The Brecker Brothers News

There's an episode of The Simpsons in which Mayor Quimby introduces the band Blood, Sweat & Tears at a town event, adding, "Sorry to hear about Sweat." It's a funny joke, but one shouldn't get the idea that Blood, Sweat & Tears is or ever was a trio or duo.

You might not be familiar with the award-winning New York saxophonist David Binney, but I can assure you that his description of the Ninja Funk Orchestra, which follows, is as apt as any.

Wilmette saxophonist Jeff Mackevich will hit the stage with his new funk/jazz band, the J Beam Band, at Gabe's Backstage Lounge in Highwood at 9 p.m. Nov.

With the realization that there will always be more music coming at him than he can keep up with, AAJ Managing Editor John Kelman wonders why anyone would think that jazz is dead or dying.

Trumpeter Randy Brecker's jazz credentials are of the highest order. The Brecker Brothers, the group he co-led with younger brother/saxophonist Michael , was one of the most successful jazz/funk/fusion groups of the 1970s and '80s. But jazz snobbery/elitism never ran in the family.

If you know the classic Brecker Brothers tune "Some Skunk Funk," you might not recognize it in this insanely fast version performed in Nagoya, Japan, in 1993.

David Vincent Mills and flutist and saxophonist William Hoshal will start performing at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug.

Thanks to a weapons-grade lineup and original compositions that recall the salad days of The Brecker Brothers , Towner Galaher's Courageous Hearts has more than its share of awesome moments.