Vital Information

Drummer Steve Smith's first recording all instrumental outing with his own group, Vital Information, was originally released in 1983, and features both Dean Brown and Mike Stern. It is now available on CD for the first time. Tracks such as "Stoughton To Stockholm Samba", "Looks Bad Feels Good" and "All That Is" (with its blistering Stern workout) set a tone and precedent then that carried the Vital Information idea all the way through to the present day - they still have legions of dedicated fans. Bassist Tim Landers, who had played with both Stern and Brown at the Berklee College of Music, teamed with Smith and saxophonist Dave Wiczewski, and stayed with Vital Information for a stretch that lasted for three years and four releases. Smith, without the contraints and limitations of a pop/rock format, proved himself to be a versatile and intense drummer - finally establishing his own jazz identity.