The debut domestic recording by
Steps Ahead (following three sets only released in Japan) features the 1982 version of the group: vibraphonist
Mike Mainieri, tenor saxophonist
Michael Brecker, pianist
Eliane Elias (a young unknown at the time), bassist
Eddie Gomez, and drummer
Peter Erskine. The music is essentially high-quality funky fusion, with
Brecker typically blowing up a storm,
Mainieri often playing the synthivibe, and
Elias showing some early individuality. Best known among the seven originals are
Don Grolnick's "Pools" and
Mainieri's "Islands." The inventive but pretty accessible set concludes with "Trio," a fairly free improvisation featuring
Brecker,
Gomez, and
Mainieri. ~ Scott Yanow