Tag Archives: Steve Backer

Duke Ellington: …And His Mother Called Him Bill

In May 1968, “Bluebird/RCA” label released “…And His Mother Called Him Bill”, the    58th Duke Ellington album. It was recorded August – November 1967, at “Coast Recorders” in San Francisco, “RCA Victor” in New York City, and was produced by Steve Backer and Brad McCuen. In 1968, it won the “Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album”.

Personnel:

  • Duke Ellington – piano
  • Mercer Ellington – trumpet
  • Cat Anderson – trumpet
  • Herbie Jones – trumpet
  • Cootie Williams – trumpet
  • Clark Terry – flugelhorn
  • Lawrence Brown – trombone
  • Buster Cooper – trombone
  • Chuck Connors – bass trombone
  • John Sanders – valve trombone
  • Johnny Hodges – alto saxophone
  • Russell Procope – clarinet, alto saxophone
  • Jimmy Hamilton – clarinet, tenor saxophone
  • Paul Gonsalves – tenor saxophone
  • Harry Carney – baritone saxophone
  • Aaron Bell – double bass
  • Jeff Castleman – double bass
  • Steve Little – drums
  • Sam Woodyard – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Billy Strayhorn, except where noted.

  1. Snibor
  2. Boo-Dah
  3. Blood Count
  4. U.M.M.G.
  5. Charpoy
  6. After All
  7. The Intimacy of the Blues
  8. Raincheck
  9. Day Dream – Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington
  10. Rock Skippin’ at the Blue Note
  11. All Day Long
  12. Lotus Blossom

The Brecker Brothers: The brecker Bros.

In September 1975, “Arista” label released “The Brecker Bros.”, the debut Brecker Brothers (The) studio album. It was recorded in January 1975, at “Secret Sound” in New York City, and was produced by Randy Brecker.

Personnel:

  • Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone
  • Randy Brecker – vocals, trumpet, flugelhorn
  • David Sanborn – alto saxophone
  • Bob Mann – guitars
  • Don Grolnick – keyboards
  • Will Lee – vocals, electric bass
  • Harvey Mason – drums
  • Chris Parker – additional drums 
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion
  • Gerald Block – engineer, mixing
  • David Stone – mixing assistant
  • Leanne Ungar – mixing assistant
  • Bob Heimall – art direction
  • Arron Associates – design
  • John Paul Endress – photography
  • Steve Backer – executive produce

Track listing:

All tracks by Randy Brecker, except where noted.

  1. Some Skunk Funk
  2. Sponge
  3. A Creature of Many Faces
  4. Twilight
  5. Sneakin’ up Behind You – Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Don Grolnick, Will Lee, David Sanborn
  6. Rocks
  7. Levitate
  8. Oh My Stars
  9. D.B.B.