Michael Brecker

For the Canadian political scientist, see Michael Brecher.

Michael Brecker
Brecker performing in July 2004
Background information
Born	Michael Leonard Brecker (1949-03-29)March 29, 1949 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	January 13, 2007(2007-01-13) (aged 57) Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Genres	Jazz post-bop jazz fusion funk R&B rock
Occupations	Musician composer
Instruments	Tenor saxophone drums EWI
Years active	1969–2006
Formerly of	Brecker Brothers Steps Ahead
Website	michaelbrecker.com

Michael Leonard Brecker (March 29, 1949 – January 13, 2007) was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Over a four‑decade career, he recorded widely in jazz and popular music and appeared on more than 900 albums as a leader and sideman. He received 15 Grammy Awards from the Recording Academy, was inducted into the DownBeat Hall of Fame in 2007, and received an honorary doctor of music degree from Berklee College of Music in 2004. He died in New York City in 2007 from complications of leukemia following a 2005 diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome.