"Live at Yoshi's showcases Heckman's amazing Coltrane chops in a very reverent tribute...the quartet uses a high-energy fluidity to create a mood similar to the classic music to which it pays a vibrant and loving tribute...This is a pleasure to listen to...Steve Heckman's inspiration should be a welcome experience for listeners."

All About Jazz

"Tenor saxophonist Steve Heckman makes no secret about the fact that his main musical inspiration is John Coltrane. His tone is reminiscent of Trane's... and he includes some of the same spirituality in his own originals. Heckman comes across not only as respectful of his idol, but is creative within the boundaries of the style... Heckman has impressive technique, the willingness to stretch himself, and brings back the spirit of Coltrane. Live at Yoshi's is recommended."

Scott Yanow, L.A. Jazz Scene

"Live at Yoshi's" catches the Heckman group in admirable form. The leader's fluid technique and tonal nuances may remind you of Jerry Bergonzi's brand of Coltrane derivations. Skill and practice are required to play this way...there is the mystical, spiritual vibrato, the urgency of his phrases, and the harmonic approach--pentatonic scales, superimposed chord substitutions and certain chromatic embellishments...A high-energy...heroic torrent...[that] suggests a total mind-body connection."

Owen Cordle, News Observer

"Heckman's playing on tenor and soprano is assertive, thoughtful, and devoid of cliches. He builds and develops each statement, taking time to build tension...The program is split right down the middle with the quartet tackling both challenging originals by Heckman..as well as vintage works like Mal Waldron's "Soul Eyes" and John Coltrane's "Equinox". Its equal parts edgy, outside dueling, and inside, concentrated exposition."

Ron Wynn, Nashville City Paper

Steve's tenor and soprano sax skills are at the top of the stack, and this excellent recording will make your ears just stand up and listen. A superb jazz CD!"

Improvijazzation Nation

“Heckman’s surging, shiny-toned tenor and keening soprano saxophones fashion a post-bop matrix that is spell-binding.”

San Francisco Weekly

“Live at Yoshi’s” captures the best of “Trane”-inspired jazz. Steve Heckman, an unabashed fan of John Coltrane and his music, is an accomplished and tasteful saxophonist, excelling at both tenor and soprano, with a clear love of melodic exploration and creative improvisation…When he takes his tenor sax down into its lower registers, he doesn’t just produce notes, he creates silky, soulful caresses that you feel in your gut. On the other hand, Heckman can also soar through the upper registers with equal ease and self-confidence. The other musicians…are well matched to Heckman and his musical tastes. Matt Clark is a sensitive pianist who shines on several solos, eminently listen-able and engaging. Karen Horner…is a fluid and confident player, at times almost makes her bass sing, and at other times provides a rock-solid driving foundation. Jemal Ramirez plays the drums with a perfect balance of taste and restraint, contributing just what is needed and nothing more. He is perfection. This recording is the next best thing to being there. The energy, spontaneity and obvious pleasure of the musicians is present in every note and every line, and are at times reinforced by the sincere applause of the appreciative audience…Live at Yoshi’s is a recording that has found a permanent place on my shelf and in my heart. I can hardly wait for Steve Heckman’s next CD.”

“A soulful, energetic and truly excellent live recording of Coltrane inspired jazz.”
[The CD was given a top rating of 5 stars]

Hermon Joyner, Audiophile Audition

Andrew Gilbert of the San Francisco Chronicle Datebook has selected “Steve Heckman Quartet Live at Yoshi’s” as one of the top 10 jazz CDs by a Bay Area artist in 2005, placing Steve in the category of “Local Jazz Great.”

"From the very first explosive note of the hard-swinging "R.S.V.P." to the gorgeously lyrical conclusion of "Lost in a Champagne Fog" this CD takes you on an emotionally moving and fulfilling journey with Steve demonstrating his versatility on styles ranging from modal Coltrane-inspired originals to rousing hard-bop to beautiful ballads to a sizzling (and surprising) samba. Not only will Steve establish himself as an instrumentalist once this CD finds its way into peoples' hands and ears, but also as a composer of significance and substance…The title track, "With John in Mind" is a powerful piece full of compositional complexity and depth, as well as soulfulness and accessibility in this age of rampant superficiality. It certainly does justice to its inspiring source, John Coltrane. The darkly beautiful "Sad Poetry"(the only cut done on soprano), as well as the raw and funky "Eye of the Beast" also contain unmistakable elements of homage to Trane, while still retaining a distinct individuality."... "the result is a refreshingly sincere and satisfying album full of spontaneity, surprise, and excitement."

"I must call special attention to Steve's young but exceptionally capable sidemen on this date: Matt Clark, a virtuoso pianist with roots in Bud Powell, Barry Harris, McCoy Tyner and Kenny Barron (doing wonderful solos on "R.S.V.P.", "Rodney", and featured on " Sad Poetry"); Diego Voglino, laying down crisp, incisive grooves and tastefully propelling the group forward on drums; and Lee Alexander [now play and writing songs on vocalist Norah Jones' 8 Grammy-winning CD "Come Away With Me"] whose fat, deep sound, reminiscent of both Charlie Haden and Charles Mingus, eloquently rounds out the group."

"Steve Heckman, and instrumentalist/composer whose music is forceful and compelling, whose time to be recognized has come, and whose music we'll hopefully be hearing a lot more of in the future."

Keith Hines, KCSM Radio, the Bay Area's Jazz Station

"My favorite new release."

Michael Burman, producer, Desert Island Jazz, KCSM

"I've listened repeatedly to "With John in Mind" and each time I come away greatly impressed with Heckman's mastery of the saxophone. All of the selections on the CD are remarkable for their fluidity, energy, texture and richness of melody, and interplay with the other musicians. Heckman's improvisational technique is exceptional, yet the melody and sense of swing are never lost. The influence of Coltrane looms large here…this release pays homage to and expands upon the Coltrane musical tradition. This is a fine jazz CD!"

Jim Clark, "Jazz Nightly", National Public Radio