Trumpeter Randy Sandke knew Michael Brecker for nearly forty years, since both were college freshmen. Thought by many to be the most influential saxophonist since John Coltrane, Brecker died on Saturday, January 13, of leukemia brought on by myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a rare cancer of the blood marrow. After saying his final goodbye to Brecker, Sandke wrote the following remembrance of his friend. We are honored that he chose Rifftides to publish it.
Michael Brecker as I Knew Him
By Randy Sandke
I’ve already been to too many memorial services for jazz musicians (and I know I’ll be at many more), but of all of them, the one for Michael Brecker was the saddest and most emotional, at least for me. Maybe it was because he had two beautiful school-aged children: a daughter age seventeen named Jessica and a son, Sam, thirteen. Then there were the circumstances of his death–a grueling two-and-a-half year struggle with an ailment for which there is no cure, and for which the therapy (massive chemotherapy) was often as devastating as the disease. But lastly, there was Mike. Aside from his prodigious and unique talents, he was one of the sweetest, most gentle, and kindest souls I’ve ever met. His loss is incalculable in many ways.
I’ve know Mike since we were both eighteen, students at Indiana University. He entered as a Spanish major and took music courses only as electives. Even then he was a stupendous player. He idolized his older brother, Randy, who had graduated from Indiana two years before. Mike thought he could only catch up with Randy (who was and is a well-schooled but very natural trumpet player) by working as hard as he could. He was obsessed with practicing. He and Steve Grossman (whom I think Mike had met at Phil Woods’ camp, Ramblerni) used to compete by seeing how fast they could transcribe the latest Coltrane recording. Mike once told me he wanted to be Coltrane, though he listened to many other tenor players, from Joe Henderson and Joe Farrell to Junior Walker and King Curtis. (We used to assemble at a campus pizza parlor and listen to “Memphis Soul Stew” on a nearly nightly basis).
But Mike had a musical Achilles’ heel: he found reading music boring and at that time was barely able to do it at all. He auditioned for the IU jazz band but because of his reading difficulties only made the second band. I remember hearing a concert they performed in which Mike sat patiently in the section as they ran through their not too inspiring charts. Suddenly Mike stood up and blew the roof off the place. He then sat back down as if nothing unusual had happened and finished the concert. Even then he was hypercritical of his own playing.
We formed a jazz-rock band with the rather uncouth name of “Mrs. Seamon’s Sound Band.” Mrs. Seamon was the head dietician at Wilkie Quad where Mike and I lived, and she hated the longhaired and unkempt students who were invading her cafeteria. Mike himself was always something of a natty dresser but we were all letting our hair grow long; after all, this was 1967-8.
Our band played at the Notre Dame collegiate jazz festival that spring and our mĂ©lange of straight-ahead cum avant-garde cum fusion totally baffled the judges. Ray Brown refused to give us the first prize, so for the first time in the history of the festival they didn’t award one. We all considered this a major victory; the hippie side of us looked askance at competitions anyway.
Young Michael Brecker
But out of this came an offer to take the band to Chicago (my hometown–Mike was from Philly) to be managed by the wife of a Chicago jazz writer. This whole episode was a disaster from the start as it turned out that she was more interested in maintaining a stable of young studs than taking care of business. When two of the band members quit, we were stuck in a semi-hopeless situation. She’d already put us up in an apartment and invested money and we felt obligated to her but couldn’t work until we replaced the guys who left. We tried auditioning various musicians but none jelled with what we were doing.
After two months of this stalemate I couldn’t take it anymore. I went home to my parents’ place to enjoy a warm meal and clean sheets. I told everybody I’d be back in a day or two. That night all hell broke loose. Two sisters, friends of the keyboard player, were “crashing” with us. One was selling LSD and she handed it out that night. Everyone in the band had some experience with it (and I’m pretty sure some declined), but the younger sister, Bridget, had never taken it before. She was very attracted to our drummer, Eric, as was another woman who was staying with the band. Between the acid and this bizarre love triangle Bridget got so upset that she flung herself out of a third story window and killed herself.
An ambulance took Bridget away but the others were rounded up by the police as the apartment was searched. They found the LSD and everybody was carted off to Cook County Jail. Michael and I were the only two not arrested. Earlier that evening Mike had sensed that something might go terribly wrong and he went out for a walk. He returned to find the place surrounded by police cars and paddy wagons. I never found out where Mike stayed that night. He may have just paced around until dawn.
