Pilgrimage

マイケルが我々に残した最期のサウンドとメッセージ。しっかり胸に刻み込んで聴いてください！
30年以上のキャリアで13度グラミー賞を受賞し、ジャズ史上コルトレーンと共に最重要テナー･サックス奏者のマイケル･ブレッカーの遺作ついに発表。
惜しくも今年1月に2年半の闘病の末に57歳という若さで逝去されましたが、今作は昨年の8月の闘病中にレコーディングし、
Herbie Hancock,Brad Meldau,Pat Metheny,Jack DeJohnette,John Patitucciなどのオールスターが集結、これまでの作品の中でも力強い素晴らしい仕上がりになりました。
全曲がオリジナルでどの曲も力強く、マイケルの最期のメッセージの詰まった75分間は時間をも超越する。

ブラッド･メルドー　『この音楽はハーモニク的にもにもメロディーをとってみてもリズムにしてもにまるでマイケルそのものに聴こえるんだ。
でも僕たちは緊急であると同時にとても密に一緒に作り、最終的にこの作品はとてもクリエイティヴで大きな意味を持つマイケルの声明となったのだ。』

Given the heartbreaking context in which this album was released -- this was the final recording by saxophonist Michael Brecker, who died of myelodysplastic syndrome and leukemia only a few months before its release -- there might be a certain temptation to cut it some slack for sentimental reasons. However, leniency is hardly needed. Leading a group comprised of jaw-dropping talents (pianists Herbie Hancock and Brad Mehldau, guitarist Pat Metheny, bassist John Patitucci, drummer Jack DeJohnette) and playing for the first time a program consisting entirely of original compositions, Brecker delivers an emotionally rich and startlingly powerful album of straight-ahead modern jazz that will stand as his musical epitaph and will effectively confound anyone who has ever been tempted to dismiss him as a mere jazz-pop fusioneer. It will also frustrate anyone looking for maudlin emotion or even any obvious product of existential angst; the only concession to sentiment here is on the title of a ballad, "When Can I Kiss You Again?," a quote from Brecker's teenage son during a period in his treatment when his family was not allowed to touch him. But even that track, with its unusual chord progression and sometimes rather arid solos, retains a core of tough-mindedness within the tenderness. Most of the rest of the program consists of uptempo and medium-tempo burners that swing with a powerful sense of urgency and life, and precious little foreshadowing of the tragedy that all involved knew was soon to come. This is a brilliant and inspiring album -- and would be whether or not it had anything to do with the death of one of the great figures in American jazz. This CD was nominated in 2007 for a Grammy award as Best Jazz Instrumental Album (Individual or Group), and Brecker's improvisation on "Anagram" was nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo. ~ Rick Anderson|