Michael Brecker - Nearness of You: The Ballad Book

Ballad albums can be tricky affairs. How do you create tempos that are sensuous but not sluggish? What makes a ballad moody and beautiful and not just boring? Those questions seem moot when the musicians involved are tenor-sax titan Michael Brecker, guitarist Pat Metheny, drummer Jack DeJohnette, pianist Herbie Hancock, and bassist Charlie Haden, but heavy hitters don't necessarily insure success. Nearness of You: The Ballad Book begins with Hancock's willowy "Chan's Song." Performed at a sleepy tempo, it is a languid introduction, even for an all-ballad album. Brecker and Metheny blow mighty solos, but the song remains passive. James Taylor guests on a mellow rendition of "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" and on the title track. Taylor's yearning tenor is warm and expressive, but the band treats him with kid gloves, as if playing too closely might break the singer in half. Things look up on Joe Zawinul's "Midnight Mood," a twilight vehicle with sumptuous solos all around. Nearness is divided into Chapter One and Chapter Two, and Chapter Two really shines, particularly the original contributions by producer Metheny and Brecker. The entire ensemble becomes more involved and animated, with rapt solos on Brecker's "Incandescence" and Metheny's bittersweet "Sometimes I See" and "Seven Days." Nearness features ample performances, but for truly inspired ballad fare, check out singer Johnny Hartman's I Just Dropped by to Say Hello, or the quintessential Ballads, by John Coltrane. --Ken Micallef Amazon.com

Avoided It. Eventually Bought It. LOVE IT.

A BIG Brecker fan, I studiously avoided this CD. "Ballads? Don't need 'em." I didn't want smooth jazz MB, I wanted Coltrane MB.

However, when I'd finally purchased all the other MB CDs I decided to add NEARNESS to the collection. Why not?

Can't quite believe it myself, by NEARNESS is one of my favorites now. What they say about MB's tone? Well, it's here. Oh ya...

Happen to like James Taylor too? Cool hearing him on 2 tracks backed up by the likes of Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, Charles Hadden & Jack DeJohnette...

So if you've avoided this CD, my advice is straight-forward: go on, take the plunge. You might... end up loving it...

Ya never know...

Dr. Kirtland C Peterson September 17, 2007

Wonderfully smooth...

I've been listening to this gem about 2-3 times/day since I picked it up a couple of weeks ago. It soothes my soul. Mr. Becker's music will live on forever! August 17, 2007

"I Can See Your Dreams. . ."

"This is our book of ballads - instrumental and narrative stories devoted to the intimate exploration of the myriad aspects of our interpersonal ties, blossoming into various shades and colors by means of musical dialogue. Many heartfelt thanks to Pat, Herbie, Jack, Charlie and James for making this one of the most meaningful and fun experiences that I've ever had." ~ Michael Brecker, Liner Notes, March 2001 ~

I've had this CD for years and listening to it now brought tears to my eyes. Although I purchased it mainly for James Taylor's "The Nearness of You" and "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight," I was surprised after listening to it in its entirety that I totally enjoyed all the tunes. Mr. Brecker had been one of my favorites and one of the best saxophonists in the jazz scene and he figured prominently as a back-up musician on most of my jazz CDs from my collection. When I learned that he was suffering from cancer last year, I pulled this CD out from the shelf and started listening to its beauty again and amazingly, it touched me more deeply than the first time I listened to it. Just recently, he lost his battle and succumbed to cancer. His death is such a great loss to the music industry considering his incredible talent. My deepest sympathy and prayers are with his family. I feel for you and I know how it is to lose a loved one to cancer. May he rest in peace.

Released in 2001, this recording "Nearness of You: The Ballad Book," which he lovingly dedicated to his family: Susan, Jessica and Sam, presents some of his most notable recordings. Here, he is supported by great musicians such as James Taylor (vocals), Herbie Hancock (piano), Pat Matheny (guitars), Jack DeJohnette (drums) and Charlie Hayden (bass).

