Great Live Moments - Steps Ahead

April 9, 2008. Posted by Joshua Jackson.

Add new comment | Filed under: bassist, debut album, don grolnick, drummer, eddie gomez, eliane elias, fusion, group steps, kool jazz festival, Listening Post, Live Music, michael brecker, peter erskine, pianist, saxophonist, solo effort, some heavy hitters, time steps, vibraphonist, wbgo
bassist

debut album

don grolnick

drummer

eddie gomez

eliane elias

fusion

group steps

kool jazz festival

Listening Post

Live Music

michael brecker

peter erskine

pianist

saxophonist

solo effort

some heavy hitters

time steps

vibraphonist

wbgo

The group Steps Ahead came together in 1979, but their debut album did not arrive until 1983. By that time, Steps had created a potent form of fusion. WBGO recorded an early version of the band in the summer of 1982, during the now-defunct Kool Jazz Festival. Vibraphonist Mike Maineri (photographed above) was the leader, and the lineup included some heavy hitters - drummer Peter Erskine, bassist Eddie Gomez, pianist Don Grolnick, and saxophonist Michael Brecker. Brecker was already a star, even though he had not yet recorded a solo effort (and would not for nearly five more years...strange but true...). Steps Ahead became a group that people in and out of jazz noticed, and a lot of young talent got an early lift from being in the band
(pianist Eliane Elias comes to mind).

Check out Steps Ahead playing "Islands," from the WBGO Archives.
-Josh
© 2008 WBGO

Share |

Note: These comment boards are available to the general public. Statements expressed in the comment boards do not necessarily reflect WBGO's views. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorsement of the views expressed within them. For more information, please read our Terms of Service.

Bookmark & Share

RSS Feed

The easiest and most convenient way to catch up with the latest blog posts is to subscribe to WBGO's Blog RSS Feed.

Get the WBGO Blog Feed

< Prev

On Air Now

Next >

Fetching WBGO's On-Air Program Schedule...

...Please wait...

Recently Played:

Listen 88.3 FM

Other Formats

WBGO's 88.3 HD2 channel showcasing emerging jazz artists and styles.

Recently Played:

Jason Linder - NFormation Kiss

Listen to the jazz bee

Other ways to listen to WBGO's Live Stream...
Windows
WinAmp
iTunes
Real Player
Listen with WBGO's iPhone/iPad and Android App...
Download App for iPhone/iPad/iTouch ›
Download App for Android ›

Discover more on WBGO...

RADAR: Yellowjackets - A RISE IN THE ROAD Hear the new recording from Mack Avenue Records on WBGO RADAR. more
Allan Wolper talks with June Cohen She is the executive producer of TED, a site that has generated more than one billion views on... more
Montreal Jazz Festival Trip WBGO Travel invites you to a behind-the-scenes tour of the Montreal Jazz Festival, June 30 -... more
SportsJam with Doug Doyle Host Doug Doyle talks to Veteran Boxing Referee Eddie Cotton. more
On Demand Listening Catch up on interviews, concerts, festivals and special programming. more
Newark Today The next Newark Today is on Thursday, June 20, at 8pm. more
Volunteer for WBGO! Volunteers are very important to WBGO's existence. We welcome you to become involved in our... more
Two Decades of JazzSet See and hear highlights from WBGO’s national series, JazzSet from NPR Music more
Free WBGO Mobile app Click here to download the free WBGO app for iPhone, iPad, iTouch and Android phones. more
WBGO HD2 - the jazz bee WBGO's new showcase for emerging jazz artists and styles. Hear it at 88.3 HD2 and online now. more
Midday Jazz with Rhonda Hamilton Weekdays 10am - 2pm Rhonda gives you the great music you need to get through the day, and she does it in her own... more
Morning Jazz with Gary Walker Weekdays 6 - 10am Gary Walker helps you start your day each weekday morning. Join Gary and Morning News Anchor... more
Rhythm Revue with Felix Hernandez Classic & contemporary soul, R&B, funk, blues, salsa/bugalu, Afro-soul and rock 'n... more
Afternoon Jazz with Michael Bourne Weekdays 2 - 6:30pm Music host Michael Bourne bops in at 2pm, then strikes a chord with the Blues Hour each day at... more
The Checkout An hour-long music magazine hosted by Josh Jackson features what's new on the New York jazz... more
Sunday Night Music Mix with Eulis Cathey Each Sunday from 7-11pm, tune into WBGO to hear Sunday Night Music Mix with Eulis Cathey.... more
The WBGO Blog: Dr. Lewis Porter profiles Visit the WBGO Blog for Dr. Lewis Porter's series "You Don't Know Jazz," to learn little known... more
Page 1 of 17
Next >