Yeah, yeah. I know what your first question is…WHO’S THE SAX PLAYER? Fair enough. Trumpeter Randy Brecker reunites with alumni Will Lee/b, Mike Stern/g, George Whitty/key and Dave Weckl/dr. The tenor and soprano sax is handled well enough by Ada Rovatti (Randy’s wife), and she handles the front line with hubby excellently on pieces like “First Tune of the Set” and particularly on a sensitive take on the thoughtful “Elegy for Mike.” Also appearing is Dave Sanborn who fits in like he was born for this stuff on a couple of tunes, while Stern sounds like he’s having the time of his life throughout. A few of the songs include vocals, with Randroid teaming up with Adam Rogers and Randy on a very interesting “Musician’s Ol’ Lady Dues Blues” and some rap on “Really For It” that sounds a tad dated. Vocals by Oli Rockberger on “Merry Go Town” fit in soulfully, and not only do you get these tunes on a studio cd, but a dvd of the band in concert includes a finger snapping take of their classic “Some Skunk Funk.” Amazing how good this stuff still sounds!
The DVD from a gig at the blue note shows an alarmingly tight and hard hitting unit, with Stern visibly enjoying himself and laying out some nice guitar work on “First Tune of the Set.” Rovatti shows some muscle on the tenor and soprano as well, and Weckle drives the reins like Walter Brennan in a John Ford western. Whew!
Piloo Records