Mr. Brecker put all the tracks into three parts. Chapter One includes one of his original compositions "Incandescence," a very melodic tune "Nascente" written by Pat Matheny, "Don't Let Me Be Lonely" and "The Nearness of You" with James Taylor on vocals, and a very lovely tune "Midnight Mood." Chapter Two includes an Irving Berlin classic "Always," which is done in a very beautiful arrangement by Larry Goldings. I love the way he smoothly jazzified this evergreen. And the last part, which Mr. Brecker called "Epilogue" contains just one track - his original composition "I Can See Your Dreams." He wrote the beautiful and tuneful arrangement of this remarkable melody. From the opening note to the last, this tune simply shines through.

The beauty of this recording lies primarily on the excellent musicianship of the group, not to mention the exceptional arrangements written by Michael Brecker, Pat Matheny, Larry Goldings, Herbie Hancock, Gil Goldstein and Gil Evans. The group has created and harmonized layers and layers of beautiful and melodic sounds with their respective instruments.

A sentimental yet a great listening experience.
January 27, 2007

Long live Michael Brecker!

Michael Brecker, one of my all time favourite tenor saxophonists, sadly passed away a week ago today (on Saturday, January 13th 2007) after a long battle with leukaemia. Throughout his career, Brecker was nothing if not highly respected. I remember reading somewhere that he became the most emulated jazz saxophonist after John Coltrane. I believe that to be true. There's no doubt in my mind that Brecker was hugely influenced by Coltrane.

I have practically all his albums including the ones he released with his trumpeter brother Randy as The Brecker Brothers and the ones he put out with Warren Bernhardt, Peter Erskine, Eddie Gomez and Mike Mainieri as the group Steps Ahead. If I see that he's featured as a guest player on anyone's album it usually sways me into buying it.

But this is my all-time favourite CD by the man and to my knowledge, it's the first and only album of ballads that he made. He is joined by a group of jazz giants who obviously looked up to him (and all of whom he has played with at some time or other) - Jack DeJohnette on drums, Charlie Haden on bass, Herbie Hancock on piano and Pat Metheny on guitar. James Taylor even appears as a special guest vocalist on two tracks; his own composition "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" and the Carmichael-Washington standard, "The Nearness of You". The album is produced by Pat Metheny and Steve Rodby.

There's not much else to say; the album does exactly what it says on the tin with few surprises, and provides well over an hour of soothing, yet interesting music. The album is subtitled "The Ballad Book" and is divided into two "chapters" of five songs each, with an "epilogue" of one song. I love every single one but my favourite of them all is the shimmering "Nascente". It's not every time Metheny uses his guitar synth for solos that I like the sound of it but here it's simply transcendent. When Hancock follows with his own formidable solo I'm not sure whether I want to cry or fly.

A great album for those long nighttime drives or for evenings alone in quiet contemplation. Brecker's left us a heap of great music but I'm sad to hear that he's gone. May his soul rest in peace.

January 20, 2007

Skip the beauty, give me pretty

There is SO much potential in the lineup of this CD: the singular talents of the instrumentalists, the subtle and complex simplicity of the tunes, the proven chemistry of the musicians- well documented from numerous beautiful collaborations past, the history alone that these artists have been steeped in; but pretty is the password of the day here.
Romantic sounds for a candlelit dinner. Numerous candidates for any "best makeout tunes of all time" compilations. Even James Taylor's blessings to validate the safety factor of this project. Nearness of You has all this, and less.
Missing are fresh meaningful readings of the (beautiful) compositions, any hint of lyric urgency or that sense of voice that makes a jazz ballad sing. Now I know that Michael, Pat, Herbie, Charlie and Jack have paid their dues and have proven they're beautiful artists. Just don't look to The Ballad Book as evidence. You should buy this knowing the music is pretty and money is beautiful.
February 10, 2006

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