For the other band members, the nightmare only deepened. They were separated and put into cells with vicious criminals. Eric, who had witnessed Bridget’s jump and also taken acid, was brutally gang raped in his cell. Meanwhile, the notoriously corrupt Chicago police sent a van to our apartment and proceeded to steal all the band’s equipment and possessions. I lost my record collection, my trumpet and the flugelhorn I’d won at Notre Dame. Once again Mike was spared the worst because he had taken his tenor into a shop for repairs.
An ambitious DA wanted to press murder charges against the guys and the press was hungering for a sensational LSD story. Eventually the whole thing was thrown out on a technicality, but too much damage had already been done. Eric was never the same. Within a year he committed suicide by jumping off a landing in Los Angeles.
Mike and I were both devastated, but we dealt with this horrible experience in very different ways. I was having trouble with a rupture in my larynx that was exacerbated by playing without proper amplification in our band. After an operation I considered unsuccessful I decided to quite the trumpet and music altogether. I didn’t even own a trumpet for another ten years. I sought treatment with a variety of psychiatrists, learned to live without being a musician, and gradually came to terms with all that had happened.
Mike moved to New York where his brother was already well on his way to establishing himself as a jazz and studio player. At nineteen Mike made his recording debut on his brother’s record, “Score.” From there they both proceeded to garner more and more success and fame.
The Brecker Brothers
Yet, I know that the events of the summer of ’68 were still gnawing at Mike’s soul. He was a very shy, introverted person. Like many musicians he was more comfortable in the privacy of his practice room than in the company of people, especially strangers. Suddenly, he was in the limelight, surrounded by crowds of admirers and offered vast quantities of every conceivable temptation known to man.
I think it was in an effort to retreat from our bad experiences in Chicago that Mike began a downward spiral into alcohol, cocaine and eventually heroin. Through the seventies Mike’s fame grew by leaps and bounds as his private life deteriorated. This was also the period when he and Randy invested in their nightclub, Seventh Avenue South. It was a big success with audiences but an unscrupulous manager stole money and didn’t report anything to the government. Mike was financially wiped out as his bank account was seized by the IRS three times.
Finally, he came around and sought treatment and was able to transform his life. He took himself out of circulation for at least six months. He told me he didn’t care if ever made a penny again, he was going to do what he wanted to. He met the love of his life, Susan, and they settled down in a secluded home in Hastings-On- Hudson (before, Mike had lived in spacious but dingy lofts in the West 20’s and on Grand Street near Chinatown). Mike became a family man who doted on his two kids. He said if he had it to do again he would have had more. The family pet, a seeing-eye dog who hadn’t made the grade, rounded out the picture of suburban bliss.
I was really happy for him. After his hiatus Mike’s career again resumed as if he’d never been gone. It just exploded all over again, as well it should have. If a jazz musician becomes a major success, the critics can cool off on you and take you for granted. But no one, at any time, ever played the tenor the way Mike did. In live performance, he was probably the most exciting musician (jazz or otherwise) I have ever heard.
I started playing again in late 1979. By ’85 I felt ready to make my first solo album. I asked Mike to be on it. He was his usual gracious and encouraging self, and a model of professionalism in the studio. We did another album ten years later when I was with Concord.
I felt that Mike should not give me any special breaks and negotiated his fee with his manager and good friend, Daryl Pitt. I knew it was above Concord’s budget so I made up the shortfall out of my own pocket and sent a check to Mike. He never cashed it.
The real tragedy of Mike’s final illness is that everything was working so well for him- and he’d learned to appreciate it all. He also learned how to deal with his fame in a positive way and very seriously regarded his job as being a role model for saxophonists everywhere.
He also used his fame to raise awareness for his disease. Because of publicity he generated, 10,000 people from all over the world were tested as donors for bone marrow transplants. One of the few bright spots for Mike over the last few weeks was when he received a letter from a child whose life had been saved by a donor who had responded to the call to find a match for Mike. Michael himself never found a perfect match but did receive a transplant. The donor was his own daughter, Jessica. The doctors believe that her gift enabled Mike to live for an additional year.
One of the frustrating things about Mike was that it was impossible to compliment him without his complimenting you back. He wanted to see everybody as on his level, but the truth was, he existed on his own plane. Like all great artists, he gave us all a glimpse of how limitless and invigorating the possibilities of life are. Typical of his modesty was that (and I’m sure this was according to his wishes) the only music played at his memorial service was recordings of John Coltrane. The only live music was sung by a female cantor who did some ancient sounding Jewish modal piece that sounded eerily similar to something Coltrane would have played. Even in death, Mike was trying to teach us something about the universality of human experience.
Everybody who knew Mike loved him dearly and cherished every moment spent with him. He was extremely down to earth and totally unassuming. One of his favorite words was “amazing,” which of course he never applied to himself. He was a great spirit and, I truly believe, one of the greatest musical figures of our era. I feel so blessed to have known him and been able to call him my friend.
