JAZZ REVIEW : Brecker Brothers: Sibling Revelry

The album that marks the reunion of the Brecker Brothers--with its sprinkling of world-beat and mainstream jazz pretensions--is a significant tempering of the “heavy metal be-bop” sound the seminal jazz-funk band created back in the ‘70s. But there was little such affectation in the brothers’ appearance at the Coach House Thursday, when the emphasis was on rock-steady beats and sizzling improvisational work.

Fronted by trumpeter Randy Brecker and his sibling-saxophonist Michael, the latest sextet proved tight, aggressive and all ears when it came to supporting a soloist. Pushed by bassist James Genus and strong drumming from Dennis Chambers, the band enlivened material off the reunion album with fired up tempos and a tougher attack. On a pair of revisited numbers, most notably “Some Skunk Funk” from their 1975 debut album, the group blazed away at incredible speeds, while framing intense solos from the Breckers and guitarist Mike Stern.

The set suffered only when the band resorted to some of the new disc’s pretensions, as it did when Michael introduced his own “For Barry” with indulgent bird calls and synthesized percussive effects pulled from his Electronic Wind Instrument.

The Brecker Brothers appear again tonight at the Strand in Redondo Beach.