The Next Step Quintet is a jazz band, based in Athens, Greece.
Thodoris Kotsyfas (guitar), Giannis Papadopoulos (piano), Ntinos Manos (double bass) and Vasilis Podaras (Drums) were still studying at the Music Department of the Ionian University when they shared a common vision in music and started their “four member quintet”. In 2011, the four combined forces with the Swedish Greek Saxophone player Orfeas Tsoukalas and, after a year of frenetic creativity, their eponymous album was released through the Greek record label Puzzlemusik. While Tsoukalas only contributed to the one album, the four original members completed their lineup with a succession of guest artists, including the likes of the New York singer, JD Walter and tenor saxophonist Tivon Pennicott. The band's second album, has Tivon Pennicott (Tenor sax) and Takis Paterelis (Alto sax) guesting, and was released in November 2015.