2001 Michael Brecker – Nearness Of You (The Ballad Book)
Nearness of You: The Ballad Book is the seventh studio album by saxophone player Michael Brecker. Accompanied by Herbie Hancock on piano, Pat Metheny on guitars, Charlie Haden on bass, Jack DeJohnette on drums, and a special guest appearance by James Taylor, the album was released by Verve Records on June 19, 2001.
Brecker was awarded his eighth Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo on “Chan’s Song”. Taylor also won his fourth Best Male Pop Vocal Performance Grammy for “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight”. With his win, he became the first American recording artist to garner a win in that category since Michael Bolton in 1992.
Tracks
1 Chan’s Song (Herbie Hancock) 5:15
2 Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight (James Taylor) 4:43
3 Nascente (Murilo Antunes, Flavio Venturini) 6:18
4 Midnight Mood (Joe Zawinul) 6:22
5 The Nearness of You (Hoagy Carmichael, Ned Washington) 4:37
6 Incandescence (Michael Brecker) 5:21
7 Sometimes I See (Pat Metheny) 5:26
8 My Ship (Kurt Weil, Ira Gershwin) 7:10
9 Always (Irving Berlin) 5:37
10 Seven Days (Pat Metheny) 5:32
11 I Can See Your Dreams (Michael Brecker) 3:50
Musicians
| Bass | Charlie Haden |
| Drums | Jack DeJohnette |
| Guitar | Pat Metheny |
| Piano | Herbie Hancock |
| Sax | Michael Brecker |
| Percussion | Dave Samuels |
Other Musicians
2 Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
| Vocals | James Taylor |
5 The Nearness of You
| Vocals | James Taylor |
Liner Notes
Producer – Pat Metheny
Co-producer – Steve Rodby
Producer (Executive) – Richard Seidel
Arranged By – Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Michael Brecker (Track 1)
Arranged By – Pat Metheny, Gil Goldstein, Michael Brecker (Tracks 2,4)
Arranged By – Pat Metheny (Track 3,7,10)
Arranged By – Pat Metheny, Gil Goldstein, Herbie Hancock (Track 5)
Arranged By – Michael Brecker, Gil Goldstein (Track 6)
Arranged By – Gil Evans (adapted for quintet by Gil Goldstein) (Track 8)
Arranged By – Larry Goldings (Track 9)
Arranged By – Michael Brecker (Track 11)
Mastered By – Greg Calbi
Mixed By – James Farber
Recorded By – James Farber
Art Direction – Hollis King
Design – Rebecca Meek
Photography – Ken Takewaki, Michael Piazza, Sylvia Otti
Mastered At Sterling Sound, NY
Mixed At Right Track Recording, NY
Recorded At Right Track Recording, NY
Phonographic Copyright The Verve Music Group
Copyright The Verve Music Group