StepsAhead 1986

[@morrisbailey1621]

i stumbled across this. vic was my brother. good to se. thankx for the memorys. RIP.

[@dalichwer]

Miss Victor, Mike and Chuck - nice to hear from you.

[@jeshkam]

Hello Mr Bailey. Victor's gig in Rybnik, Poland (1999) was the first jazz gig I ever went to. Made me completely fall in love with this genre. "Low Blow" is one of my all-time favorite jazz albums. His passing hit me really hard, same level as with Bowie few months earlier. All the best, sir.

[@therealnitrouso2]

What a legend. His groove on this tune is just so ridiculously deep. So glad I saw this. RIP Victor....

[@EVEROSFP1]

Μy condolences....

[@adamwright7954]

Victor is absolutely crushing it here. Your brother was a true master of his craft.

[@anthonycousins1162]

I absolutely love this version of Steps!! A time capsule of master musicians displaying their musical prowess and NOT let it get in the way of the music. Rest In Power Michael, Victor and Chuck. ❤️🙏🏽❤️🙏🏽❤️🙏🏽

[@funklover24]

Wow, this is magic. Wonderful musicianship, fusion heaven. Miss Chuck Loeb, Michael Brecker and Victor Bailey, may they rest in peace. ❤

[@Judex1963]

This is exactly how i like jazz fusion. Synth-uped guitar, vibraphone, groovin bass, meandering sax, all perfectly blended together by master musicians. 80s jackets and palm trees in the background just add to the experience.

[@Frapzoid]

Why is this Jazz fusion and not just modern Jazz? What genre are they fusing together with Jazz?

[@Judex1963]

@@Frapzoid I think it's a matter of using electric instruments, which are more associated with pop, and using rock sounding rhythms. It can also be more groovy baselines borrowed from rnb. I'm no expert on the matter, but that's what i understand fusion to be.

[@luke125]

Exactly

[@egyptianminor]

Victor Bailey & Peter Erskine, what a great groove. Don't care what anyone says, I love 1980s Fusion too, 'warts and all', i.e DX7, Roland Synth Guitars, etc...

[@slyfondle1885]

Even the Manieri mullet?

[@TommyWashow]

Dx7 is literally the reason fusion rules

[@jayem1826]

Chuck Loeb. Love his music and of course Michael’s too

[@stuartdryer1352]

I had a DX7. Wish I still had it.

[@eranddroory9987]

From back in the day where you could go shopping, move the lawn and wash the car and the vibraphone player would still be playing solo when you came back..

[@Oenloveslife]

They are ALL incredible, and Michael Brecker is off the charts incredible!

[@RobertVeasquez]

Best performance I've ever seen using that beast, Roland GR 707.....kudos to Chuck Loeb! R.I.P.

[@christianheidenreich3673]

Thanks for sharing this precious time document. I find it important to save these for future generations.

[@BlackRootsAcademyOfSoul]

What a lucky find this is!!!! 👌🏿 RIP Victor Bailey, Michael Brecker and my friend Chuck Loeb 👊🏿🖤 Greetings from Uganda 🇺🇬👊🏿🖤🤍

[@sumoblues]

Chuck totally killing it on the synthaxe!!!

[@FenceThis]

Most bespectacled 80's fusion band

[@moochincrawdad]

I will always love hearing this type of jazz music! 😃

[@yellowquantum4240]

I miss that 70- 80's fusion sound. We drove from Miami in the 80's to see them play in NYC small club called 7th Avenue South. We met Steve Gadd in the alley. Super performance !!!

[@straybassman8508]

Nice catch by the guitarist at 7:25 LOL

[@SONORSQ2guy]

What a gig beautiful view perfect weather and a great band! 👍🤟👏

[@alexandremello6913]

Bravo, Victor Bailey! What a monster he was!

[@arlen72]

It''s amazing ! I Knew Michael Brecker in 1988 here in Brazil - at Free Jazz Festival - São Paulo. I never more forgot, your music transformed my life. After Mrs. Mike Mainieri, Erskine, Grolnick, Bailey, and much others. Thank you !!!!!!

[@ciroettorre8546]

Jazz Fusion at its best level - wonderful execution and location

[@olleinsulander]

What an amazing bassplayer!!!

