Magnetic is the fourth studio album by American jazz fusion group Steps Ahead, released in 1986 on Elektra/Musician.
Reception
AllMusic awarded Magnetic 3 stars. AllMusic reviewer Paul Kohler described Magnetic as the final Steps Ahead recording to feature Michael Brecker, noting that the album finds the group expanding its use of electronic instruments and studio-based synthesis. He highlighted Brecker's performance on the Akai EWI (electronic wind instrument), characterising its use on the album as particularly striking within the context of the band's evolving fusion style.
Track listing "Trains" (Mike Mainieri) "Beirut" ( Chuck Loeb, Michael Brecker, Mike Mainieri, Peter Erskine, Victor Bailey) "Cajun" (Michael Brecker) "In A Sentimental Mood" (Duke Ellington) "Magnetic Love" (Mike Mainieri, Scott Martin) "Sumo" (Michael Brecker) "All The Tea In China" (Peter Erskine) "Something I Said" (Peter Erskine) "Reprise (Magnetic Love)" (Mike Mainieri, Scott Martin)
Personnel Steps Ahead
Mike Mainieri – vibraphone, synth vibes, keyboards Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone, EWI Peter Erskine – drums Victor Bailey – electric bass Hiram Bullock – electric guitar Chuck Loeb – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, guitar synthesizer
Additional musicians
Kenny Kirkland – keyboards, synthesizer Warren Bernhardt – piano, keyboards Scott Martin – synthesizer, programming Phil Ashley – synthesizer, sequencing Robby Kilgore – synthesizer programming Jimmy Bralower – drum programming Paul Jackson Jr. – electric guitar Dianne Reeves – lead vocals ("Magnetic Love") Diva Gray – backing vocals Janis Pendarvis – backing vocals Jocelyn Brown – backing vocals
Production
Mike Mainieri – producer Steps Ahead – co-producers Malcolm Pollack – engineer, mixing Neil Dorfsman – engineer James Farber – engineer, mixing Tom Lord-Alge – mixing Jay Rifkin – engineer Joe Barbaria – engineer Andy Topeka – Synclavier programming
References