Randy Brecker has long been a major jazz trumpeter, but this is largely a commercial date. On the back cover of the CD it says that he "blends Brazilian samba and bossa nova with contemporary jazz, funk, and rock influences." It is a mishmash of styles, much of it electrified and full of forgettable originals.
Brecker plays well, although often sounding a bit like
Freddie Hubbard on his commercial records of the late '70s. Other than
David Sanborn (who has a nice spot on "The Sleaze Factor") and
Brecker's father,
Bobby Brecker, who is heard in 1945 on the first part of "The Hottest Man in Town" playing piano and singing his prediction that his son would be a musician, the sidemen sound as anonymous as the music. Skip this one and get one of
Randy Brecker's more creative recordings instead. ~ Scott Yanow