Giant Step’s Early Years On The Road
1991–1993
We started the Giant Step club in 1990. When we started, we knew that we had “kindred spirits” - not only in the US, but around the world. So we started connecting with those people. In 1991, we started doing Giant Step in Los Angeles, in partnership with the people behind the club Brass.
That same year, we were introduced to a band from the UK called Massive Attack, who asked us if we could organize their first US tour. So the Giant Step crew went on the road with Massive Attack.
And pretty soon, we were going all around the world - Japan was a place we visited often (pictured below). We started touring as the Giant Step crew of live DJ’s, musicians, and Dana Bryant. We then expanded to touring with the Groove Collective, Repercussions, and Dana Bryant. We would go to Europe often - whether it was touring with bands like Gangstarr or doing festivals, or playing in Paris or Germany. Through touring, Giant Step became a global phenomenon. We met some amazing people along the way, and we made some great friends around the world.
Giant Step was invited to Italy to play the Bari Jazz Festival in 1992. As guests of DJ/producer Nicola Conte , the Giant Step crew consisted of DJ Jazzy Nice and musicians Jay Rodriguez (sax/flute), Gordon “Nappy G” Clay (percussion), Itaal Shur (keys), and Genji Siraisi (drums). You can hear a recording of the Bari show on Mixcloud. The pictures below include this trip and other stops in Europe and Canada.
As told by Giant Step co-founder, Jonathan Rudnick:
"We were invited by Guess in Argentina to bring the Giant Step vibe and concept to their Buenos Aires hub and Punta del Este Clubhouse in Uruguay. We brought a fiery mix of our many flavors with us including musicians Jay Rodriguez on saxophone and flute, Genji Siraisi on drums, Nappy G on percussion, rap, vocals and MC + DJ Chillfrez and maverick Tap Dancer, multi instrumentalist Tamango."
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