STEVE SMITH & VITAL INFORMATION ‘Come On In’
Mascot M70982 (2004)
Formed by drummer Steve Smith, Vital Information are a modern jazz fusion outfit with a serious pedigree. This set mix modern jazz with funk and groove, and if you haven’t switched off already, I certainly have. Seriously laid back instrumental noodling from start to finish, utilising every key and time signature you can think of, and then some.
Here Smith is joined by keyboard player Tom Coster, bassist Baron Browne and guitarist Frank Gamble.
With temp changes aplenty, there’s barely a repeatable tune or riff in sight. Which is a shame because when the music flows it flows well but it is modern jazz. To the fan or serious musician you can add a couple to the score but for the average listener this is very difficult to get into, let alone follow a whole album’s worth.
**
Review by Joe Geesin
Did you know Steve Smith was one of the last Focus drummers c.1978 and played with
melodic rock band Journey in the eighties?
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