By Jack Bowers

We've heard a number of admirable college Jazz ensembles over the past several years, and here's another one - San Diego State University, directed by Bill Yeager. Eight of the 10 selections on Three Steps Ahead are by the ensemble, with two others ("Antelope Island," "Puppy Boy and Itch") by the smaller Jazz Combo No. 1. Yeager has corraled some able-bodied horses to pull this wagon, some of whom solo not once but twice and even three times on the same number (and others whose engaging appearances are uncredited, like the muted trumpeter - Gary Pack, perhaps? - on John Clayton's "Blues for Stephanie," on which Dick McGuane takes choruses on soprano, alto and baritone sax). Chris Lea is heard on tenor sax and flute on "Three Steps Ahead," flute again on "La Niña Nueva" and "Alice in Wonderland." Another frequent soloist is pianist Lisa Pittman who fares quite well on her half-dozen appearances and also wrote the charming Jazz waltz "Antelope Island" for the small combo. Pack plays muted on "Blue in Green" and open on "La Niña Nueva" while trumpeter Greg Beck is the soloist on "The Modal House of Hip Hop" and Cole Porter's "It's All Right with Me" as well as with the smaller group. One of the joys of hearing big bands at any level lies in sampling new compositions and charts, and there are a number of them here, especially Clayton's "Blues for Stephanie," Neil Finn's "Stumblin' and Shufflin'," and sparkling arrangements of Bill Reichenbach's "Three Steps Ahead" (by Tom Matta), Bill Evans' "Blue in Green" (Dave Bowman), "Alice in Wonderland" and "It's All Right with Me" (both by Eric Richards). The other numbers are Josh Allen's "Puppy Boy," for small combo, and Steve Wiest's "Modal House of Hip Hop" - better than its title implies - for the large ensemble. Brass and reeds have it together, and the rhythm section is suitably forceful and supportive. An earnest, well-crafted program by two hard-working young Jazz ensembles, and hats off to Mr. Yeager for that.

Track Listing: Three Steps Ahead; Blues for Stephanie; Stumblin' and Shufflin'; Blue in Green; La Niña Nueva; Antelope Island; Puppy Boy and Itch; Alice in Wonderland; The Modal House of Hip Hop; It's All Right with Me (62:55).

Personnel: Jazz Ensemble 1: David McConaughey, Alicia Mangan, Chris Lee, Matt Kalal, Cheryl Heale, Dick McGuane, reeds; Tom Nygaard, Larry Hart, Karl Soukup, Greg Beck, Gary Pack, trumpets; Bob Johnston, Ted Weed, Tony Arcaro, Dan Thompson, trombones; Lisa Pittman, piano; Roger Berger, bass; Don Kuhli, drums. Jazz Combo 1: Greg Beck, trumpet, flugelhorn; Chris Lea, flute; John Allen, tenor sax; Tony Arcaro, trombone; Lisa Pittman, piano; Scott Kent, guitar; Brian K. Moore, bass; Hugh O'Neil, drums.