In 2005 Brecker announced that he would no longer perform in public as he had myelodysplastic syndrome, which led to leukemia.[1] Despite this, he was able to make some guest appearances the following year, and planned the recording sessions that led to this album being made.[1]
All of the nine compositions were Brecker originals, written for this recording.[1] The title of the ballad "When Can I Kiss You Again?" was from Brecker's son, who asked him that question while Brecker was in medical isolation.[4]
Pilgrimage was released in 2007 by Heads Up.[3] The AllMusic reviewer wrote: "This is a brilliant and inspiring album – and would be whether or not it had anything to do with the death of one of the great figures in American jazz."[4]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz praised some of the compositions, concluded that, "as a memorial it's pretty good", but suggested that they were being generous because it was Brecker's final recording.[2] In the later The Penguin Jazz Guide they reflected "This was somewhat of a misread. So impressive, so meticulously crafted were his solos, and so many of them in circulation, that it was easy to think there would be another one along any minute. Until 13 January 2007, that was the case. The ensuing silence has changed the value of what went before"[5]
^Morton, Brian; Richard Cook (2010) [1992]. The Penguin Jazz Guide: The History of the Music in the 1001 Best Albums. The Penguin Guide to Jazz (10th ed.). New York: Penguin. pp. 717–718. ISBN978-0-14-104831-4.
