This
Steps Ahead concert (which has long been available on laser disc) has both good and bad points.
Michael Brecker's virtuosic tenor solos show a great deal of passion and creativity within the genre. Also
Mike Maineri's vibes are an attractive part of the ensemble sound, making the R&B-ish unit sound like
Spyro Gyra with guts. Unfortunately the rhythm section (which consists of guitarist
Mike Stern, bassist
Darryl Jones and drummer
Steve Smith) is never subtle, the rhythms are bombastic and the electronics (including at one point a drum machine) are excessive. The solos might be fiery but the unimaginative backup makes this potentially super band often sound run of the mill and monotonous. There are much better
Steps Ahead concerts to preserve than this one. ~ Scott Yanow