2 Step is an original composition by alto saxophonist Kenny Garrett, first recorded for his 1992 album Black Hope on Warner Bros. Records. The tune is track eight on the album and features a 16-bar form. Garrett performs on alto saxophone, accompanied by Kenny Kirkland on piano and synthesizers, Donald Brown on synthesizers, Charnett Moffett on bass, Ricky Wellman on drums, and Don Alias on percussion. Black Hope was Garrett's debut for Warner Bros. and his fifth studio album as a leader, marking an important step in his transition from prominent sideman roles, including his tenure with Miles Davis, to establishing himself as a bandleader and composer in his own right. The album was recorded at Power Station and Eastside Sound in New York City and showcases Garrett's post-bop compositional voice, blending driving rhythms with bold melodic invention. AllMusic critic Ron Wynn noted that even on the album's weaker material, Garrett's playing demands attention. On AllSolos, a solo by Garrett on alto saxophone from the Black Hope recording is available for study, offering insight into his improvisational approach during this formative period of his career as a leader.
