Michael Brecker
His Saxophone Is Silent, His Life Is in the Balance
Michael Brecker, one of jazz’s most influential tenor saxophonists over the last quarter-century, has been forced to stop performing by blood and bone marrow disease and is searching for a stranger to save his life.
Mr. Brecker, 56, was recently found to have myelodysplastic syndrome, a form of cancer in which the bone marrow stops producing enough healthy blood cells. His doctors say he needs a blood stem cell and bone marrow transplant, a harrowing procedure that will be possible only if Mr. Brecker finds a stem cell donor with a specific enough genetic match for his tissue type. So far, they have been unable to find one from the millions of people on an international registry for bone marrow donors.
Another example of the callous and random way in which cancer chooses its victims. When hearing people denounce the kind of cutting-edge medicine which will hopefully keep Mr Brecker alive as “playing God”, I can’t help thinking that there are times when the scientists could probably do a better job.
If any of you are unfamiliar with Michael Brecker, his playing is not to be missed, especially his work with Steps Ahead.
Get well soon.
August 19th, 2005 at 10:29 am
I am on the bone marrow registry and was called in January to give a further sample as I may be a match for someone. I contacted them recently as I hadn’t heard (assuming it was a no) but they told me that the compatibility results still hadn’t come back. I hope this doesn’t mean someone has been waiting all this time. Don’t understand enough about the process though and they don’t tell you veryr much.
September 5th, 2005 at 6:32 pm
Hi James, so good of you to highlight poor MB’s plight. Could this a task for the union ? They have all the contacts to email thousands and even arrange a west end/uk sample taking ?
September 5th, 2005 at 6:42 pm
That’s not a bad idea, although I’m not sure the MU is into bulk emailing people. They might at least put something into the magazine - although the new one just came out, so it might be a few months. Does the Jazz Section have a newsletter? They might be the people to approach.
November 11th, 2005 at 9:52 pm
Micheal Brecker influenced my sax playing from the beginning. In my book he’s the best in history. Hope they cure him.
Get well Mike your sound needs to be heard for years to come…
Michel