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An Interview with Randy Brecker

Trumpeter Randy Brecker has helped shape the sound of jazz music since the 1970s. From his influential jazz rock records with his brother, saxophonist Michael Brecker in the Brecker Brothers to outstanding projects with straight ahead jazz big bands all over the world, Randy Brecker has recorded dozens of outstanding jazz albums over the last several decades  His trumpet and flugelhorn performances have been on hundreds of albums by a wide range of artists including James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Frank Sinatra, Steely Dan, Jaco Pastorius and Frank Zappa. Randy and his brother also recorded briefly with legendary rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix.

(Interview audio is at the bottom of this page.)

Randy Brecker has been in many bands, including Clark Terry’s Big B. A. D. Band, Blood Sweat and Tears, Horace Silver Quintet, Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and Soulbop, as well as the pioneering fusion group Dreams, which included his brother, saxophonist Michael Brecker. By the mid-‘70s, Randy and Michael fronted their own band, the Brecker Brothers Band. An outfit of immense impact and influence, they released six albums and garnered seven Grammy® nominations between 1975 and 1981. Their first record, which Randy Brecker wrote, arranged and produced, featured his now classic composition “Some Skunk Funk”, an instant hit.

Randy Brecker has an extensive lineup of solo albums under his belt, including Grammys for Best Contemporary Jazz Album in 2003 for 34th n’ Lex and in 2007 for Randy Brecker Live with the WDR Big Band, among others. He is also an accomplished music educator and will participate in clinics during his visit to Omaha February 27-28th which will coincide with the UNO Great Plains Jazz Festival.

Trumpeter Randy Brecker will perform at the 1200 Club at the Holland Center, 1200 Douglas Street on Friday, February 27, at 8:00 p.m. For more information you may visit omahaperformingarts.org

Recording Engineer: Mike Hansen.

Chris Cooke has been a voice on public radio in Omaha since 1989. Working at KVNO-FM during college, Cooke hosted a weekend progressive jazz show on the station in addition to working as an on-air announcer. In November 1992, Cooke signed on at KIOS-FM and has been there ever since. He has hosted the Tuesday and Thursday editions of Jazz in the Afternoon since 1996 and has hosted Last Call since that year. A long time fan of jazz music, Cooke enjoys talking with the musicians who make jazz music and presenting those conversations with listeners. When not hosting or listening to jazz, on record or in person, Cooke maintains a busy schedule as a self-employed web design consultant.