Jazz Articles about Steve Smith

Steve Smith and Vital Information: Time Flies

by Scott Gudell
June 11, 2023

As with so many prolific drummers, this guy is lean, energized, crisp and knows when to add the snap. Drummer/percussionist Steve Smith's early professional musical explorations were often in the world of jazz as he teamed up with fusion violinist Jean Luc Ponty and the progressive jazz/rock Dutch band Focus for about a year in the late 1970s. He took a call in 1978 from a soon-to-be arena rock band out of San Francisco that went by the name of ...

French Avant Prog Band Masal, Vital Information And Igor Wilcox Quartet-Live

by Len Davis
April 2, 2023

French band Masal with their latest Ahora , Aydin Esen with Miroslav Vitous and Vinnie Colaiuta. Finnish bassist Jukka Haavisto. Drummer Oiilie Usiskin with Bob Franceschini and a preview of the upcoming release from Steve Smith and Vital Information. The Igor Wilcox Quartet with their newest recorded live in Bulgaria, some classic Bob Berg and Australian saxophonist Troy Roberts from Nu Jive--Nations United. Playlist Aydin Esen “A & C" from Living (Soner Music) 00:00 Masal “Aquilon" from Ahora ...

The Light Beyond: Frank Gambale, Stuart Hamm and Steve Smith

by Josef Woodard
February 11, 2023

Reports of fusion's death have been greatly exaggerated. The cultural phenomenon, by which jazz and rock made a potent alliance during the '70s, generally slipped out of the public ear and major label consciousness, as jazz as a whole retreated into a more historicist, unplugged attitude. But out of corporate sight only out of corporate mind, and musicians have been courting the fusion muse on indie labels and just beneath the surface of mainstream jazz marketing ever since its heyday. ...

Rob Silverman: Drumology

by Jim Worsley
September 15, 2020

Master drum clinician Rob Silverman, known for his explorative drumming and absorbing instructional videos, teamed up with an impressive line-up of top-flight jazz and fusion drummers to collide the study of drumming with the presentation of original songs penned by Silverman and his brother Michael Silverman. The result, Drumology, is a blend of science, rhythm and melody. For the project, Silverman invited an array of drumming superstars that included Dave Weckl, Simon Phillips, Gregg Bissonette, and Steve Smith.

Steve Smith: Drummer For All Seasons

by R.J. DeLuke
July 20, 2015

Drummer Steve Smith has traced the history of jazz drumming--pretty much most of American music drumming--in his storied career that has seen him drive big bands, small jazz combos, and fiery fusion groups, including tenures with Jean Luc Ponty and the rock band Journey. Though sometimes--as in the case of jazz-rock fusion--he was thrown into the fray without much experience, he has always been up to the challenge. He handled each situation with aplomb, and as a result ...

Steve Smith's Jazz Legacy at Cecil's in West Orange, NJ

by David A. Orthmann
November 26, 2008

Steve Smith's Jazz Legacy Cecil's Jazz Club West Orange, New Jersey October 17, 2008

“Is that all you got?" some wag yelled to Steve Smith immediately after the end of the opening set at Cecil's Jazz Club. “Do you want to come up here and try doing this?" Smith shot back with a smile. The heckler wisely declined the invitation, and the rest of a very enthusiastic audience was left to wonder what more ...

Steve Smith's Jazz Legacy at the Bach, Half Moon Bay, CA

by Bill Leikam
October 26, 2008

Steve Smith's Jazz Legacy Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society, Douglas Beach House Miramar Beach, Half Moon Bay, California October 5, 2008

Steve Smith's Jazz Legacy quintet dropped into the Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society Sunday afternoon for the fourth stop on its fall tour. Accompanying him on the stage was Jim Snidero (alto sax), Walt Weiskopf (tenor soprano saxophones), Mark Soskin (piano) and Baron Browne (bass). This powerhouse jazz group thrilled the house ...