Steps Ahead was formed by vibraphonist Mike Mainieri as a vehicle to bring together some New York virtuosi in a fusion group. The line-up on Step By Step (December 1980) included tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker, pianist Don Grolnick, bassist Eddie Gomez, and drummer Steve Gadd. The supergroup continued to supply technical mastery but little emotion on Paradox (1982), with Peter Erskine replacing Gadd, and Steps Ahead (1983), with Eliane Elias replacing Grolnick (who nonetheless contributed the best track