The Music of Michael Brecker
featuring tenor saxophonist Tod Dickow
Charged Particles is very pleased to be joining saxophonist Tod Dickow to perform concerts celebrating one of the most important musicians in the history of jazz: Michael Brecker.
Murray Low, Aaron Germain, Tod Dickow, and Jon Krosnick at the Triton Art Museum, Santa Clara, CA
Listen to the Music Live on the Radio:
"Thursday evening was magical.
Truly, that was the best concert I have heard in years.
Tightest-quartet-ever."
Dobie Edmunds, Cloverdale, California
"Charged Particles played exceptionally well."
Harvey Mittler, Event Chair, Palo Alto Jazz Alliance, Palo Alto, California
"What an amazing show.
Very educational for all."
Don Reed, Idyllwild Arts Foundation, Idyllwild, California
"Great!"
"Spectacular"
"Todd Dickow and Charged Particles
were outstanding!"
"Fantastic!"
"Great musicians, very interesting jazz music.
Really enjoyed this program."
Audience Members, Livermore Public Library
"Wonderful show!"
Mary Ann Norbom, Executive Director, Solvang Theater, Solvang, California
"I've heard nothing but positive responses about the performance. Great work."
Wayne De La Cruz, Vallejo Jazz Society
"An electrifying concert. It was Greeeaaat!!!!!!!"
Dalt Williams, Vallejo Jazz Society
"What an incredible show. They were at the top of their game."
Don Melville, SF Jazz Show Attendee
"Great program. We had about 120 people in the room, and everyone enjoyed the performance."
Paul Sevilla, Curator of the Jazz in July Series, Livermore Public Library
"Fantastic! The energy, talent, and variety blew my mind. They charged my particles!"
- Mary Ellen Carveth, Livermore, California
Watching Charged Particles with Tod Dickow at the Old First Church from home, July, 2021 (photo by Carlos Gould)
Murray Low, Aaron Germain, Tod Dickow, and Jon Krosnick at Cafe Stritch in San Jose, CA
Murray Low, Aaron Germain, Tod Dickow, and Jon Krosnick in the SF Jazz Summer Concert Series, Palo Alto, CA
Tod Dickow and Charged Particles at the Mar Vista Farmer's Market, 2019 (photo by Peter Erskine)
Tod Dickow with Charged Particles
at Portola Vineyards
Videos of Tod Dickow
with Charged Particles
Tod Dickow with Charged Particles
at the Blue Note Napa
Jon Krosnick, Aaron Germain, Murray Low, and Tod Dickow at Cafe Pink House
Charged Particles III with Tod Dickow
Murray Low, Aaron Germain, Tod Dickow, and Jon Krosnick at the Thousand Oaks Library
Murray Low, Tod Dickow, Aaron Germain, and Jon Krosnick at the Empress Theater in Vallejo, CA, hosted by the Vallejo Jazz Society (photo: Robert Hakins)
Bonnie Raitt with Tod Dickow and Charged Particles celebrating her 70th birthday in Larkspur, CA - 2019
Michael Brecker
Michael Brecker
Michael Brecker's Life
Michael Brecker was an innovator on the tenor saxophone whose unique voice and approach to the instrument influenced every performing saxophonist. Winner of 15 Grammy Awards, he was a prolific composer and leader of a range of different bands, as well as a guest soloist with many other ensembles. He was awarded some of the highest honors in jazz: an Honorary Doctorate from the Berklee College of Music and induction into Down Beat Magazine's Hall of Fame.
He led his own quartet and was co-leader of the Brecker Brothers (with his brother, trumpeter Randy Becker), Steps Ahead (with vibraphonist Mike Mainieri), the Pat Metheny-Michael Brecker "Special Quartet", and "Directions in Music", co-led with Herbie Hancock and Roy Hargrove.
He appeared in bands and on recordings led by Horace Silver, drummer Billy Cobham, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Chet Baker, George Benson, Quincy Jones, Charles Mingus, Jaco Pastorius, McCoy Tyner, Dave Brubeck, Elvin Jones, and Claus Ogerman.
Among the countless pop and rock records on which he appeared are ones by Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, Lou Reed, Donald Fagen, Dire Straits, Eric Clapton, Billy Joel, John Lennon, Aerosmith, Dan Fogelberg, Frank Sinatra, Frank Zappa, Bruce Springstein, Roger Daltry, Parliament-Funkadelic, Tod Rundgren, Art Garfunkel, and many others.
He was a long-term member of the band of NBC's Saturday Night Live.
His musical voice was heard on more than 700 records and at thousands of live concerts around the world.
In January, 2007, the jazz world lost this giant to leukemia at the age of 57.
Tod Dickow
Tod Dickow
While studying music at the College of San Mateo in the late 70's and with Don Haas and Gus Gustovson, tenor saxophonist Tod Dickow began playing gigs in the Bay Area with small groups and big bands, and he is a powerful voice on the Bay Area scene today.
His playing has been recognized by outstanding soloist awards at Jazz Festivals (Pacific Coast) and was awarded the Outstanding Soloist award by Down Beat Magazine.
He has appeared with numerous celebrated artists in many genres of music, including Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Jackie & Roy, Harry Connick Jr, Steve Allen, Terry Gibbs, Frank Sinatra Jr., Dave Brubeck, and many more.
He appears regularly with the Al Molina Sextet, Walley Scnalle's Bang, John Worley's "Miles of Blue" (a "Kind of Blue" tribute band), and the Latin Jazz group "Aryto".
Over the years, he has appeared with the Full Faith & Credit Big Band, The Brilliant Corners Tentet, The Full Spectrum Big Band, The James Leary Big Band, and the Bay Area Jazz Composers Orchestra.
In addition to leading his own small groups, he leads the Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, a great 16-piece Big Band, featuring the top players from around the Bay Area. And he arranges music for big bands and small groups.
As is true for so many other jazz tenor players, Tod's playing and composing are powerfully influenced by Michael Brecker. But Tod is unique in having captured the essence of Michael's spirit on the instrument, making Tod the perfect artist to perform Michael's compositions with Charged Particles to honor the late-great superstar of the genre.
The Repertoire
The Tod Dickow - Charged Particles collaboration features the following compositions that Michael recorded and performed and that were composed by him or by his close friend and collaborator Don Grolnick:
1 African Skies (6/8 Afro)
2 Anagram (Up Jazz)
3 Half Moon Lane (Straight 8ths)
4 Not Ethiopia (Fast Fusion Samba)
5 Choices (Straight 8ths)
6 Both Sides Of The Coin (Fast Fusion Samba)
7 Never Alone (Ballad)
8 Tumbleweed (Funky Straight 8ths)
9 Peep (Up Jazz)
10 Sea Glass (Ballad)
11 Talking To Myself (Straight 8ths)
12 The Mean Time (Up Jazz)
13 The Cost of Living (Bolero)
14 Straphangin’ (Funk)
15 Arc Of The Pendulum (Medium 3/4 Jazz)
16 Slings And Arrows (Up Jazz)
17 Nothing Personal (Super-fast Jazz)
18 Song For Barry (Funk)