[@getawaywithpaul5513]

The late great victor bailey

[@jayramsey690]

Nice to see Mike Maniari still wearing his high school letter jacket!

[@dalichwer]

I do believe that's from Billy Joel's '52nd Street' album sessions.

[@guillermokunzel5171]

R.I.P. Chuck, Victor and Michael, thanks for the Music ...

[@dagostinoification]

rip ...great musicians .

[@misfit2022]

Peter Erskine showing why he is one of the all time greats. He was also previously with Weather Report too. I had his educational vid Everything is Timekeeping when I was growing up. I am sure most drummers go through a phase when they want to add in everything in their Arsenal but then you have someone telling you forget that this is what is important and it’s time. He was right. Rarely do drummers get callbacks for their chops.

[@funklover24]

Thanks, totally agree. Love his groove and feel. ❤

[@jamessteen6667]

Lol

[@jamessteen6667]

​@@funklover24yep steve smith doesnt have the feel at least on pools

[@nightpills-h9g]

I didn't know about this damn band haha, glad I discovered it❤️

[@jonp4846]

Only Mike M. and Peter are still left with us.

[@mvoproject]

Great Music!! Magic vibraphone... And so beautiful looking that red bass guitar...

[@crisjack1914]

What is the bass players name?

[@williamarchibald4478]

Victor Bailey is the bassist, 7:50 ​@@crisjack1914.

[@dillpickle1960]

Wonderful as always. Mike is a beautiful, welcoming musical spirit. His rhythmic control and release is superb.

[@rmoraespinto]

Occasionally I would check Chuck's videos and cds and the funny thing was that I would always find him great, as in this video. When called upon to name a list of best guitar players I would consistently fail to name Chuck. What a disgrace! He is (was), undoubtedly, one of the best! R.I.P.

[@davidbaise5137]

Thanks for the upload! This should-a been on network television back in 1986. And now with all the channels available

[@juliooliveira1771]

Michael Brecker was some guy …What a beautiful playing 🎉

[@latindrummer1180]

Excellent version with Victor Bailey on electric bass!!

[@mmee24]

One of the great bands of it's time. The musicians are all giants to say the least. Thanks so much for posting.

[@silvav2880]

Agree 100% !

[@bigchato7056]

good times, lots of good memories

[@fibboobbif]

Only Peter and Mike left... The others are already jammin in the sky.

[@ChuckSilva]

Amazing! One of earth’s best moments! ❤️🍻🎼🎶

[@MrJazzman1967]

Great band i used to listen 20 years ago🔥 I never heard this guitar player at this period : what a great solist. I've seen StepsAhead in Paris at the Paris Jazz Festival 2005 with mike stern, richard bona, mike maineri and steve smith.

[@lawrencebeck4777]

Probably the best rendition of Pools I've ever heard! Thank you for posting Dennis. You made my night!

[@jamessteen6667]

Your right man but not prob ....is!!!!

[@groovealate74]

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!! So good..

[@itadrummer1]

Three of these great musicians are already gone....Unbelievable ! R.I.P. Michael, Victor and Chuck ( in order of passing away ).

[@deetgeluid]

It's a sad world without them.

[@midivanilli3847]

Musopaul what? well if u are judging musicians by their clothes you should check some pop artists instead of jazz musicians, wtf?

[@narizgrande]

@@musopaul5407 you're an asshole..

[@chris6442]

@@musopaul5407 These debates about comparisons of musicians, this one is better than that one, etc., is totally out of line! Music is not a competition, we are not at the Olympics. By the way, Mike Stern also seems to think little about clothes, he always wears black jeans and a black T-shirt for decades 😂 But who cares about that anyway? Mike is great, but I recommend checking out some of the exciting young guns.

