Now in their 37th year of touring and recording
since their initial 1983 release, Steve Smith and
Vital Information has become a formidable
jazz/fusion juggernaut whose longevity has
surpassed most major fusion groups. The latest
lineup is called Vital Information NYC Edition.
Vital Information NYC Edition Lineup:
Steve Smith (Journey/Steps
Ahead) - drums Mark Soskin
(Sonny Rollins/Herbie Mann) – keyboards
Vinny Valentino (Jimmy McGriff/Bill Evans)
- guitar Baron Browne (Jean-Luc
Ponty/Billy Cobham) – bass
The lineup of
Vital Information NYC Edition brings together
members of all of Smith’s bands: guitarist Vinny
Valentino (from Vital Information), pianist Mark
Soskin (from Jazz Legacy and Buddy’s Buddies),
bassist Baron Browne (from Jazz Legacy, Buddy’s
Buddies and Vital Information), with Smith on
drums.
Steve Smith had this to say about
Vital Information NYC Edition’s philosophy:
“Our music allows for individual expression and
re-invention. We thrive on swing, groove and
creativity. We want to surprise each other every
night on the bandstand with new ideas and in the
process keep our audience ‘in the moment’ with us.”
Over the years, Smith has won a number of
Modern Drummer reader’s polls including "#1
All-Around Drummer" five years in a row. In
2001, he was named "one of the Top 25 Drummers of
All Time," and in 2002 he was voted into the
Modern Drummer Hall of Fame.
In 2012 and
2015, the readers of Modern Drummer voted
Smith "#1 Fusion drummer" and in 2017, he topped
an unprecedented three categories: "#1 MVP," "#1
Rock drummer" and "#1 Educational Product" for
his Hudson Music Book/DVD Pathways of Motion.
Also in 2017: Steve was inducted into the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame for his work with the rock group
Journey.
Vital Information NYC Edition has
two releases on BFM Jazz: Viewpoint (2015)
and in September 2017, Heart of the City.
"Vital
Information is one of improvised music's best-kept
secrets, the tunes are adventurous and they
always groove. The musicians shoot for, and achieve,
real emotion rather than soulless fireworks."
- Felix Contreras, JazzTimes
Steve Smith
and Vital Information NYC Edition "Rhythm
A Ning"
Click
here to contact Janet
Williamson for artist availability and booking
information.
