RARE: Steps Ahead at the Pit Inn (1979) with Brecker, Gadd, Gomez, Grolnick and Mainieri (Part 1)

Steps - Live at the Pit Inn (December 1979)
Roppongi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
According to Bill Milkowski’s excellent Michael Brecker biography, the band recorded at The Pit Inn on December 15th and 16th, and select songs from this two day gig resulted in the album “Smoking’ In The Pit” which was released in February 1980. The band recorded a studio album the next day, which resulted in the album “Step By Step,” released in the summer of 1980. I’m not 100% sure, but I believe the tracks in this video are from that same weekend, but are different from the takes used on the released recording. I believe this is accurate because Milkowski’s book mentions the guest appearance by Japanese guitar player Kazumi Watanabe that weekend, and he plays on “Sara’s Touch in this video.
(The band was originally called “Steps” but had to change its name because there was another band that had the name first, so they changed the name to “Steps Ahead.”)
If you are a Brecker fan, do yourself a favor and buy a copy of Bill Milkowski’s biography “Ode to a Tenor Titan: The Life and Times and Music of Michael Brecker.” It is a fantastically detailed accounting of Mike’s life and career, with tons of anecdotes from his peers and bandmates. Totally worth it, and a fantastic gift for any Brecker fan. Link here: amzn.to/3iJyCZB
Tracks (different versions appear on “Smoking’ In The Pit”)
1 - Fawlty Tenors
2 - Sara’s Touch
3 - Tee Bag
Mke Mainieri - vibes
Eddie Gomez- bass
Michael Brecker - saxophone
Don Grolnick - piano
Steve Gadd - drums
Kazume Watanabe - guitar (“Sara’s Touch” only)
“Smoking’ In The Pit” (rare, hard to find) - amzn.to/3H57bTg
The tracks on this double album are:
Disc 1:
1 - Tee Bag
2 - Lover Man
3 - Fawlty Tenors
4 - Song To Seth
Disc 2:
1 - Young And Fine
2 - Soul Eyes
3 - Not Ethiopia
4 - Sara’s Touch
“Step By Step” is even harder to find. It is not available on Amazon, I purchased a CD version in Japan back in 1989. The tracks on “Step By Step” are:
1 - Uncle Bob
2 - Kyoto
3 - Belle
4 - Bullet Train
5 - Six Persimmons
SAXOPHONE BOOKS
Ode To A Tenor Titan - Bill Milkowski amzn.to/3jKitDe
Every Night’s A Saturday Night - Bobby Keys - amzn.to/3ijx4VO
That Moaning Saxophone - Bruce Vermazen - amzn.to/3CqTMlT
The Devil’s Horn - Michael Segell - amzn.to/3jX0w4o
MUSIC HISTORY BOOKS
How The Music Got Free - Stephen Whitt- amzn.to/3Xb4cOi
A Romance On Three Legs - Katie Hafner - amzn.to/3VQ14Xf
Vince Guaraldi at the Piano - Derrick Bang - amzn.to/3X6VGzZ
John Wiliams Film Music - Emilio Audissino - amzn.to/3vFzh19
Abby Road to Ziggy Stardust - Ken Scott - amzn.to/3vH2h8B
The Mixing Engineers Handbook -Bobby Owinski - amzn.to/3QiwdBk
#michaelbrecker #mikemainieri #stevegadd #eddiegomez #dongrolnik #pitinn #jazzhistory
This track is been shared for educational purposes in accordance with section 107 of US Copyright Law.

[@mmee24]

Great post. There is also a double cd version of "Smokin' in the Pit" with bonus tracks that was put out by Mike Manieri's NYC label years ago.

[@YoPaulieMusic]

Yes! I have that on CD, bought in in Japan... a fantastic recording.

[@theswime945]

Thank you SO much for sharing this. My teacher introduced me to Steps Ahead when I was 12. Love the idea of someone in this audience with a hidden recording walkman! Happy days... Cheers.

[@brainwashalpha5495]

Wow is this someones personal tape recording?? The quality is stellar and indeed some different versions of tunes on here

[@roanmccormick7923]

Brecker blowing his horn to pieces :) Awesome!!!