Brecker’s death is a great loss for jazz, for music. RIP.
Randy, so beautifully put as I would expect from someone else who has beautiful soul – YOU! Though I knew and worked with Michael in his earlier days in NY, I never had the opportunity to know him as did you. Thank you for giving us a glimpse of Michael as probably only you could have done.
With deep humility,
Marvin
Thank you so much, and please pass on my thanks to Randy Sandke, for this powerful piece about his departed friend, Michael Brecker. As we all deal with Mike’s passing, I haven’t found a more poignant and touching tribute than this.
Chip Tingle
Trombone & Low Brass
Randy, your comments were perfect enough; he was the consummate artist and a wonderful friend. I appreciate the time I played bass with the band as a turning point in my musical career.
May we all play again in that place where the Creator’s Master Plan works in Truth.
I always hoped for Michael to recover completely. As many other fans, I sent hundreds of emails around the world, searching for a donor. I was happy to see that he was feeling better in the last months, but…
When I saw (by chance, it was late at night) the Steps Ahead concert (Copenhaguen Live 1983) on TV, a new world of sound opened to me. Each one of the members was a BIG musician, but listening to Mike’s sound was a lifetime experience. I will always be thankful to him for showing me that there was another kind of jazz music. His music has been with me from that moment on.
He will be deeply missed.
randy—-steve slagle here—altho i met both mike and randy when i moved to nyc in’78 and we became friends — i found your honest and loving words enlightening and telling of a period of time we all went thru one way or the other-altho we all greatly mourn his loss–thanx so much for helping such a strong spirit live on—ss
(Steve Slagle is an alto and soprano saxophonist–DR)
I was a friend of Mike’s and appreciated his unique abilities on the sax. For those of you who didn’t know him, he was a giant in the world of music, but so much more as a person. The world has lost a truly wonderful soul.
I don’t know what this world would have been like if Michael didn’t grace us with his time here. He was a great friend to me and constantly validated my work by always playing on my projects. He constantly encouraged me to keep on pushing the envelope and look forward, not back. Even through his most difficult times he always kept his sense of humor and through all the emails we exchanged and the phone calls, he never complained about what he was going through.
I will miss Mike through the rest of my journey through life, but for all the people who knew him and loved him, he will never be forgotten for being that special bright light that always shined so bright.
Peace,
Jason
I was so sorry to hear of Michael’s death. I am familiar with his music and close to his spirit through Bob Jospe. I had the good fortune to be kept up through the night by the music of Cosmology when I lived in the loft above their band in New York.
When one of us leaves this earth it affects all of us because the music we make serves as fuel and we feed off of one another. I will miss Michael’s energy in the universe and I will be better because of the music he left with me.
We lean on one another to stand up straight; Michael was a pillar for generations yet to come.
E. L. James
Hey Randy,
Bright Moments! As I said to you by phone, Michael has left a legacy through his “Powerful Music” shared with the World! We are Blessed that the “Creator” choose to allow him to pass through this “Time & Space”, so that we might benefit from the magic of his “Music”. Our Prayers are for the comfort and acceptance of your family, and are sent out into “Cyber Space” for the Eternity of Michael’s Spirit!
Love, Peace, and Music,
Trudy Pitts & “Mr.C”
I remember getting off the the plane at JFK, and I made a short prayer. My prayer was then answered with a call from Mike Brecker, saying that he would love to record on my project. Since then life has not been the same. After being in the same room with Mike just playing with such passion and burning at the same time is quite an experience. Then, to get to know him and experience his love and thoughtfulness just leaves you hooked on Mike.
Shortly after my cd projects I received an email from Mike informing me that he was having some strange health issues.
Since then my prayers focused on Mike and his family.
We are very sad and really miss him. I just feel truly blessed to have known him.
God Bless Mike and his wonderful family.
– Rob Whitlock
(Mr. Whitlock is a pianist and composer — DR)
ho 60 hanni ho suonato il sax tenore Selmer adesso devo piangere un po’-dico solo< Michael ti amo e ti amero’ per sempre
(Translation welcome — DR)
Randy, thank you for this moving remembrance of Mike. A singular musician, a great friend, and a beautiful soul. He will be so greatly missed.
Andy
Randy,
Thanks for sharing your memories of Mike, a very special person, musician, and friend to so many. He will be missed, but his music will live on.
Randy, that was a poignant and moving tribute to one of the finest human beings I’ve had the pleasure to know in my lifetime. You’re right, it was never about Mike, but ALWAYS about the other person.
Our loss is heavens gain.
