Randy Brecker is a jazz trumpeter and composer who has helped shape the sound of jazz, R&B, and rock for over six decades. His performances on trumpet and flugelhorn have graced hundreds of albums by artists such as James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Parliament/Funkadelic, Frank Sinatra, Steely Dan, Jaco Pastorius, and Frank Zappa.
Born in 1945 in Philadelphia to a musical family, Randy’s talent was nurtured from an early age. He attended Indiana University (1963–66), studying with Bill Adam, David Baker, and Jerry Coker, before moving to New York, where he played with prominent bands like Clark Terry’s Big Bad Band, the Duke Pearson Big Band, and the Thad Jones Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra.
In 1967, Randy ventured into jazz-rock with the band Blood, Sweat and Tears, but soon joined the Horace Silver Quintet. He released his first solo album, ‘Score,’ in 1968, featuring a young Michael Brecker on tenor saxophone.
Randy later joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers before forming the seminal fusion group ‘Dreams’ in 1970, alongside Michael Brecker, Billy Cobham, and John Abercrombie. The band recorded two acclaimed albums, ‘Dreams’ and ‘Imagine My Surprise,’ on Columbia Records.
In 1975, Randy and Michael formed the Brecker Brothers Band, a group that released six albums on Arista and earned seven Grammy nominations. Their iconic debut featured the now-classic “Some Skunk Funk.”
In 1992, the Brecker Brothers reunited for a world tour and the Grammy-nominated album ‘The Return of the Brecker Brothers.’ The follow-up, ‘Out of the Loop’ (1994), won two Grammys.
As a solo artist, Randy explored various styles, releasing notable albums like ‘Into the Sun’ (1997)—inspired by Brazilian music—and ‘34th n’ Lex’ (2003), which won him a Grammy for Best Contemporary Jazz Album.
Randy has collaborated with legends such as Stevie Wonder, Larry Coryell, Hal Galper, and Billy Cobham. In 2007, he won a Grammy for his live album ‘Randy Brecker Live with the WDR Big Band.’ That same year, his brother Michael Brecker passed away.
In 2008, Randy released ‘Randy in Brazil,’ recorded in São Paulo with Brazilian musicians, earning him another Grammy. He also recorded a “Tribute to the Brecker Brothers” in Japan and celebrated his Polish roots with ‘Jazz Suite Tykocin’ in 2009.
In 2013, he toured Europe with the Brecker Brothers Band Reunion and released a live DVD and studio album featuring David Sanborn, Mike Stern, and Dave Weckl.
Randy’s project ‘Night in Calisia’ with Wlodek Pawlik won a Grammy in 2014. He continued releasing innovative works like ‘RandyPOP!’ and collaborations with artists such as Eric Marienthal.
In 2020, Randy won his 7th Grammy for his solo on ‘Sozinho’ (NDR Big Band Rocks) and released ‘Double Dealin’’ with Eric Marienthal, which was also Grammy-nominated.
His latest projects include the 2023 release ‘Randy Live at the Amazonas Green Jazz Fest’ and the 2024 album ‘The Hidden World Of Piloo,’ co-produced with his wife Ada Rovatti.
As a Yamaha Artist, composer, and educator, Randy Brecker continues to influence and inspire young musicians around the globe.