Steve Smith and Vital Information is an American jazz fusion group led by drummer Steve Smith. The first line-up of Vital Information —

Steve Smith Stephen, Steve, Stevie, or Steven Smith may refer to: Academics * Steve Smith (political scientist) (born 1952), British international relations theorist and senior university manager * Stephen Smith (journalist) (born 1956), American journalist, ...

(drums),

Tim Landers Timothy Gerard Landers (born November 1, 1956) is an American bassist best known for his contribution to the 1970s-80s jazz-fusion genre and his work with Al Di Meola, Billy Cobham, and Gil Evans. Landers is a session musician and was a membe ...

(bass), and Dave Wilczewski (sax) — met in 1971 during their high school years while playing together in the Bridgewater State College Big Band, a Boston area college band under the direction of Vincent Gannon. By 1977 Smith was touring with

Jean-Luc Ponty Jean-Luc Ponty (born 29 September 1942) is a French jazz violinist and composer. Early life Ponty was born into a family of classical musicians in Avranches, France. His father taught violin, his mother taught piano. At sixteen, he was admitt ...

, Landers with

Al Di Meola Albert Laurence Di Meola (born July 22, 1954) is an American guitarist. Known for his works in jazz fusion and world music, he began his career as a guitarist of the group Return to Forever in 1974. Between the 1970s and 1980s, albums such as ' ...

, and Wilczewski with

Freddie Hubbard Frederick Dewayne Hubbard (April 7, 1938 – December 29, 2008) was an American jazz trumpeter. He played bebop, hard bop, and post-bop styles from the early 1960s onwards. His unmistakable and influential tone contributed to new perspectives fo ...

. They reunited annually in Boston with guitarists such as

Dean Brown Dean may refer to: People * Dean (given name) * Dean (surname), a surname of Anglo-Saxon English origin * Dean (South Korean singer), a stage name for singer Kwon Hyuk * Dean Delannoit, a Belgian singer most known by the mononym Dean Titles * ...

Daryl Stuermer Daryl Mark Stuermer (born November 27, 1952) is an American musician, songwriter, and producer best known for playing the guitar and bass for Genesis during live shows, and lead guitar for Phil Collins during most solo tours and albums. He has ...

, or

Barry Finnerty Michael Barry Finnerty (born December 3, 1951) is an American jazz guitarist, keyboardist, singer, songwriter, and arranger, known for his work as a touring and recording session musician for Miles Davis, The Crusaders, the Brecker Brothers, H ...

to complete the band. From 1977–1982 the three man band members wrote many compositions, played a number of gigs, and developed the sound and concept that became the first edition of Vital Information. After Smith was in the band

Journey Journey or journeying may refer to: * Travel, the movement of people between distant geographical locations ** Day's journey, a measurement of distance ** Road trip, a long-distance journey on the road Animals * Journey (horse), a thoroughbred ra ...

for a few years, he signed a contract with Columbia to make his first solo album. The group recorded ''Vital Information'' (1983), consisting of Landers, Wilczewski, and guitarists

and

Mike Stern Mike Stern (born January 10, 1953) is an American jazz guitarist. After playing with Blood, Sweat & Tears, he worked with drummer Billy Cobham, then with trumpeter Miles Davis from 1981 to 1983 and again in 1985. He then began a solo career, re ...

. The album was recorded in Warren, Rhode Island in January 1983 and released that summer. In September 1983 the band toured the U.S with Dutch guitarist Eef Albers, who was on tour with

Miles Davis Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Davis adopted a variety of music ...

and

Jaco Pastorius John Francis Anthony "Jaco" Pastorius III (; December 1, 1951 – September 21, 1987) was an American jazz bass guitar, bassist, composer and producer. He recorded albums as a solo artist and band leader and was a member of Weather Report from 1 ...

. At the end of the tour the group returned to Rhode Island and recorded ''Orion'' (1984). After leaving Journey in 1985, Smith continued as bandleader of Vital Information. Tim Landers and Dave Wilczewski eventually left the group to pursue their own careers. Landers became a

studio musician Session musicians, studio musicians, or backing musicians are musicians hired to perform in recording sessions or live performances. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a recording artist on a ...

in Los Angeles while Wilczewski moved to Stockholm, Sweden. He died on August 22, 2009.