[@chris6442]

@@musopaul5407 What's wrong with a vanilla player? Are Ritenour or Carlton not as high on your list because they have a different musical approach? There are quite a few songs from Chuck's albums that move me emotionally, and plenty they don't. And that goes for Mike's songs too, while we're on the subject of comparing. By the way, the term competition only applies to professional musicians, and only to a limited extent, because good music and art doesn't really live on competition in the economic sense. For the listener it is not about competition at all. Over the many years I've come a long way from judging or even condemning musicians by their chops (for lack of such). It is only and exclusively about emotions. And those are completely subjective and not discussable. I also find that music does not have to be constantly evaluated and pigeonholed, you can also just let it be. A good player is one who manages to touch people, regardless of genres, chops and virtuosity in general, period! Virtuosity (whatever that means exactly) can be exciting for a short time and then incredibly boring for a long time. I like that you mention things like tasty harmonic pallet and good sound and respect that you were not particularly taken in by Chuck's playing. For me that's true for Stern's play, meanwhile he's just copying himself and I'd like to see him evolve and become more modern. There are so many incredibly good new streams, fusion in the best sense. A good player for me is one who can pour his personality into new forms of expression, taking me along on this journey and not getting stuck in his old habits. But that's just how my brain works, it wants to be offered something different every now and then in order not to get bored and to be inspired. One day chili, the other vanilla. 😬

[@WELLBRAN]

I have known all these individuals for years but I never knew this band till today😀... So now I'm searching here and how I missed them I have no idea

[@AndreasDelleske]

Oh man. One of my favourite modern bands in 1984, even before.

[@marcustorigian829]

Magnificent! Thank you for sharing this gift

[@pramadyajaya]

Thanks for this posting. Group of giant musicians.

[@gregonline6506]

What a fantastic show! Incredible, each and every one of them so at the point, unbelieveble. Love it. Thx so much for sharing!

[@andrewbintang4591]

great live recording! i've really enjoyed this and maybe it's time i start digitalizing my own private recordings so i can share them on here. there must be years of video tapes with live recordings still in the vault.

[@radioazma]

YEs please

[@kf5tjc]

Do it!

[@ChuckSilva]

Do it and please visit this and let us know! ❤️

[@HardcoreNerdTheories]

YES! please

[@BlackRootsAcademyOfSoul]

Incredible recording. The sound is incredible 👌🏿

[@groovealate74]

This is just beautiful.. So nice to sip some high test beer listening to this before hitting the sack..❤️

[@FusionHowie]

Peter and Victor were locked!! Michael Brecker is beyond the greatest!

[@liecht]

Terrific performance,with Víctor Bayley playing absolutely off the scale!

[@roelofboiten3984]

Can't believe the camera left Mike Manieri in the middle of that amazing solo! :(

[@yvesdevriendt928]

They will live forever !

[@dagostinoification]

GEAT MUSICIANS ! thank you !

[@heirling25]

Vic Bailey and Peter Erskine holding it down!

[@sonicart1808]

Thank you Dennis for posting this amazing moment in musical time!

[@omerofaggionato4405]

I Saw them in Perugia and Was really great

[@misiclover1658]

Absolutely Beautiful Sounds.

[@omko73]

Victor Baily was on fire .. and checkout the musicianship, that little smile from the drummer for the licks Victor slipped @ around 7:56 ..really good stuff

[@mrchess8001]

WOW first time I heard steps ahead was on WJZZ..in Detroit I love this group..and I still listen to this type of fusion to this day.

[@brads4606]

Man! That tempo didn’t move one little bit for 16 minutes!

[@cmikesmith664]

That’s Bun E. Carlos on drums keeping the tempo steady as a rock. 🥸

[@ikespaceman]

11:15 “Chicago, Chicago that toddlin’ town” - Brecker was always full of surprises 💙

[@trobson9952]

Michael sounds like 3 tenors at once. What a muscian .

[@luissp1882]

CAN NOT STOP LISTENING TO THIS

[@pauldejong9778]

how cool, it reminded me of 'an' meeting with an associate from a company I used to work with, but.. It is you Dennis. We talked at Namm once and you shared your experiences with these guys. How great!

[@dalichwer]

Hi Paul - nice to hear from you - yes, I remember our talk at NAMM.

[@MrMftech]

No sweat with Steps Ahead...totally fluid jazz.

[@MARSAX86]

thanks for upload

[@jonyoung6253]

They were such a great group.

[@antonsavin72]

Wonderful performance!

[@KSMCTheMusicChannel]

This is good group Jazz is good Good vibes 😎

[@scottiesblues9750]

Dennis, thanks for posting this GEM! I agree with Meeman, this is very good! Brecker at his best = late 70's through early 90's.

[@guijazz7068]

This is amazing! Each a star for himself - together they open up a new horizon - still today! Did anyone notice, that they had already a midified Vibraphon in 1986?

