnick (producer)

“Rainsville” (5:29)
Don Grolnick – Medianoche (1995)
Composed by Don Grolnick
Don Grolnick (piano), Michael Brecker (tenor sax), Dave Valentin (flute), Mike Mainieri (vibes), Andy Gonzales (bass), Don Alias (timbales & percussion), Steve Berrios (bongos, drums & percussion), Milton Cardona (congas & percussion)

"Baby Boom Baby" (5:00)
James Taylor – Never Die Young (1988)
Composed by James Taylor
James Taylor (vocal, guitar), Michael Brecker (tenor sax), Don Grolnick (keyboards, producer), Leland Sklar (bass), Carlos Vega (drums, percussion), Bob Mann (guitar), Arnold McCuller, Rosemary Butler (vocals)

“Five Bars”  (7:20)
Don Grolnick – The Complete Blue Note Recordings (1997)
Originally released on Weaver of Dreams (1989)
Composed by Don Grolnick
Michael Brecker (tenor sax), Randy Brecker (trumpet), Barry Rogers (trombone), Bob Mintzer (bass clarinet), Don Grolnick (piano), Dave Holland (bass), Peter Erskine (drums)

“Chime This” (7:50)
Michael Brecker – Don’t Try this At Home (1988)
Composed by Don Grolnick
Michael Brecker (tenor sax), Mike Stern (guitar), Don Grolnick (piano, producer), Charlie Haden (bass), Adam Nussbaum (drums)

“Pointing at the Moon” (6:13)
Don Grolnick – Hearts & Numbers (1985)
Composed by Don Grolnick
Don Grolnick (piano, synthesizers), Michael Brecker (tenor sax), Jeff Mironov (guitar), Will Lee (bass), Steve Jordan (cymbals), Clifford Carter (synthesizer programming)

“Minsk” (9:07)
Michael Brecker – Now You See It … (Now You Don’t) (1990)
Composed by Don Grolnick
Michael Brecker (tenor sax, EWI), Jon Herrington (guitar), Joey Calderazzo (piano), Jim Beard (synthesizers), Victor Bailey (bass), Adam Nussbaum (drums), Judd Miller (EWI programming)

“Regrets” (5:13)
Don Grolnick – Hearts & Numbers (1985)
Composed by Don Grolnick
Don Grolnick (piano & synthesizer), Michael Brecker (tenor sax), Bob Mann (guitar), Tom Kennedy (bass), Peter Erskine (drums), Clifford Carter (synthesizer programming)

“Nothing Personal”  (5:29)
Michael Brecker – Michael Brecker (1987)
Composed by Don Grolnick
Michael Brecker (tenor sax), Pat Metheny (guitar), Kenny Kirkland (piano), Charlie Haden (bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums), Don Grolnick (producer)

“Dogs in the Wine Shop” (6:33)
Michael Brecker – Now You See It … (Now You Don’t) (1990)
Composed by Don Grolnick
Michael Brecker (tenor sax, EWI), Joey Calderazzo (piano), Jim Beard (synthesizers), Victor Bailey (bass), Don Alias (percussion), Steve Berios (percussion), Milton Cardona (percussion), Judd Miller (EWI programming)

“Uncle Bob” (11:00)
Steps – Step By Step (1980)
Composed by Don Grolnick
Michael Brecker (tenor sax), Mike Mainieri (vibes), Don Grolnick (piano), Eddie Gomez (bass), Steve Gadd (drums)

“Itsbynne Reel” (7:41)
Michael Brecker – Don’t Try This At Home (1988)
Composed by Michael Brecker & Don Grolnick
Michael Brecker (tenor sax, EWI), Mark O’Connor (violin), Mike Stern (guitar), Don Grolnick (piano, producer), Charlie Haden (acoustic bass), Jeff Andrews (electric bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums)

“Cape Verdean Blues” (4:54)
Don Grolnick – Medianoche (1995)
Composed by Horace Silver
Don Grolnick (piano), Michael Brecker (tenor sax), Dave Valentin (flute), Mike Mainieri (vibes), Andy Gonzales (bass), Don Alias (timbales & percussion), Steve Berrios (bongos, drums & percussion), Milton Cardona (congas & percussion)

“Or Come Fog” (5:23)
Don Grolnick – The Complete Blue Note Recordings (1997)
Originally released on Weaver of Dreams (1989)
Composed by Don Grolnick
Michael Brecker (tenor sax), Randy Brecker (trumpet), Barry Rogers (trombone), Bob Mintzer (bass clarinet), Don Grolnick (piano), Dave Holland (bass), Peter Erskine (drums)

“Talking to Myself” (5:10)
Michael Brecker – Don’t Try This At Home (1988)
Composed by Don Grolnick
Michael Brecker (tenor sax), Mike Stern (guitar), Don Grolnick (piano, producer), Jeff Andrews (bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums)

“Cape Verdean Blues” (4:54)
Don Grolnick – Medianoche (1995)
Composed by Horace Silver
Don Grolnick (piano), Michael Brecker (tenor sax), Dave Valentin (flute), Mike Mainieri (vibes), Andy Gonzales (bass), Don Alias (timbales & percussion), Steve Berrios (bongos, drums & percussion), Milton Cardona (congas & percussion)

“Sneakin’ Up Behind You” (4:50)
Brecker Brothers – The Brecker Brothers (1975)
Composed by Don Grolnick, Michael Brecker, David Sanborn & Will Lee
Michael Brecker (tenor sax), Randy Brecker (trumpet), David Sanborn (alto sax), Bob Mann (guitar), Don Grolnick (keyboards), Will Lee (bass, vocals), Harvey Mason (drums), Ralph MacDonald (percussion), Christopher Parker (additional drums)

“Four Chords” (10:52)
Steps – Paradox (1981)
Composed by Don Grolnick
Michael Brecker (tenor sax), Mike Mainieri (vibes), Don Grolnick (piano), Eddie Gomez (bass), Steve Gadd (drums)

“Pools” (5:15)
Don Grolnick – Hearts & Numbers (1985)
Composed by Don Grolnick
Don Grolnick (piano & Fender Rhodes), Michael Brecker (tenor sax), Jeff Mironov (guitar), Tom Kennedy (bass), Peter Erskine (drums)

“If Ever I Should Leave You” (7:22)
Don Grolnick – Medianoche (1995)
Composed by Fredrick Loewe & Alan J. Lerner)
Don Grolnick (piano), Michael Brecker (tenor sax), Dave Valentin (flute), Mike Mainieri (vibes), Andy Gonzales (bass), Don Alias (timbales & percussion), Steve Berrios (bongos, drums & percussion), Milton Cardona (congas & percussion)

“I Want To Be Happy"  (5:06)
Don Grolnick – The Complete Blue Note Recordings (1997)
Originally released on Weaver of Dreams (1989)
Composed by Irving Caesar & Vincent Youmans
Michael Brecker (tenor sax), Randy Brecker (trumpet), Barry Rogers (trombone), Bob Mintzer (bass clarinet), Don Grolnick (piano), Dave Holland (bass), Peter Erskine (drums)

For more information on these amazing artists visit:

www.michaelbrecker.com

www.dongrolnick.com

For more information on the documentary "More to Live For" visit:
www.moretoliveforfilm.com