Steps Ahead Catalog

1983

Steps Ahead   Elektra Musician 60168   1983

Michael Brecker, tenor sax; Mike Mainieri, vibes, Synthivibe, marimba; Eliane Elias, piano; Eddie Gomez, bass; Peter Erskine, drums.

The Power Station, NYC, 1983

Pools
Islands
Loxodrome
Both Sides Of The Coin
Skyward Bound
Northern Cross
Trio (An Improvisation)

** also released on Elektra Musician E1 60168 in 1983, 9 60168-2 in 1983.

1984

Steps Ahead - Modern Times   Elektra Musician 60351-1-E   1984

Michael Brecker, tenor, soprano sax; Mike Mainieri, vibes, marimba, Synthi-Vibe; Warren Bernhardt, keyboards; Eddie Gomez, bass; Peter Erskine, drums, percussion, DMX; with guest musicans: Craig Peyton, synthesizer, DMX drums, Pro 1 bass #5, Oberheim System Sequence programming #7; Chuck Loeb, guitar #6; Tony Levin, Chapman Stick #7; Mike Brecker, additional synthesizer #1; Michael Mainieri, additional synthesizer #2,3,7.

Skyline Studios, NYC, January-February, 1984

1.Safari
2.Oops
3.Self Portrait
4.Modern Times
5.Radio-Active
6.Now You Know
7.Old Town

** also released on Elektra Musician 7559-60351-2 in 1984.

1986

Steps Ahead - Live In Tokyo 1986   NYC Records NYC 6006 2   1994

Michael Brecker, tenor sax, Steinerphone EWI; Mike Mainieri, vibes, MIDI vibes; Mike Stern, guitar; Darryl Jones, bass; Steve Smith, drums.

Gotanda U-Port Kan'i Hoken Hall, Tokyo, Japan, July 30, 1986

Beirut
Oops
Self Portrait
Sumo
Cajun
Safari
In A Sentimental Mood
Trains

Steps Ahead - Magnetic   Elektra 60441-1   1986

Michael Brecker, Steiner EWI, tenor sax; Mike Mainieri, Synthi-Vibes, keyboards; Kenny Kirkland, synthesizer; Robby Kilgore, synthesizer programming; Chuck Loeb, acoustic, electric guitar, guitar synthesizer; Hiram Bullock, guitar; Victor Bailey, bass; Peter Erskine, acoustic, electric drums, percussion.

BearTracks Recording Studio, Suffern, NY and Electric Lady Studios, NYC;
Skyline Studios, NYC;
Electric Lady Studios, NYC;
The Record Plant, NYC, 1986

Trains

Michael Brecker, Steiner EWI, Oberheim Xpander; Mike Mainieri, Synthi-Vibes, keyboards; Robby Kilgore, synthesizer programming; Chuck Loeb, guitar, guitar synthesizer; Victor Bailey, bass; Peter Erskine, acoustic, electric drums, percussion.

Beirut

Michael Brecker, Steiner EWI, Oberheim Xpander, tenor sax; Mike Mainieri, Synthi-Vibes; Robby Kilgore, synthesizer programming; Peter Schwimmer, banjo; Chuck Loeb, guitar, guitar synthesizer; Victor Bailey, bass; Peter Erskine, drums.

Cajun

Michael Brecker, Steiner EWI, Oberheim Xpander; Mike Mainieri, keyboards; Phil Ashley, synthesizer programming.

In A Sentimental Mood

Michael Brecker, tenor sax; Mike Mainieri, Scott Martin, synthesizer; Phil Ashley, synthesizer, sequencing; Andy Topeka, Synclavier samples; Paul Jackson, guitar; Jimmy Bralower, drum programming; Dianne Reeves, lead vocal; Jocelyn Brown, Diva Gray, Janis Pendarvis, background vocal.

Magnetic Love

Michael Brecker, Steiner EWI, tenor sax; Mike Mainieri, Synthi-Vibes; Robby Kilgore, synthesizer programming, piano; Chuck Loeb, guitar, guitar synthesizer; Victor Bailey, bass; Peter Erskine, drums, percussion; Jimmy Bralower, drum programming.

Sumo

Michael Brecker, Steiner EWI, Oberheim Xpander, tenor sax; Mike Mainieri, vibes; Mitchel Forman, synthesizer; Peter Erskine, synthesizer, percussion; Robby Kilgore, Oberheim Xpander programming; Chuck Loeb, guitar; Victor Bailey, bass.

All The Tea In China

Michael Brecker, tenor sax; Mike Mainieri, Synthi-Vibes; Warren Bernhardt, acoustic piano, synthesizer; Chuck Loeb, guitar; Victor Bailey, bass; Peter Erskine, drums, synthesizer.

Something I Said

Michael Brecker, tenor sax; Mike Mainieri, Scott Martin, synthesizer; Phil Ashley, synthesizer, sequencing; Andy Topeka, Synclavier samples; Paul Jackson, guitar; Jimmy Bralower, drum programming; Dianne Reeves, lead vocal; Jocelyn Brown, Diva Gray, Janis Pendarvis, background vocal.

