Michael Brecker_ Joel C. Peskin_(aka iReedMan)_Nyler Steiner_EWI & EVI Video For AKAI "SWEET FOR CP"

[@ireedman]

Happy Birthday NYLE!

[@klezmertom]

As a clarinetist who also loves playing EWI,for me to see 3 great musicians embracing new technology and doing it so musically is inspirational

[@bodhibeats8257]

What a cool video! Thanks so much for sharing this!

[@ireedman]

Happy Birthday Michael.

[@parvinmustafayev2004]

woooooooow , still underrated music coming to my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

[@BKrystall]

I wish that Mike Brecker was still alive.

[@mcmike100]

Thanks for posting this. I was Akai product manager at that time.

[@ireedman]

cool

[@jsphotos]

@@ireedman I remember you Mike; I was in sales; we interacted in Silicon Valley after oyu moved on to the digital workstation space. Always had high respect for your intelligence and strategic chops.

[@-_______-_______-______-]

Those 80's...

[@jsphotos]

Amazing instrument! This performance is from Akai's EVI/EWI promo tape to MI dealers and other interested parties. These instruments started off slow; dealers didn't know what to do with them, but they have developed a following (well deserved) over the years. I remember those days very well. This is a great performance by three superb musicians. I remember a musician (name escapes me) who was helping to take care of Stan Getz, when Getz was nearing the end, from cancer, in San Francisco; he was Getz' cook and a good musician; he used to get out and do gigs on the EVI. People were (and still are) amazed by what one can do with this instrument. (now simply called the EWI, with interchangeable fingering for multiple wind instruments).

[@MrJMart12]

I was a Product Specialist at IMC (the US Akai distributor) from '89 - '95. I can attest to the problems in trying to get the EWI and EVI accepted by dealers and players.. We had some great players using the EVI (especially high-profile was Brecker of course), but the poor EVI was never embraced by enough players to gain much traction. We had only one guy who acted as a demo artist for us on the EVI (Matt Venuti). And then there were the problems related to even demo-ing the things... I mean, you have to put the thing in your mouth! Trade shows like NAMM were horrific, and dealers were not enthusiastic, to say the least. Which is all too bad, of course. For those who applied themselves to mastering them, these were powerful, expressive tools.

[@jsphotos]

@@MrJMart12 We were contemporaries at IMC, James. :) Your comments are right on. Nyle Steiner created a possibility and we've seen Yamaha and Roland (and a few others follow suit). I bought at EVI from IMC before I left - a magical instrument.

[@alphabeets]

Sam Zambito did a lot demoing the EVI version back then for Akai.

[@eyeheartchrist]

Especially to see the one the invented both the EVI and EWI perform, that's icing on the cake! :-)

[@dinosoldo8873]

Joel, I can’t believe it’s been 30+ years since I first started playing the EWI. I remember opening the box to the 1000 and the VCR tape that was included.. I practiced for hours on end every day, every week. We’ve gone through a handful of models since then. Aside from the prototypes of which I never had the pleasure, This model had the best breath to voltage feel. Although i really don’t miss the spit rivers that flowed down the controller. Aslo ... apart from your shoulder pads, i miss the bright sense of potential this era offered. Be well. Dino Soldo

[@geraldcody]

I've never seen Michael Brecker move like that before!

[@ireedman]

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008~~

[@VAXHeadroom]

33 years ago. Damn...

[@almatyazamat]

Wow, 7:36-7:50 = AMAZING playing by Michael!

[@romainlabaye]

Brecker kicks ass !

[@tubapicker]

Wow . . .

[@ModernSaxDotCom]

nice

[@eyeheartchrist]

I wonder how the background chord changes are done at the beginning when Michael was playing the oboe/flute patches?

[@alphabeets]

Google "wind controller faq" for a lot more info on these incredible instruments.

[@eyeheartchrist]

I'm not crazy...trust me...this page once said, "Sorry, but this video is no longer available."

[@eyeheartchrist]

You've got to be kidding...this video has been canceled! I knew I should have saved it or something...this was one of my favorites. :-(

[@ireedman]

Yes Charles Peskin....One of Swedes SONS?

[@eyeheartchrist]

I'm sorry, that wasn't Michael...it was Nyle Steiner if not mistaken.

[@alphabeets]

Michael Brecker is the musician at the end of this video.

[@jeremyryannoel]

Honestly, I don’t remember what I’m referring to, since my comment was 15 years ago.

[@dazro]

The musical instrument played at the very beginning of this video is not a EWI. It's EVI ( = Electronic Valve Instrument). Exactly saying it's a MIDI EVI.

[@alphabeets]

Actually is a non-functioning mock up prototype of what was to become the Akai EVI1000. The players in the video are miming as well, to a pre-produced audio tape that they recorded previously.

[@protocol66]

The Japanese are very fond of overacting... I was in a video in 1989 and remember being told to be more active, "move more!" So cheesy. So sad Mike is gone. It's been more than a year, it still feels like yesterday.

[@NotesofNate]

Who is the mc ?

[@jsphotos]

Richie Havens. Look for him singing "freedom" on youtube. A great musician = gone now.

[@protocol66]

This is a wonderful example of late 80s video directing. I'm guessing this was produced by Akai in Japan, hence the overacting/moving? ;-)

[@JordanHowellMusic]

Thats so weird to see Michael acting like that, moving around so much. Hah what in the world is this actually from?

[@alphabeets]

A promotional video for the Akai EWI1000 and EVI1000