Michael Brecker
Tenor Sax Solo on
Syzygy

About

Michael Brecker opens with an electrifying open-form tenor saxophone solo on "Syzygy," a tour de force from his 1987 self-titled debut on Impulse! Records. This is one of Brecker's classic solos accompanied by only Jack DeJohnette on drums. At a blazing 300 BPM, his command of the instrument at this extreme tempo is nothing short of astonishing, the stripped-down duo format with DeJohnette creating a raw intensity that ranks this among the most thrilling performances on the album. As the first of four soloists, Brecker's opening statement establishes the ferocious energy that defines the track, his massive tenor sound and relentless rhythmic drive setting the bar impossibly high for the soloists who follow.

Michael Brecker was 37 to 38 years old at the time.