Artist description Washington, DC-based instrumental jazz quartet whose debut CD focuses primarily on acoustic jazz, playing both standards and original compositions.

Music Style Jazz, Bebop, Smooth Jazz

Musical Influences Miles Davis, Ray Brown/Oscar Peterson Trios, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, Chick Corea, etc, (too many to list)

Similar Artists Charlie Haden and Quartet West, Brad Mehldau, Benny Green, etc.

Artist History The band is composed of all full-time professional musicians from the Washington, DC area who had worked together in various musical settings for over four years. In the summer and fall of 1998 the band developed into a true quartet with its own sound and repertoire. Dan La Maestra contributed greatly to the band's original material and made the recording sessions possible.

Group Members One Step Up is: Dan La Maestra...Acoustic Piano, Rob Holmes...Tenor & Soprano Saxophones, Peter Revell...Acoustic Bass, Dominic Smith...Drums, w/Special Guests: Peter Fraize...Tenor Sax, Marty Nau...Alto Sax, Glenn Wilson...Baritone Sax, Tom Palance...Flugelhorn, Paul Pieper...Electric Guitar

Instruments Acoustic Piano, Tenor & Soprano Saxes, Acoustic Bass, Drums

Albums Just a Thought

Press Reviews Dan La Maestra And One Step Up "Just A Thought" Tangent. Review By Mike Joyce, The Washington Post, Friday, January 28, 2000, Page N08. Although One Step Up is a local jazz quartet led by pianist Dan La Maestra, one ensemble size doesn't fit all the music found on its debut album. That's readily apparent and the opening and title track, "Just A Thought," a septet arrangement by core bandmember and reedman Rob Holmes. Colorful, vibrant and swinging, the tune consistently benefits from the harmonies and solos generated by the additional horns--baritone saxophonist Glen Wilson, alto saxophonist Marty Nau and fluegelhorn player Tom Palance. La Maestra, a classically trained, Argentine-born pianist, often displays a sensitive and graceful touch in more intimate settings. He and Holmes exhibit a close rapport on the quartet arrangement of "A Delicate Balance," as each sustains a distinct yet complementary melody, and "A Colorful Tangent" finds the pianist and reedman deftly spinning a series of impressionistic designs with the subtle support of bassist Peter Revell and drummer Dominic Smith. La Maestra composed five of the CD's 11 tunes, and devoted nearly the entire balance to a series of attractive pop and jazz standards. None of the melodies is more appealing than Alec Wilder's "While We're Young," freshened by a spacious and shimmering trio reprise. And none is more infectious than "Laverne Walk," a splendid showcase for Revell's resounding tone and blues-tinged finesse. The ringer is "The Red and the Black," a tune composed by guitarist Paul Piper, which showcases his cool-toned lyricism and saxophonist Peter Fraize's full-throated tenor sax. Like a lot of the performances on this album, it invites repeat plays.

Location Washington, DC - USA

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