Michael Brecker – Pilgrimage (2007) {SACD ISO + FLAC 24bit/88,2kHz}

Next to John Coltrane, Michael Brecker was unquestionably the most influential tenor player in the history of jazz. As a result of his stylistic and harmonic innovations, he is the most studied contemporary jazz musician in music schools throughout the world today. This posthumous release comprises the last recordings Michael Brecker made before his untimely death in January 2007. The all-star lineup on Pilgrimage, which includes Herbie Hancock, Brad Mehldau, Pat Metheny, Jack DeJohnette, and John Patitucci, has worked in various combinations over the past four decades. Here, they perform with the compelling group interplay of a longstanding ensemble. Brecker’s nine compositions mark the first time he made an album solely of his own material. This is further testament to the creative drive that helped sustain him during his physical decline. From balladry to classic post-bop reveries, Brecker has fashioned one of his finest albums, and certainly his most personal work.

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.

Tracklist:
01 – The Mean Time
02 – Five Months From Midnight
03 – Anagram
04 – Tumbleweed
05 – When Can I Kiss You
06 – Cardinal Rule
07 – Half Moon Lane
08 – Loose Threads
09 – Pilgrimage

SACD ISO

mqs.link_MichaelBreckerPilgrimage2007SACDIS.part1.rar
mqs.link_MichaelBreckerPilgrimage2007SACDIS.part2.rar
mqs.link_MichaelBreckerPilgrimage2007SACDIS.part3.rar
mqs.link_MichaelBreckerPilgrimage2007SACDIS.part4.rar
mqs.link_MichaelBreckerPilgrimage2007SACDIS.part5.rar

FLAC 24bit/88,2kHz

mqs.link_MichaelBreckerPilgrimage2007FLACStere2488.2.part1.rar
mqs.link_MichaelBreckerPilgrimage2007FLACStere2488.2.part2.rar