[@Archiconocido]

Bailey and Erskine so in the damn pocket.

[@cylferrymbemba7163]

Just Sublime

[@mrbertiep1]

Chuck Loeb was a unsung monster on guitar. This is great edition of this amazing band. I heard them with Eddie Gomez and I believe Warren Bernhardt. No Loeb.

[@BurnsTennis]

From that era, Chuck Loeb hardly gets mentioned but appeared everywhere. Like an unsung hero.

[@blahblahoink]

Very Weather plus the vibes. Classy!

[@coolaxe-dw4840]

Totally Awesome 🎷🎶🥁🎸🎹🎧🎙️

[@ManfredElsingBielefeld]

Thanks so much for posting.

[@andrzejszymanski3022]

Victor Bailey - he was excellent!!!

[@lilbitofOverdrive]

I had one of those Schecter walnut strat guitars Tom anderson made them with all the brass on it from the 80s just like that they are heavy!! I understand having it on a stand They are worth allot of money thes days

[@scottquickel8010]

Thanks for posting Dennis - very thoughtful!

[@nachogaz]

Victor Bailey en estado de locura y todas al ángulo total

[@fredricmontana5420]

Pocket...

[@AndreasDelleske]

They brightened my youth.. Mike Mainieri: Wanderlust.. also Eliane Elias..

[@davidbeckertribune607]

Queen Mary Jazz Festival 1985. David Becker played there solo after Steps and before Chick Corea Trio and Miles Davis.

[@rodneyramirez603]

Mike on the Dukoff and is near absolute perfection, why he switched to Guárdala I’ll never understand. Michael is the monster tenor player that we’ll never hear again.

[@cmikesmith664]

Some people just can’t appreciate this.

[@saxcover.Varzak]

Unforgettable seasons ❤️🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@robertosozio3425]

Great Band very Nice 👌👌❤

[@Andtewt]

Old school is old school. The musicianship of the 5 Steps Ahead members are categorised as headmasters. Rip Victor, Chuck & Mr.Brecker.

[@cmikesmith664]

… Emilio Estefan on xylophones and Bun E. Carlos on drums. Wow!!!

[@luigicuccitto2113]

GOD Bless You 🎸🎸🎸

[@simhgamedev]

But is the guitarrist Chuck Loeb? I attended a concert with him in Budapest back in 2000 or so.

[@simoncrawley7430]

Catalina Wine Mixer Rock...I love this stuff

[@lapelcelery42]

Beautiful Schecter Dream Machine the guitarist is playing.

[@wheelie63]

that synth guitar is truly "STEPS AHEAD".......... of it's time. well played indeed.

[@kurikokaleidoscope]

Brilliant.

[@MellowFellow137]

holy shit this is gold through and through

[@SteenHolm134]

8:18: Victor Bailey honoring Jaco...respect!

[@zlatkodraskovic5532]

Brutal…

[@TunaLoopBackingTracks]

Super hip playing! Thanks for the upload :)

[@BirdArvid]

There's a great video of this band (although it's Eddie Gomez on upright bass) at the Glyptoteket Museum in Copenhagen from around this time. Great stuff!

[@davidbaise5137]

Available, the music is still excluded from the mainstream.

[@hoffnstuff8996]

Bless this sound engineer that got heavy w bass, thus laying clear to the world the true genius that is Victor Bailey. Pick it up about 2:50 and just listen for a minute or two. Bailey and Erskine seem to be having so much fun effortlessly creating the mother of all pockets for Loeb to solo over.

[@robertpeters5190]

Totally agree. Even behind @6:25 Mike's solo you can hear how locked in they are (and again at @10:25). Listen to all of that space Victor is leaving. It's like he trading fills with Peter at just the right times. I'm not a drummer but even I can hear that ride cymbal and the hi hat in the "space"...just awesome! I'm just "feeling" the 16ths the way these guys play it!

[@PsjogrenGoS]

Absolutely! I think Steve Smith is a great drummer but he hasn't been able to make justice to this tune.

[@gaborszollosy2153]

It's actually quite poor quality mix IMO. Still it's fascinating to listen to this music, these guys are true geniuses. I'm glad that I stumbled upon this video in YT thanks for posting it.

[@simhgamedev]

Delightful - for me for sure.