It’s remarkable that Michael Brecker waited until 1987 to make his debut as a leader. His historic sideman appearances with the likes of Pat Metheny, Chick Corea, Kenny Wheeler, and Hal Galper had already made Brecker a legend in the jazz world. That’s to say nothing of his in-studio turns with such legends as Paul Simon (“Still Crazy After All These Years”), Carly Simon (“You Belong to Me”), Billy Joel (“Tell Her About It”), Bruce Springsteen (“Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out”), and countless others. During that same time, The Brecker Brothers, Michael’s co-led band with trumpeter and fellow session ace Randy Brecker, had amassed a following of its own. But the release of Michael Brecker in 1987 put the younger Brecker brother’s name on the marquee, right where it belonged. More than his follow-up efforts Don’t Try This at Home and Now You See It… (Now You Don’t), Brecker’s self-titled debut highlights a consistent band sound, with unchanging personnel. It’s largely an acoustic jazz album, although the great Kenny Kirkland doubles on keyboards, and Brecker introduces the curious tones of the EWI (electronic wind instrument) on “Syzygy” and “Original Rays.” Elsewhere on Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny makes a rare sideman appearance alongside his rhythm section from the 80/81 album: bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Jack DeJohnette. It’s a band for the ages, playing tunes not only by Brecker, but also by co-producer Don Grolnick (including the showstopping “Nothing Personal” and the darkly hued ballad “The Cost of Living”). Meanwhile, Mike Stern, the guitarist in the touring edition of this band, contributes the enigmatic “Choices.” There’s also a track not from the original release: “My One and Only Love,” which builds from a solo tenor intro to a sparkling quartet number without piano. They all help make Brecker’s thrilling debut so memorable—and so heartbreaking, given his death from leukemia just 20 years later—a terrible loss for music, and one that’s still acutely felt.