Don't Try This at Home (Michael Brecker album)

Don't Try This at Home is the second album by American jazz saxophonist Michael Brecker, that was released on Impulse! records in 1988. In 1989, the album won a Grammy Award for Best Improvised Jazz Solo.

Reception

Allmusic awarded the album with 4.5 stars and its review by Scott Yanow states: "Brecker (on tenor and the EWI) is in superb form, really ripping into the eight pieces (mostly group originals). Recommended."

Track listing

1. "Itsbynne Reel" <small>(Michael Brecker, Don Grolnick)</small> – 7:41
2. "Chime This" <small>(Grolnick)</small> – 7:50
3. "Scriabin" <small>(Vince Mendoza)</small> – 7:47
4. "Suspone" <small>(Mike Stern)</small> – 4:59
5. "Don't Try This at Home" <small>(Brecker, Grolnick)</small> – 9:30
6. "Everything Happens When You're Gone" <small>(Brecker)</small> – 7:11
7. "Talking to Myself" <small>(Grolnick)</small> – 5:10
8. "The Gentleman & Hizcaine" <small>(Jim Beard)</small> – 5:19

Personnel

• Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone, EWI <small>(tracks 1, 4, 5)</small>
• Don Grolnick – acoustic piano <small>(tracks 1, 2, 7)</small>
• Herbie Hancock – acoustic piano <small>(tracks 3, 5)</small>
• Joey Calderazzo – acoustic piano <small>(tracks 4, 6)</small>
• Judd Miller – synthesizer programming <small>(track 5)</small>
• Jim Beard – synthesizers <small>(tracks 7, 8)</small>, acoustic piano <small>(track 8)</small>
• Mike Stern – guitars <small>(tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8)</small>
• Charlie Haden – acoustic bass <small>(tracks 1–3, 5, 6)</small>
• Jeff Andrews – fretless electric bass <small>(tracks 1, 4, 7, 8)</small>, electric bass <small>(tracks 4, 7, 8)</small>
• Jack DeJohnette – drums <small>(tracks 1, 3, 5, 8)</small>
• Adam Nussbaum – drums <small>(tracks 2, 4, 6)</small>
• Peter Erskine – drums <small>(track 7)</small>
• Mark O'Connor – violin <small>(track 1)</small>

Technical personnel

• Don Grolnick – producer
• Ricky Schultz – executive producer
• James Farber – recording and mixing
• Gary Solomon – assistant engineer <small>(tracks 1–6, 8)</small>
• Karen Robben – assistant engineer <small>(track 7)</small>
• Rhonda Schoen – digital editing
• Greg Calbi – mastering at Sterling Sound, New York City, USA
• Tom Gill – piano technician
• Jerry Wortman – production assistant
• Karen Kramer – production coordinator
• Kathleen Covert – art direction and design
• Mark Seliger – photography
• George Varga – liner notes

References