Search - Michael Brecker :: Two Blocks From the Edge

Flawed by second tier piano playing, but Brecker is fine.

03/26/2000

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Having heard Brecker with authentic piano giants like Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner and Chick Corea it is a disapointment to hear him with a piano player (Joey Calderazzo) who is not up the task of being his main foil as a soloist. I would rather hear Brecker in a Tenor, Bass and Drums trio than hear him with what sounds like a talented Berklee student on the piano. I would love to hear Brecker more with Hancock - the piece Scriabin on an early record was stunning."

Good times

Shawn | IL United States | 10/04/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"this is an enjoyable record... Delta City Blues is a great way to end the record. Sure, it's some showing off, but what a blast.



El Nino is a great track. Brecker's ballad playing is very sweet on this one. Joey Calderazzo definitely smokes throughout.



Wasn't this the regular touring group at the time? In any event, I recommend this one. Like Brecker's better albums, a good collaborative effort makes for a nice album.



Shawn"

Awesome playing by an awesome band!

08/05/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I also feel compelled to give my 2c here. Joey Calderazzo may not have grown up with Latin parents, but hey, He Wrote The Song the other reviewer was talking about, El Nino!
And Michael Brecker gets pretty intensely loud here for a Latin song. So we're not really talking pure salsa anyway, but a jazz cross-over.
Michael Brecker has just about the best chops on tenor in the jazz world. And who do you think he would get to be his pianist, Someone With Great Chops!
The fact that this album has two songs written by Joey Calderazzo says it all. These are two of the best tunes on the album, IMHO.
Of course we would all love to hear Brecker with McCoy Tyner or Herbie Hancock on piano. Well, he Has played with both of them, and those are great recordings, too.
And do you now who Joey played with recently after leaving Michael Brecker? Brandford Marsalis, who I would say is a big enough name to get who he thinks is the best!"