Charged Particles

Michael Brecker was a beloved innovator on the tenor saxophone whose unique voice and approach to the instrument influenced every saxophonist playing jazz today. Winner of 15 Grammy Awards and a member of Downbeat Magazine's Hall of Fame, he was a prolific composer and leader of a range of different bands, as well as a guest performer with many other ensembles. The jazz world lost him to leukemia at the age of 57.

This concert will celebrate Brecker’s compositions with a performance by California tenor saxophone virtuoso Tod Dickow with the trio Charged Particles, who recently sold out their appearance at the historic club Birdland in New York City with guest trumpeter Randy Brecker. Dickow is a first-call player on the San Francisco scene and is winner of the Outstanding Soloist Award from Downbeat Magazine. Tod's playing and composing are powerfully influenced by Michael Brecker and has captured the essence of Michael's spirit on the instrument.

The quartet recently released a live recording of Brecker compositions (“Live at the Baked Potato!” on Summit Records), and it was named one of the best CDs of 2021 by Jazzwise Magazine, JazzTimes Magazine, the Jazz Journalists Association, the 16^th Annual Jazz Critics Poll, and more. Brecker’s biographer, Bill Milkowski, said the recording is “staggering in its authenticity.” Randy Brecker said the recording is “smoking and intense from beginning to end.” Downbeat Magazine said it offers “exciting, satisfying stuff”.