South African band Step Ahead collaborated several times with Craig Beyrooti and 8th Avenue Studios in the late 80’s / early 90’s.  The band featured Blackie Sibisi on guitar, Phiri Motale and Buick Thwala on keyboards, Toto Moloantoa on bass, Veli Ramauwane on drums and Negro Mlotshwa on vocals.  Step Ahead performed many gigs throughout southern Africa and were the backing band for major artists like Brenda Fassie, Lazarus Kgagudi and Izzyboy Masedi. 

An extremely tight band, the talented Step Ahead musicians put on great performances at concerts and further developed their skills in the studio. The band worked several recording sessions at 8th Avenue Studios for artists such as Lazarus Kgagudi, Izzyboy Masedi, Max Masuluke and Willie Mohlala.  The band also released their own two albums, Things Are Changing (1987) and Sbarara (1988).   Craig toured as mixing engineer with the band when they supported Brenda Fassie and worked the live shows as well as recorded and mixed many of the Step Ahead sessions and their album Sbarara. 

In 1990, Craig arranged to record a jazz album that featured the guitar skills of Blackie Sibisi backed by Step Ahead. Craig and his production partner, Martin Mitchell of the band Rush Hour, co-produced the album. An excellent album that unfortunately was denied a proper release in 1991, the record was remastered by Craig and Jayden Beyrooti in 2024.