Studio musicians and fusion bands -- especially successful ones -- get the least respect from jazz purists. Saxophonist Michael Brecker is in both categories. His 30 some years of studio recordings with practically everyone (Average White Band, Parliament, Paul Simon, Dire Straits, Aerosmith) would seem to have banished him forever from the realm of jazz authenticity. The popularity of his 1970s fusion band, the Brecker Brothers, co-led with brother Randy, made that exile even surer.
Little by little, though, Brecker has edged back toward recognition as one of the most accomplished jazz sax players around -- and one of the most influential. Coveted spots with jazz masters Mark Murphy, Chick Corea and Pat Metheny washed away the pop-music phrasings and revealed his well-honed bop technique. His own straight-ahead jazz groups in the '80s and '90s showcased not only his leadership, but also his improvisational intensity. His Coltrane-inspired playing on the recent "Directions in Music" with Herbie Hancock and Roy Hargrove positioned him as a serious contender for respect.
Last year, Brecker released his most innovative recording yet, "Wide Angle," a quindectet with an unusual combination of brass and strings. Though Brecker has played on countless studio recordings where strings added nothing but sweetness and light, the arrangements on "Wide Angle" do just the opposite. The four strings slice open the jazz harmonies with atonal edginess and reframe the bop-heavy brass to create a unique ensemble sound.