[1][2][3] In an interview, Powell stated: "The album is a culmination of New Orleans Second Line marching music, and rhythms from South Africa and the Caribbean.

"[6] AllMusic's Adam Greenberg stated: "...it's a special treat when a trombone actually works in the front of an ensemble.

Here though, it's not just the trombone behind the album's success; it's the core trio behind the compositions... and their sparkling solos, as well as a solid rhythm section that can easily maneuver from a Caribbean groove to a late-night blues riff without missing a step.

"[1] Dan McClenaghan of All About Jazz commented: "Powell assembles an ensemble of players of diverse backgrounds and gives them a free reign, and comes up with a gem of an album... Nextep is a wonderful example of a band full of players with disparate approaches coming together and creating beautifully fresh-sounding music, with the supple-toned trombonist Benny Powell at the helm.

"[8] Writing for JazzTimes, Will Smith noted: "Powell may have lost a step or two with regard to his solo work on Nextep... yet he's still out there offering an abundance of music worth hearing with an often sprightly, burnished sound, and is clearly not slowing down... With widely varied music tinged by New Orleans, South African, Brazilian and Caribbean rhythms, the blues and bop, Powell and sidemen... move through this batch of original works with a relaxed grace and charm.