Thank you, matt.

You known it could all end in carnage? So many people suddenly appear too ask questions - and the questions are more rapid than an Ouzi unloading! 

 Nothing fancy here.

Mad, I want to say it's "British Racing Green" or "Kelly Green" or...damn...something else, maybe...sheesh! But, yes, although I can't see a pic of the kit from that link you posted, the kit was more than likely the same one.

I mean, I was sitting, WIDE-eyed from about 12 feet away from them. there was Eliane playing the resident Steinway (nice piano), Maineiri was playing his "synthi-vibe"...

Here's the real kicker to the story...I was at this concert with my older brother, Mike and an office-mate of his, Amy. Somehow, Eddie Gomez knew Amy from some mutual relation or something...and so, on the break between their two sets that night, Eddie Gomez came to our table, sat down and bought us all a glass of red wine! I mostly sat there and didn't say anything...too much in awe.

I remember Eliane Elias walking past me through the crowd and I actually made eye contact with her! She actually smiled at me! Oh, my she was gorgeous...and bare-footed, too! I had a lot of thoughts about her...nevermind.

1983 was about the heart of my love of "jazz fusion". There were lots of "fusion" bands around. Spyro Gyra, Yellowjackets, Weather Report, RTF, Jeff Lorber, Ronny Laws, Stuff, Lee Ritenour, Pat Metheny Group...all that stuff was what I was listening to. When Steps Ahead showed up, they were like the ultimate "dream band" of the century. So many different facets and ways to go within that band -that particular formation.

Then the term "fusion" began to change for me...into listening to bands like Jack Dejohnette's Special Edition or Old and New Dreams...Ornette Coleman...stuff that was more "out". Bands like Steps Ahead and that concept, in general, began to fade...bands got more acoustic again...horn players started coming out front again...guitars and synths stepped backwards. The VSOP quintet was the remnant of the oldf Miles Davis Quintet...which led me back, back, back into the older bands...got aquainted with the West coast sound -Charles Lloyd...which led me forward, again....led me into the realm of the Scandinavian/European sounds of the ECM record label...which led me to the Peter Erskine Trio with John Taylor (piano) and Palle Danielsson (bass)...which led me to Bobo Stenson's trio with Anders Jormin (bass) and Jon Christensen (drums)...which is where my musical tastes have ultimately been wading for the last few years...intermixed with the many new flavors that the internet and Amazon.com have exposed.

I will try to come up with a few good questions to ask Peter Erskine. Damn, I wish I could be here "live" for this. I'm going crazy about this.

hi.

"Modern Times" is the disc i dont presently have of Steps/Steps Ahead. Never got too see them.  I got Erskine addicted waaaaaaayyyyyyy back, when i heard him.First with Weather Report and then:  Mike Manieri's vinyl, WUNDERLUST - which is a BIG fav from back then.  I dont know why, i didnt really purchase the ECM stuff.......One Kenny Wheeler album with John Taylor IIRC.    Shame it all went tits up!  .......into smoooooooooooooothhhhhhhh jizz.

 Nothing fancy here.

hi.

Don't worry!  We'll definitley help O'Lugs out, and I too feel that the regulars deserve a little special treatment!  I was simply saying that I couldn't post a ton of questions asking Peter to answer them while others were perhaps left unanswered.  Peter may stay online for a while.  It's his call.  I have a feeling it will be for an hour or two depending on how it's flowing.  Peter is a real fun-loving guy, and I think he'll enjoy some of the characters we have around here...

Matt, i've seen a few of these and people flock in like: Woodstock!    It can get Overwhelming too say the least.  So questions asked before will be a real Bonus..... when THE BIKERS hit town!    

I hope whats asked on the day will also be Transcripted somewhere on the evans site - after the event?  

 Nothing fancy here.

So...here are some questions that I think should stir some discussion... Let me know if you think I should re-word anything. Anyway, I am going to TRY and get back here asap that night so (hopefully) I will get in on some "live"...maybe I can get some in BEFORE I leave...We'll see. Anyway, here are the Q's:

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#1. It is well-known that Gene Krupa liked to smoke weed. It’s common knowledge that John Bonham drank a lot of booze. I’m sure there are many similar stories throughout the music business over the years. It would seem that some of the most memorable music was made by musicians who were under the influence of some kind of chemical. Jaco Pastorius, a musician you worked with, was a phenomenal player and a well-known alcoholic around certain areas of South Florida. Generally speaking, the message we send out is that nothing good can come of drug use, but there are so many contrary examples of this –all the heroin of the 50’s and 60’s and the great jazz players who were also junkies….the 70’s, Hendrix and LSD…The Beatles and LSD…all the coke that was around in the 80’s and 90’s…Do you see any kind of correlation between the drugs of a given era and the musical style of that era? Were you ever around Jaco when he was out of control? What was that like?

#2.What happened with the European trio (John T. and Palle D.)? Is it true that Manfred Eicher cut that band because he said that you “grooved too much” –or something to that effect? Will you be doing more work with the trio in the future? I loved the sound of that trio –especially recorded by ECM. What kind of studio set-up did you have when you recorded on ECM? What do you think “it” is that defines that ECM sound? Is it the room?-the reverb? I’m dying to know more about how to try and get closer to that kind of ambient “thing” they always get. How were the mics placed? What kinds of mics were being used on the piano and bass and drums?

#3.Which musicians had the biggest influence on you? What was the best advice you ever got from another musician?

#4.Do you happen to recall the gig you played at the French Market Mall (Oklahoma City) in 1983 with Steps Ahead?…the club was called “Bianca’s Jazz Club”. You were playing a green ( a specific color of green) Yamaha drums. The stage was very small, but it seemed like everyone was having fun …I know you all sounded great! I meant to say “Thanks!” for the influence your playing has had on me that night. You made me see that playing the drums could sound “elegant”.

#5.(A bass player wanted me to ask)...Do you ever think about shaving off the hair on your back when you look at that picture in that one ad?

Oh, and a BIG Thank you! for participating with this forum!

(um...you might not want to ask #5!)

hi.

Lugs-  Great questions!  Look good to me as is.  I too want to know what it was like working w