James Taylor and Paul Simon honour Michael Brecker at charity concert

James Taylor and Paul Simon took to the stage in New York City on Tuesday night (20Jan15) to pay tribute to late jazz legend Michael Brecker. The music veterans led the line-up for The Nearness of You tribute concert in honour of acclaimed saxophonist Brecker at Manhattan venue Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Taylor, who was reportedly battling flu, played Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight with Brecker’s brother, Randy, on the trumpet, while Simon performed Still Crazy After All These Years and The Boxer. They both returned to the stage to close the show for an audience which included Brecker’s widow.
Speaking after the gig, Taylor credited his late friend with helping him overcome addiction issues, telling the Associated Press, “I miss him all the time. Michael saved my life and probably a lot of other people. He led me to freedom, really from addiction, and showed a number of us the way.”
Brecker, who won 15 Grammy Awards throughout his career, passed away in 2007 at the age of 57 after a battle with a rare cancer called myelodysplastic syndrome.
The gig raised money to fund research into the deadly disease.