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Randy Brecker -
"Downtown with old friends"
[Deutsche Version]
On his preceding album "Hangin´ in the City", Randy Brecker introduced with 'Songs of Rhythm, Reason & Romance & Raunch' his singing alter ego 'Randroid', the – eye-winkingly presented – dark and wicked side of Randy Brecker. Contrastingly, his present work '34th N Lex' shows again, exept for one track with vocals, Brecker's pure instrumental side: Funky stuff, decorated with driving horn section and grooving bass and drum parts. Brecker dedicates the album as a homage to his 'home-district' Manhattan.
Randy Brecker
Carina Prange talked to Randy Brecker in Berlin.
Carina: Why did you work with two generations of musicians for your CD?
Randy: Oh, it was just an idea, I had somewhere along the line. I had a young band and I started utilizing my computer and writing stuff and the horn-section kept getting bigger and bigger. I still got associated with my brother and the usual suspects. I still think that these guys are the best guys.
All these hornplayers are my friends, old friends and it was no easy task getting all five players together in one room at one time. But it finally came together some time last summer, where I was able to get Ronnie Cuber, Michael Brecker, Dave Sanborn, Fred Wesley and myself and we recorded all that material doing one long session ...
Carina: Featured on several songs of "34th N Lex" is trombone-player Fred Wesley - what's your personal relationship like?
Randy: I met Fred way back in the late sixties, when I first came to New York. Before I knew who he was – or probably before any people knew who he was. I was called to do a session that he had arranged and written for himself. Kind of a jazz-influenced date with a larger horn-section and I thought it was a wonderful way back then.
And then of course he started to write for James Brown and George Clinton and he was kind enough to call me for those sessions. So he became a big influence in my writing. Probably the biggest of everyone. The way he articulates notes and his funky horn figures. His association with bebop as opposed to funk: He is right in the crack there between the two musics.
Randy
Brecker
Carina: There's only a small number of albums which feature you as leader – compared to hundreds on which you appear as a sideman. To run your own, personal project – how much importance does that have to you?
Randy: It has a lot of importance, if I'm given the freedom to do what I want. That´s the thing. And I have always had problems with American companies who tend to sign you, but then tell you what they want from you. And that just doesn´t work like that for me, I´d rather not do anything. So I was very happy to meet Joachim Becker (ESC-Records, the ed.), who allowed me the opportunity to do these records.
Carina: Since Michael plays on your new album as well, is another revival of the Brecker Brothers Band something that is imaginable for you?
Randy: Yes! – Well, I think, sooner or later we will do it. We didn´t really have a chance to talk about it. We are going to do something together in October, November at Leverkusen, where they want to do a night of Randy Brecker Music. And Michael is going to be a special guest: featuring the WDR Big Band, conducted by Vince Mendoza. We will also have guests like Peter Erskine and Don Alias, so it should be a good night.
We talk about it all the time – about recording together and also doing a tour together. Some time in the near future, there will be a tour.
Randy
Brecker - "34th N Lex"
Carina: You live in New York since 1966. Your new album is a homage to Manhattan and to living in this "city that never sleeps". What has changed for you in New York within the last five years?
Randy: Well, the major turning event – unfortunately for the worse – was "9-11". I think New York has been recovering very well but the world has all changed since then. And it is becoming a more stressfull place to live, unfortunately. Although New York is very strong and will survive this and any other attacks that may occur. But New York – strangely – changed not so much, it still got the same vibrancy and the same artistic workplaces that it had many years ago. It´s still a vital place for the art.
Carina: You recorded with Charles Mingus and for some years played in the Mingus Dynasty and Mingus Big Band - did this influence your view on music and your style?
Randy: Yes, they have! – I have been playing with Mingus Bigband and Mingusses music since the late seventies. And he has always influenced me since I first heard his records in the late fifties, actually. I had brought a record called "Blues and Roots" and that ... – The way he utilized the horn, the openers, the collective improvisation, the fact that he drew a lot of inspiration from the church and from gospel music along with classical music and the avantgarde and bebop is an undeniable influence through all these years.
Carina: For your new album you did the pre-production programming yourself. How do you judge the influence of the computer on the compositional process?
Randy: Well, it's a very strong influence. I usually start at least by starting on the piano. But then I move what I have written over to the computer. And it becomes very handy – because I travel so much, I can take everything on the road: a small keyboard and computer, a small thing called "MBach", which allows me to record the trumpet over the sequences and I have a very portable recording studio. So the influence is quite direct and great.
Randy
Brecker
Carina: Since 1999 you are a teacher at the Manhattan School of music. How many lessons do you usually give there per month? How much time per day do you spend yourself for practicing?
Randy: Well, I don´t... – in fact the deal with the Manhattan is somewhat different. I am not available very much, unfortunately, because I went travelling so much. But I try to see some students two or three times per semester if I can. They usually have regular teachers.
But I spend a lot of time, as much time as I can – actually practising everyday to keep up my chops. It´s a kind of "on-you-get, off-you-get" all day process. One which has actually suffered so much these week because I've been giving so many interviews, so I am not playing. I'm gonna have to spend some extra-time when I get back to New York, really invigorating my embouchure. Trumpet is a very unforgiving instrument, one must spend much time on just consistently excercises to keep up one's embouchure correct.
Randy
Brecker
Carina: Do you have a sort of philosophy for life?
Randy: Aah!! Well my, I guess, "philosophy in a nutshell" is to make the most of it and I try to be as honest and as creative as possible. I try to do treat people the way I want them to treat me and I try to be honest in my music and I try to learn something new every day. And: move ahead, move forward!
Carina Prange
CD: Randy Brecker - "34th N Lex" (ESC / EFA 03684-2)
Randy Brecker im Internet: www.randybrecker.com
Deutsche Übersetzung des Interviews in der "Sonic" (Ausgabe: 3.2003 Mai/Juni)
Photos: esc-records
