Customer Reviews

Live in Tokyo 1986

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

 

 

The fact that this cd was produced in 1994 as the result of "Steps Ahead" fans wanting to hear recordings from their concert tour in 1985, expresses just how special the performances of this particular group really were. I was fortunate to have caught the group at the "Bottom Line" in NYC. Michael Brecker, Mike Mainieri, Daryl Jones, Mike Stern and Steve Smith were really cookin'!

My favorite album by these guys was Magnetic, a highly rocking album , by jazz standards. The only thing missing on the studio album was guitar, so to speak. Not a problem, add Mike Stern. This disc, answers THAT musical question in SPADES. This is one moving album, both tastefully and tempo-wise. You can't get "Magnetic" anymore, so get this. Email me if you hate it, I'll buy it from you. Guaranteed. Greg Watkins gwat@flash.net

After not having listened to jazz much since the early 80s, I have gotten back into it and have been building up a cd collection.

I had heard Michael Brecker before but didn't realize back then just how great a musician he was and what a major force in jazz.

So one thing I have been doing up is getting Michael Brecker's albums, which range from good to astounding. in general I like the Milestone ones the best-they are more melodic than some of his more recent recordings)

So once I had most of his recordings, what next? Well, what else does he play on? Oh, here is this group Steps Ahead he played with in the 80s.

I ordered a few Steps Ahead recordings and this is the first one I got. I listened to the first song the other day and thought, well maybe this is a clunker. Hardly. It turns out I didn't care a whole lot for that song but everything else on this album I love.

And Mike Mainieri is a fine musician. After hearing this I looked him up on wiki and it appears his main muscial legacy is what he did with Steps Ahead. Well, judging from what I've heard so far, not a bad legacy. All of the musicians on this album I like.

As someone pointed out, In a Sentimental Mood is excellent. It is a fusion version of a jazz standard but it not a raspy electric version but rather a very soulful rendition that is respectful of the beauty of the piece.

I now wonder if these guys did more jazz standards on other albums, that would be great. I've got a couple coming in the mail soon so I will know shortly.

Most of the songs are composed by Brecker or Mainieri and they are excellent.

One superficial point but worth mentioning just for comic relief: Who came up with the cover art that highlights something that looks like a tape dispenser! egad!

This is absolutely my favorite disc in my entire collection. I borrowed it from a friend first, kept it for a year, and finally found a copy of it for myself. Every time I listen to it, I hear something I haven't heard before. Make sure you listen to "In a Sentimental Mood" a bunch of times! It made me cry the first few, Mike Brecker is such a musical god.

If you are a jazz player, don't miss this!!!!!

The line between a genious solo-artist and a ego-centric maniac is very thin. It is clearly subjective. For me it entirely depends on whether I like the artist (Michael Brecker) or not (Mainieri). This album passes the test, also because of great drumming, but it is not a 5 like other Brecker CDs