Tom Coster Tom Coster (born August 21, 1941) is an American keyboardist, composer, and longtime backing musician for Carlos Santana. Early years Detroit-born and San Francisco-raised, Coster played piano and accordion as a youth, continuing his studies ...

(keyboards), formerly of Santana, joined Vital Information in 1986 and appeared on ''Global Beat'' (1987), which integrated hand percussion and steel drums.

Kai Eckhardt Kai Eckhardt (born 15 June 1961) is a German born musician and composer who plays bass, best known for his work with John McLaughlin, Vital Information, Torsten de Winkel, Billy Cobham and Garaj Mahal—a band he co-founded. Educated at the pres ...

(bass) joined Vital Information in 1986 and 1987 for tours in the U.S. and Europe. He appeared on the album ''Fiafiaga'' (1988), which continued with the ''Global Beat'' direction with computer-based and funkier sounds. A jazzier version of the band consisting of Smith, Coster, Larry Schneider (saxophone),

Frank Gambale Frank Gambale (; born 22 December 1958) is an Australian jazz fusion guitarist. He has released twenty albums over a period of three decades, and is known for his use of the sweep picking and economy picking techniques. Recording career Solo ...

(guitar), and

Larry Grenadier Larry Grenadier (born February 6, 1966 in San Francisco) is an American jazz double bassist. Early life Grenadier's father, Albert, was a trumpet player, and his two brothers, Phil and Steve, play trumpet and guitar, respectively. Grenadier be ...

(double bass) recorded ''Vitalive!'' (1990). Jeff Andrews (bass) joined the band in the early 1990s, recording ''Easier Done Than Said'' (1992) and ''Ray of Hope'' (1996). Vital Information became more groove-oriented on ''Where We Come From'' (1998).

Baron Browne Baron Browne was an American bass guitarist. Career Born and raised in Georgia, USA, Baron Browne gravitated to music at a very early age, learning to play his uncle's drumset at 7 years old. As a teenager he dabbled in piano lessons and at age ...

(bass) joined the band in 1998, which continued their funk-oriented approach. Smith, Coster, Gambale, and Browne recorded ''Live Around the World'' (2000), ''Show 'Em Where You Live'' (2001), and ''Live from Mars'' (2002). On ''Come on In'' (2004) Smith introduced Indian rhythms to the band's music. Vinny Valentino joined on ''Vitalization'' (2007). Smith continued his interest in Indian rhythm by adding konnakol, a form of vocal percussion. Smith toured with a version of the band called "Vital Information NYC Edition" that included Valentino, Browne,

Mark Soskin Mark Samuel Soskin (born 1953) is an American jazz pianist based in New York City. Discography As leader * ''Rhythm Vision,'' Prestige (1980); * ''Overjoyed,'' Jazz City (1991); * ''Views From Here,'' King (1992); * ''Calypso & Jazz Arou ...

on keyboards, and Andy Fusco on alto saxophone. Fusco and Soskin are from Smith's other bands, Buddy's Buddies and Jazz Legacy.

Discography

* ''Vital Information'' ( Columbia, 1983) * ''Orion'' (Columbia, 1984) * ''Global Beat'' (Columbia, 1986) * ''Fiafiaga (Celebration)'' (Columbia, 1988) * ''Vitalive!'' (

Manhattan Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state ...

, 1991) * ''Easier Done Than Said'' (Manhattan, 1992) * ''Ray of Hope'' (Intuition, 1996) * ''Where We Come from'' (Intuition, 1998) * ''Live from Mars'' (Official Concert bootleg, 2001) * ''Live Around the World'' (Intuition, 2000) * ''Show 'Em Where You Live'' ( Tone Center, 2002) * ''Come on in'' (Tone Center, 2004) * ''Vitalization'' (Hudson Music, 2007) * ''Live! One Great Night'' (BFM Jazz, 2012) * ''Viewpoint'' (BFM Jazz, 2015) * ''Heart of the City'' (BFM Jazz, 2017)

References

External links

Official site
{{Authority control Jazz fusion ensembles Musical groups established in 1983