Michael Brecker - tenorsax, EWI
Mike Mainieri - vibraphones, midi vibes
Mike Stern - guitar
Daryl Jones - bass
Steve Smith - drums
Beirut 9:53 (V.Bailey, M.Brecker, P.Erskine, C.Loeb, M.Mainieri)
Oops 8:47 (Mike Mainieri)
Self Portrait 7:30 (Mike Mainieri)
Sumo 9:01 (Michael Brecker)
Cajun 8:14 (Michael Brecker)
Safari 6:23 (Michael Brecker)
In a Sentimental Mood 4:26 (Duke Ellington)
Trains 9:32 (Mike Mainieri)
Produced by Steps Ahead
Recorded live at Kan-i Hoken Hall, Tokyo July 30th, 1986
Recording Engineer Saigen Ono
Mixing Engineer James Farber
a DDD recording (?)
(c) 1994 NYC Records 6006 2
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"After the release of the album "Magnetic" in 1985, Michael Brecker
and I, along with the revamped rhythm section of Mike Stern, Daryl
Jones and Steve Smith, embarked on a series of concert tours. One of
these concerts was recorded live at Kan-i Hoken Hall in Tokyo and
originally released on laserdisc. Many steps Ahead fans and musicians
who caught this ensemble 'live', either at the 'Bottom Line' in New
York City or at other venues, have inquired about the availability of
recordings from these dates. With the assistance of Hisao Ebine and
VideoArts in Japan, we were able to release this live recording on CD.
I hope this recording brings you as much joy as I had performing with
these great musicians."
Mike Mainieri, January 1994, President NYC Records
This is a great album. I absolutely love it. Then again I like Steps!
This album is full of gems. I like the live sound of bands in
general. It gives that little extra, solo's longer, more drive
somehow, less clinical. These guys love to make music, you can hear
it. It starts of with Beirut with the amazing Michael
Brecker. The man is god on the EWI. It also features Mike
Mainieri on, needless to say, vibraphone. He and Michael Brecker,
pure magic. This song swings man! Next song Oops, cool,
rythmic... and then out of nowhere a Mike Stern solo ... The mood is
tuned down, the lyrical song Self Portrait starts of with
beautiful guitar work by Mike, followed by some beautiful haunting
melody by Michael Brecker and Mike Mainieri. The solo by Mainieri is
magnificent. Next song Sumo... Mr. EWI... man this is
great... Mike jumps in with a great riff... just listen to
this... Cajun is next. This is an up-tempo piece with an
incredible solo by Mike Stern, full overdrive again... Now we move on
to a great rythmic piece called Safari. Listen to the the Mike
Stern solo. It definitely kicks ass, great rythm. The man is
brilliant. Ballad time again In A Sentimental Mood, one of my
favourite pieces. It features Michael Brecker on the EWI. A beautiful
version of the great classic Ellington song. Very, very
sentimental... the feeling Michael Brecker puts into this electronic
instrument is amazing. The album finishes of with Trains, a
nice piece, with starts of a little boring but then it comes alive, a
recurring melody which will not leave your head, featuring Michael
Brecker, Mike Mainieri and... Mike Stern!
Ries van Schelven
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