Customer Reviews

A Collection: Step by Step/Paradox

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

These are the studio recordings that were originally released on import only, around the same time as Smokin' in the Pit...If you're a fan of Steps Ahead, these sides are essential.

Smokin' was more of a blowing session, while Step by Step and Paradox show a little more polish (still, with plenty of room for open blowing - check out The Aleph.) Don Grolnick left Steps after Paradox, and his playing and composing was a huge contribution.

Brecker plays tremendous, typical of this time period. His batting average in the late seventies/early eighties was amazing...

Mainieri wrote some nice tunes also (eg Bullet Train) and Eddie Gomez is wonderful as always (huge understatement!)

This package makes an interesting study too, because you can listen to the difference of disc one with Gadd on skins and disc two with Erskine. Both terrific, but in different ways.

Shawn

Having recently gotten back into listening to jazz after a ~25 year lull period, it is wonderful to discover outstanding jazz that was being created while I was not keeping up on it.

Becoming aware of Michael Brecker led me to become aware of Steps Ahead and I have most of their recordings at this point. Since the leader or co-leader of this group was Mike Mainieri it would be remiss for me not to praise him for being an outstanding vibraphonist and composer. The other musicians are outstanding as well. I believe Peter Erskine plays on one of these albums and he not only is a virtuoso drummer but composer as well, there is a song he composed on another Steps (Ahead) album named Northern Cross that doesn't seem to be well known but I think it deserves to be categorized as a classic jazz composition.

YOU CANNOT GO WRONG WITH STEPS (AHEAD). OK, there's one song on the Magnetic album that has some funk vocals on it that some jazz fans might not go for but that's the only exception I can think of)

In general, EVERYTHING THESE GUYS DID WAS OUTSTANDING. Maybe that's why people tend to give their recordings five stars.

I like all their recordings so well I would be hard pressed to grade them compared to each other. However, they do vary greatly in terms of style. The older ones (like these) tend to be more mainstream jazz and their newer ones, (e.g. Live at Tokyo and Magnetic)tend to be electric fusion jazz.

This pair of two albums is acoustic bebop jazz with somewhat more abstract melodies than Smokin at the Pit, whose songs come across as more melodic to me.

Anyone who appreciates "pure jazz" and not just fusion should find these albums very much to their liking.

I guess I bought the last used one on the market, and had to pay $40 which was a lot for a cheap bastard like myself. It was well worth it. Hopefully other copies either used or a new stamping will come along so that more people can discover these gems.

I can only agree with what others have said about this album. Steps(later to be Steps Ahead)are in fine form here with this compilation of two rather different albums.
The first one, Step by Step is a studio album, and is more fusion straight-ahead based compositions. The second album, Paradox, is a live album and is somewhat more left of field and adventurous with some abstract soundscapes, particularly "The Aleph", which wouldn't have been out of place on Metheny's 80/81 album.
Some great playing by all concerned here. My favourites are Uncle Bob (fab groove) , Belle, Persimmons, NL4 and The Aleph.
And, of course, the man of the hour,Michael Brecker, what else is there to say, the man is just superb.

This double cd shows two different sides to Steps, but both with brilliant compositions and quality musicianship.
If you are new to Steps and/or like Michael Brecker then this album is for you.

Highly recommended.

Only the first disc of this set is a studio recording. Disc two was recorded live in NYC in 1981 at the Brecker Brothers' club, Seventh Avenue South. This for me is the more satisfying of the two albums. The 1983 Steps Ahead release on Elektra with Eliane Elias and Peter Erskine is arguably their definitive studio release. Although it was waxed in '81, the live set entitled Paradox is quintessential 70s New York jazz! All Michael Brecker fans should own this cd . Highlights include the swinging Take A Walk, The Aleph, and Nichka, featuring bass virtuoso Eddie Gomez. Great music!

This was a great cd that will be loved by all the steps fans out there. I give it 5 stars because it is top class stuff. So go out and buy it right now!