Reprise (Magnetic Love)

1989

Steps Ahead - N.Y.C.   Intuition Records (G) INT 3007 1   1989

Ensemble: Bendik, sax, keyboards; Mike Mainieri, MIDI vibraharp, Synclavier, acoustic piano, percussion; Steve Khan, electric, acoustic guitar; Tony Levin, electric bass, Chapman Stick; Steve Smith, drums; with guest appearances: Rique Pantoja, acoustic piano #4; Bruce Martin, additional keyboards, Synclavier programming, percussion; Ray Gomez, electric guitar #1,10; Stephen Barber, string orchestrator #5; featuring Mass Kool And The African Posse: Massamba Fall, rythmic drum #3; Abdoulaye Diop, bass drum #3; Magatte Fall, talking drum #3.

Centerfield Studios, NYC, 1989

1.Well, In That Case
2.Lust For Life
3.Senegal Calling
4.Red Neon, Go Or Give
5.Charanga
6.Get It
7.N.Y.C.
8.Stick Jam
9.Absolutely Maybe
10.Festival
11.Paradiso

** also released on Intuition Records (G) INT 3007 2 in 1989, (US) C1-91354 in 1989, (US) CDP 7 91354 2 in 1989.

1992

Steps Ahead - Yin-Yang   NYC Records NYC 6001 2   1992

Ensemble: Bendik, sax; Mike Mainieri, MIDI vibraharp, Synclavier, percussion; Rachel Z, acoustic piano, synthesizer; Jeff Andrews, electric, acoustic bass; Steve Smith, drums; with guest appearances: Rick Margitza, tenor sax #1,10; George Whitty, synthesizer #1; Jimi Tunnell, electric guitar #1,2,4; Steve Khan, electric guitar #1,3,6,8,10; Dean Brown, electric guitar #2; Wayne Krantz, electric, acoustic guitar #5,8; Chuck Loeb, rhythm guitar #3; Victor Bailey, electric bass #3; Bruce Martin, additional percussion, additional synthesizer, programming assoc. #1-3; + British guests: Spencer Cozens, keyboards, bass synthesizer #7; Alan Thomson, bass #7; Miles Bould, percussion, sequencing #7.

The Elephant Recording Studio, Wapping, London, released 1992

1.Sidewalk Maneuvers
2.Praise
3.Nite Owl
4.Taxi
5.Tamarin Lion
6.Gory Details
7.Agitate The Gravel
8.Okapi
9.Orion
10.Steppish
11.Sara's Touch

1995

Steps Ahead - Vibe   NYC Records NYC 6012 2   1995

Donny McCaslin, tenor sax; Mike Mainieri, vibes; Michael Cain, piano; Victor Bailey, bass; Clarence Penn, drums; with Tim Hagans, trumpet; Aaron Heick, alto sax.

RPM Sound Studios, NYC, released 1995

Buzz

Donny McCaslin, soprano sax; Mike Mainieri, vibes; Rachel Z, piano, synthesizer; James Genus, bass; Clarence Penn, drums; with Tim Hagans, trumpet; Adam Holzman, drum programming.

From Light To Light

Donny McCaslin, tenor sax; Mike Mainieri, vibes; Michael Cain, piano; Adam Holzman, synthesizer, sequencer; Victor Bailey, bass; Clarence Penn, drums.

Penn Station

Donny McCaslin, soprano, tenor sax; Mike Mainieri, vibes; Michael Cain, piano; Victor Bailey, bass; Clarence Penn, drums; with Adam Holzman, organ, Clavinet, sequencer, drum programming.

Vibe

Donny McCaslin, tenor sax; Mike Mainieri, vibes; Rachel Z, piano, synthesizer; James Genus, bass; Clarence Penn, drums.

Green Dolphin Street

Donny McCaslin, tenor sax; Mike Mainieri, vibes; Michael Cain, piano; Victor Bailey, bass; Clarence Penn, drums.

Miles Away

Donny McCaslin, tenor sax; Mike Mainieri, vibes; Michael Cain, piano, synthesizer; Victor Bailey, bass; Clarence Penn, drums; with Adam Holzman, synthesizer.

Staircase

Donny McCaslin, tenor sax; Mike Mainieri, vibes; Rachel Z, piano, synthesizer; James Genus, bass; Clarence Penn, drums.

Rendezvous

Donny McCaslin, tenor sax; Mike Mainieri, vibes; Michael Cain, piano; Reggie Washington, bass; Clarence Penn, drums.

Crunch

Section I: Donny McCaslin, soprano sax; Michael Cain, solo piano; Rachel Z, synthesizer; Clarence Penn, drums; + Section II: Donny McCaslin, soprano sax; Mike Mainieri, vibes; Rachel Z, solo piano; Michael Cain, synthesizer; Reggie Washington, bass; Clarence Penn, drums; with Adam Holzman, drum programming.

Waxing & Wanin

Mike Mainieri, piano; James Genus, acoustic bass; Clarence Penn, drums.

Miles Away - Reprise (The Gentle Giant)

1999

Steps Ahead - Live In Europe 1999 - Holding Together   NYC Records NYC 6033 2   2002

Bob Berg, sax; Mike Mainieri, vibes; Eliane Elias, piano; Marc Johnson, bass; Peter Erskine, drums.

live in Europe, July, 1999

Bowing To Bud
Copland
Autumn Rose
Pools
All The Things You Are / Soul Eyes
Uncle Bob

same session.

Dee Minor
The Time Is Now
In A Sentimental Mood
Friday Night At The Cadillac Club