JAZZ SPOTLIGHT

BRECKER BROTHERS

“Out of the Loop”

GRP

* * *

Once again, Randy and Michael Brecker mine the contemporary acoustic, plugged-in vein that has rewarded them in the past. And while there’s little groundbreaking material here, the music is nonetheless satisfying, even enriching.

The brothers have long kept one foot in the straight-ahead jazz camp and the other in the more pop area, and that’s what you get here. The short, bubbly “When It Was” is a catchy melody underpinned by a hip-hop backbeat. “Slang” has two complementary funky lines that lead into an electrified, muted trumpet solo a la Miles from Randy, who drops in be-bop phrases over this modern beat and makes them fit.

“African Skies” has a constant pat-a-tah-pat-a-tah, slapped-drum bottom that gives it a strong world beat flavor. Here Michael, on tenor sax, offers torrents of notes like the rush of a flock of birds in flight, then plays simpler, more emotionally affecting remarks.

This solid album is given balance by such lyrical, atmospheric tunes as “Secret Heart,” spotlighting a charming outing by Randy, and the tender ballad “And Then She Wept.”

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good, recommended) and four stars (excellent).