On Out of the Loop, 　　Randy 　　and 　　Michael Brecker 　　stepped up to the plate with their second long-player of the '90s, 20 years after their first foray into the jazz-funk-fusion realm. The album is surprisingly strong, and any fears of a paint-by-numbers attempt to cash in on past glories are quickly dispelled with the opening "Slang," which is reminiscent of 　　Amandla 　　-era 　　Miles 　　. Here, as throughout the disc, 　　Michael 　　's sax solo burns with abandon, while brother 　　Randy 　　's trumpet glides across a tastefully smooth and melodic terrain. "African Skies" has a decidedly 　　Yellowjackets 　　feel, with 　　Michael 　　again turning in a remarkably energetic solo turn. The set-closing "And Then She Wept" features 　　Randy 　　's attractive flügelhorn, as does the 　　Eliane Elias 　　-produced "Secret Heart," where 　　Michael 　　's soprano sax and EWI share the spotlight. "Scrunch" is a funky piece of programmed hip-hop over which the brothers Brecker play a riff similar to those they and 　　the Average White Band 　　delivered in the mid-'70s. Both 　　Randy 　　and the late 　　Michael Brecker 　　went on to make names for themselves in the jazz world after fronting their brotherly band in the '70s, earning the respect of critics and jazz fans alike. With Out of the Loop, they made a solid musical statement in a contemporary format, one they helped create and in which they proved to be masters.