Paul Simon, James Taylor Playing ‘Nearness Of You’ Benefit

New York’s Lincoln Center is hosting a benefit concert in January to honor the memory of saxophonist Michael Brecker and raise funds for cancer research. The initial lineup boasts Brecker’s friends and colleagues Paul Simon, James Taylor and Bobby McFerrin.

More acts will be announced.

The “Nearness Of You” benefit concert takes place Jan. 20 at The Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln’s Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall. The event takes its name from the classic 1938 song by Hoagy Carmichael, which Brecker and Taylor recorded together. The collaboration was included on the saxophonist’s 2011 album, Nearness of You: The Ballad Book.

Photo: AP Photo

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During his career Brecker picked up 15 Grammys and worked with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Steely Dan to Joni Mitchell to John Lennon. The Associated Press noted that the “quiet, gentle musician” was “widely regarded as the most influential tenor saxophonist since John Coltrane.”

Brecker died in 2007 after being diagnosed with Myelodisplastic Syndromes (MDS) in 2004. The saxophonist searched in the International Bone Marrow Registry for a match but failed to find a matching donor. Tens of thousands of people were inspired to register in hopes of saving Brecker’s life and 54 people were saved thanks to new registrants being perfect matches.

Proceeds from “The Nearness Of You” benefit will go to cancer research at Columbia Univesity Medical Center (CUMC) and the work of CUMC’s MDS Center director Azra Raza, MD, as well as MDS Center physician and researcher Siddhartha Mukherjee, MD, PhD. Mukherjee won a Pulitzer Prize in 2011 for “The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer.”

Photo: John Davisson

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The event is being produced by the saxophonist’s widow, Susan Brecker.

“When I learned that a cure for MDS will likely provide the key to curing leukemia, I realized there was no better way to honor my husband’s legacy than by raising important funds for research through this benefit concert,” said Brecker.

Tickets are on sale now. For more information click here for Lincoln Center’s website.