Randy Brecker - Hanging in the City

Title: Hanging in the City Artist: Randy Brecker Release Date: 6/26/2001 Label: Cream Records, Esc Records Album Type(s): Instrumental, lyrics/libretto UPCs: 016728490221, 718750367426, 3760145926708 Genre: Jazz Styles: Fusion, Contemporary Jazz, Jazz Instrument, Trumpet Jazz Moods: Organic, Passionate, Searching, Cerebral, Complex, Earnest, Nocturnal, Reserved, Sophisticated, Amiable/Good-Natured, Earthy, Intimate, Reflective, Bravado Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 0 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. Overture
2. Wayne Out
3. Hangin' in the City
4. I Talk to the Trees
5. Down 4 the Count
6. Pastoral (To Jaco)
7. Then I Cam to My Senses
8. Seattle
9. Never Tell Her You Love Her (Less She's 3000 Miles Away)
10. I Been Through This Before
11. On Thing Led to Another

Year Type Label Catalog # 2001 CD Cream Records 2001 CD Esc Records 4902 2001 CD Esc Records 036742

Viking in the City

This album is not at all representative of Randy Brecker's "normal" output as a jazz trumpeter. Subtitled "Songs of Rhyme, Reason, Romance & Raunch," it marks the debut of "Randroid," a sort of alter-ego fashioned from a nickname given to Brecker some years before by alto saxophonist Gary Bartz. Taking on this shady, decadent persona, Brecker sings and raps about sexual exploits, partying, and other aspects of the musician lifestyle. Musically, the result is somewhere between Frank Zappa and Donald Fagen. Lyrically, it's really kind of bizarre, at times downright embarrassing. But once you get over the shock, you find that the tracks are actually pretty hip. Producer George Whitty handles keyboards and drum programming throughout, giving the disc a contemporary urban funk feel. Brecker blows a mean trumpet and flügelhorn and is joined by brother Michael Brecker on tenor sax, bassists Chris Minh Doky, Richard Bona, and Will Lee, guitarists Adam Rogers, Dean Brown, and Hiram Bullock, and more. Four of the 11 tracks are instrumental. The cheesy sexual double entendre of "Then I Came 2 My Senses" and the Lolita fantasy of "One Thing Led to Another" are pretty near unforgivable, but the hip beats, involved harmonies, and searing Adam Rogers guitar solos on "Wayne Out" and "Seattle" are redeeming. George Whitty's Rhodes solo on "Never Tell Her You Love Her ('Less She's 3000 Miles Away)" is also one of the hotter moments. ~ David R. Adler, All Music Guide

Name Credits Adam Rogers Guitar Chris Minh Doky Bass (Acoustic), Bass (Electric) Dean Brown Guitar Don Alias Percussion George Whitty Keyboards, Audio Engineer, Programming, Audio Production, Engineer, Mixing, Drum Programming, Producer Greg Calbi Mastering Hiram Bullock Guitar, Vocals (Background) James Farber Engineer Joe Caro Guitar Joe Locke Vibraphone Katreese Barnes Vocals (Background) Michael Brecker Sax (Tenor) Mike Harvey Vocals (Background) Paul DInnocenzo Photography, Concept Randy Brecker Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Programming, Producer, Vocals Richard Bona Bass (Electric) Will Lee Bass (Electric), Vocals (Background)