I wanted to share with you my online memorial for Michael. Please light a candle or messages a message of memory of this legend.
http://www.christianmemorials.com/tributes/michael-brecker/
Kind regards,
Nathan
Many of the greatest musicians in history have left this world too early–and Michael Brecker is one of these musicians. A constant source of inspiration for me and so many other musicians, his loss is indescribable. His recordings will live on and continue to lead the way in contemporary jazz. His final album will undoubtedly blow us all away when it is released, one more collection of his genius.
Randy,
I really appreciate your sharing your thoughts and memories of Mike. As one who felt privileged to meet Mike and Randy nearly 30 years ago, I continue to be inspired by their great music and vibes. Michael became a great supporter of my presentations through his involvement on the Jazz Forum Arts board, but best of all through his performances at some of our events. As a friend and neighbor, I miss him and his spirit but am so thankful for the rich musical legarcy he left for all of us to enjoy. Thanks again, Randy. Best regards, Mark Morganelli
Dear All:
I will keep it short as I know that we all share the same passion for Michael’s music and humanity… As far as I am concerned, I have met with Michael only as a fan after some of his shows. At the time I was playing the classical saxophone (weird music category 🙂 and I must confess that I started to play jazz and to buy a tenor thanks to the overwhelming beauty of Michael’s first recordings. Strangely enough, I stopped playing the sax many years later after realizing how much talent and dedication it took Michael to express the music that we have inside. From that moment on, I decided to enjoy fully the music played by others, instead of practising 8 hours a day. Those were the words of a fan who always listens to Michael recordings pumping up the volume to the max to feel the vibes of his sound as if it were live! Thanks Michael, thanks to all those who shared their feelings in this page.
Florian, 32 yo (France-Italy)
PS: I have found this comment in Italian therefore I will translate it as requested : “I am 60 yo and I have played the tenor sax (a Selmer), now I feel like crying and I just want to say “Michael I love you and will alway do.””
“ho 60 hanni ho suonato il sax tenore Selmer adesso devo piangere un po’-dico solo< Michael ti amo e ti amero’ per sempre
Posted by: mazzarolo gianfranco at January 23, 2007 7:32 AM
mike brecker’s death hit me hard, to say the least. its one thing to find the heroes of your ( or my) musical youth aging, yet another when they take off for ( as jackie mc lean might put it) “destination out”.
unlike a lot of my purist friends and teachers, i found a lot to like and love about the brecker brothers-one of those things being mike’s soulful, questing tenor…. im grateful for the beauty and the fun.
peace,
reuben jackson
washington, dc
Michael Brecker was not only the most influential saxophonist since John Coltrane, he was a major musical force for the last 35 yrs in the many diverse styles of Jazz, Fusion, Pop, Rock, R&B, Soul and World music. He will always be one of my all-time favorite musicians for what he accomplished as an innovator and for the kind, generous person he was. I will deeply miss him as he has had a profound impact on my life and he encompassed everything I aspire to be. I am most fortunate that Michael became a colleague and friend in recent years when he so graciously helped jumpstart my career by writing a testimonial for my debut CD release “DKO” and then recording the title track for my 3rd DKO CD “In The Now”.
With sincere gratitude and respect, I thank you Michael.
The world is a much better place because you were here.
Darren Kramer
Randy,
I knew that Michael was sick but just found out that he had died. I remember him mostly from the Mrs. Seaman days and was glad to read about the days at IU. Mrs. Seaman’s Sound Band has remained as one of my all time favorite bands. I actually auditioned for the band as a vocalist and when I didn’t make it Michael and Eric hooked me up with Harry Wilkerson and Kyle Tullis we formed “The Good Children’s Army.” Kyle also died of cancer a few years ago. He had a very sucessful career as a sideman for a long time. I assume that you know that John Rapp took his own life a good while back. He had moved back to Bloomington and was very depressed as he had Tunnelton Syndrome and could no longer play. At any rate I wanted to share my thoughts with you and thank you for your inclusion of the short time that Michael spent in Indiana. His passing certainly leaves a huge hole in the music world!
Randy, Thanks for putting your thoughts in writing. I had the pleasure of meeting Mike Brecker in 1985 at the Montreux Jazz Festival. I was playing drums with a group from Detroit on the last night of the festival. We finished our set at 5:00 in the morning, just before Hugh Masakela. Michael was the “suprise guest” for the that evening and had arrived as we closed our set. He had driven for 5 hours, just having played with “Steps Ahead” in Italy, to play the concert with Hugh. He was most gracious as we met him and had photos taken with him backstage. He then took the stage and played as no one else could. His performance was amazing and an inspiration to all that witnessed the concert. His presence in the jazz world will always be missed…