Steps Ahead
Steps Ahead

[With this review, we inaugurate what—who knows—could also become a tradition of debaser: reverse nepotism: symbad_bassist is the father of one of our reviewers]

Well, just to draw the attention of new generations towards bands that, for purely age-related reasons, might have been completely "skipped" despite being not only valid but practically "to die for" eternally.

The "Steps Ahead" (originally just "Steps") were formed for a Japanese tour that was supposed to be a "one-shot" and nothing more around the early eighties; founders were Mike Mainieri (vibraphonist), Eddie Gomez (former double bassist of Bill Evans, among others) Michael Brecker (incredible New York saxophonist of the George Garzone school) Warren Bernhardt (pupil and epigone of Bill Evans) Peter Erskine (drummer of multiple collaborations: Weather Report among all!), Eliane Elias, a stunning pianist (also, we can say, in an "aesthetic" sense!!) as well as Steve Gadd (a "sacred" drummer)

Anyone who does not know this band and its protean production-evolution must absolutely purchase at least the first two beautiful CDs of the official discography: "Steps" and "Modern Times", containing beautiful and incredible pieces, sometimes almost "jazz-tribal" in taste (imagine if you can ever think of something like that!) then continue with the purchase perhaps of "Magnetics", "Yin and Yang", "Vibes", "NYC" and in a second (third?) time, the more acoustic Japanese records, that is, the very first works, left in the drawer for a long time and brought out only "after", riding the wave of the band's success, partly thanks to the mid-eighties crossover trend, but partly due to their objectively beautiful music: "Smokin' In The Pit", "Live from Tokio", "Paradox".

Why such descriptive warmth? Because, if you give credence to the humble and negligible opinion of the writer, a music aficionado from "illo tempore", you will discover (for those who do not yet know) a group that starts to make absolutely uncategorizable but beautiful music, also catchy; with strong jazz connotations, which starts where Weather Report leaves off and creates a beautiful new way to approach "modern" music, initially only with purely acoustic and classical instruments, then proceeding with the introduction of more modern elements: Ewi, various synths, electric bass and even, unfortunately never documented on record, with Chuck Loeb's Roland synth guitar, who was part of the band for a period, live at Umbria Jazz 1985 (maybe 1984??).

This band has always been (and not by chance) a "musicians' cult band" where top musicians from the international scene have rotated at various times. It is still the same today, although by now most of the "shares" are permanently in the hands of Mike Mainieri, who collaborates with "famous people" like Tony Levin, Jeff Andrews, Steve Smith, Mike Stern, Victor Bailey, and so on.

Having instilled the virus, I apologize for the prolixity and offer a dutiful goodbye!!! :) V.