Guided Listening: "Pools" & Steps Ahead

[@thegreenmanalishiyamadori371]

One of the best fusion tunes ever, and best Solos by Mike and Michael👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

[@charondolls]

picture a night skyline & some wine, it's divine.

[@pbissell1]

Wow.... so glad you talked about this tune (and this group). This album and Modern Times were on heavy rotation with me between 1984 and 1990. Yeah, how would one really classify this groove? "But we know he's going there..." ha ha. Yes, and it will be beyond what mortals can do.

[@JeffAntoniukEducator]

Yeah, "he went there . . . "! Thanks for listening!!

[@rickgraham786]

This is a classic jam from Steps Ahead. Part of the fantastic playlist from the classic jazz radio station WJZZ out of Detroit.

[@feIixbosch]

thanks for this guided listening, really helps to understand the music!

[@JeffAntoniukEducator]

So happy you are enjoying this series!

[@HHGary]

I appreciate your comments on the feel... one of the reviews of this album at the time it came out just called the whole thing "funky fusion," which I always thought was a gross misrepresentation.

[@JeffAntoniukEducator]

Good point, this is WAY beyond "funky" or "fusion", but has elements of both. Thanks for taking the time to write.

[@michaelosullivan9339]

First time I heard Michael brecker 1984.....been a fan ever since

[@JeffAntoniukEducator]

Yeah, his solo here is a bit of a slap in the face, isn't it! 😂

[@frankmallows5548]

Thanks for your insights. I've enjoyed listening to different versions of this tune over years (incl Grolnicks version). Your thoughts have highlighted aspects that I overlooked. Thanks. And great vibes solo! There are some of his album's that could be analysed in the future. Northern Lights for example.

[@JeffAntoniukEducator]

Grolnick is one of my all time favorite musicians. SO much great music.

[@RaySqw785]

still listening steps ahead every mounth, and more fusion of these times,

[@Osnosis]

This band formed in NYC, especially at 7th Avenue South. MM is a phenomenal composer and band leader (it's his group, and it has been through many iterations). I first saw them around 1982, and then many times since then. There isn't a bad song/album they did.

[@JeffAntoniukEducator]

Agreed. This began as a bunch of cats jamming together at 7th Ave S. Amazing!

[@VintageBassArchive]

i love the 1985 and 1986 versions of pools