Steps Ahead is an American jazz fusion group.
The group arose out of spontaneous sessions at Seventh Avenue South, a jazz club in New York City owned by saxophonist Michael Brecker and trumpeter brother Randy Brecker. The first three albums were released under the name Steps, later changed to Steps Ahead, on Nippon Columbia in Japan, starting with the debut live album Smokin' in the Pit (1980), followed by Step By Step (1981) and Paradox (1982).
"STEP BY STEP"
1. UNCLE BOB (D.Grolnick) 10:58
2. KYOTO (M.Mainieri) 6:56
3. BELLE (M.Mainieri) 7:47
4. BULLET TRAIN (M.Mainieri) 5:28
5. SIX PERSIMMONS (D.Grolnick) 6:07
MICHAEL BRECKER- sax
MIKE MAINIERI- vibes
DON GROLNICK- keyboards
EDDIE GOMEZ- bass
STEVE GADD- drums
Rec. December 8 & 10, 1980
"PARADOX"
1. N.L.4 (D.Grolnick) 8:45
2. THE ALEPH (M.Mainieri) 9:58
3. PATCH OF BLUE (M.Mainieri) 7:49
4. FOUR CHORDS (D.Grolnick) 10:53
5. TAKE A WALK (M.Brecker) 11:56
6. NICHKA (E.Gomez) 2:24
MICHAEL BRECKER- sax
MIKE MAINIERI- vibes
DON GROLNICK- keyboards
EDDIE GOMEZ- bass
PETER ERSKINE- drums
Rec. September 1981
"SMOKIN' IN THE PIT"
DISC 1
1. TEE BAG (M.Mainieri) 13:49
2. LOVER MAN (Davis-Ramirez-Sherman) 8:31
3. FAWLTY TENORS (D.Grolnick) 7:49
4. FOUR CHORDS (D.Grolnick) 10:05
5. SONG TO SETH (M.Mainieri) 13:00
DISC 2
1. YOUNG AND FINE (J.Zawinul) 16:33
2. SOUL EYES (M.Waldron) 12:14
3. NOT ETHIOPIA (M.Brecker) 11:00
4. SARA'S TOUCH (M.Mainieri) 14:00
MICHAEL BRECKER- sax
MIKE MAINIERI- vibes
DON GROLNICK- keyboards
EDDIE GOMEZ- bass
STEVE GADD- drums
Rec. December 15 & 16, 1979
