Blackie Sibisi and Step Ahead - Fly With Me

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.

The band worked several recording sessions at 8th Avenue Studios for artists including Lazarus Kgagudi, Izzyboy Masedi, Max Masuluke and Willie Mohlala. The band also released their own two albums, Things Are Changing (1986) 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 album was remastered by Craig and Jayden Beyrooti in 2024. The song Woza Mtwana was recorded using only guitars played by Blackie. All sounds including percussion were performed on six-string guitars.