Very highly recommended
Shawn | IL United States | 11/05/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"These are the studio recordings that were originally released on import only, around the same time as Smokin' in the Pit...If you're a fan of Steps Ahead, these sides are essential.
Smokin' was more of a blowing session, while Step by Step and Paradox show a little more polish (still, with plenty of room for open blowing - check out The Aleph.) Don Grolnick left Steps after Paradox, and his playing and composing was a huge contribution.
Brecker plays tremendous, typical of this time period. His batting average in the late seventies/early eighties was amazing...
Mainieri wrote some nice tunes also (eg Bullet Train) and Eddie Gomez is wonderful as always (huge understatement!)
This package makes an interesting study too, because you can listen to the difference of disc one with Gadd on skins and disc two with Erskine. Both terrific, but in different ways.
Shawn"