An early 2002 tour of the U.K. found
Michael Brecker playing his old material with a larger band that included some instruments usually falling outside the standard jazz combo (i.e., oboe, French horn), providing the genesis for
Wide Angles by the 15-piece
Michael Brecker Quindectet. The recording makes
Brecker the center of attention, and the ten tracks (nine by
Brecker along with
Don Grolnick's "Evening Faces") are to be considered as a suite according to
Brecker and arranger
Gil Goldstein. When it sticks to the cerebral and introspective,
Wide Angles flows very well, and
Brecker is as expressive and inspired as ever. Listeners wanting to hear interactions involving mainstream bassist
John Patitucci, the usually experimental violinist
Mark Feldman, or any of the other capable players will find their roles too supportive, but with so much focus on the tenor saxophonist,
Brecker fanatics will justifiably go ape. ~ David Jeffries