Vital Information: Vitalization

Vital Information decided to do something a little bit different this time around. They got together and jammed for ten days and came up with an albums worth of music. But instead of just laying it down, they took it on the road instead. They went out on the road and performed all the new stuff live before stepping into the studio. The outcome is one of the best Vital Information efforts to date. Vitalization is a good example of Steve Smith and the band drawing from their ever expanding musical palette.

For the past few years Smith has been studying and playing Indian rhythms and practicing "konnakol", which is South Indian vocal percussion. Smith shows off his new talent on the disc opener "Interwoven Rhythms – Synchronous", and immediately the listener is taken somewhere completely different . The best way to describe it would be to say it's sort of like South Indian "Scatting". Very different and enjoyable, making one very interested in seeing Smith do it live. Smith also shows off his new talent on "Interwoven Rhythms-Dialogue".

Whether it's straight ahead Jazz, or synth sounds and odd time signatures, Tom Coster is at his best injecting soul into the music, and constantly painting a picture using his keyboards throughout the length of Vitalization. Holding it all together is the much underrated Baron Browne on bass. Baron has become a monster player who gets to stretch a bit more on Vitalization, showing his chops, while never forgetting his job being locked in with Smith, keeping the groove solid. Then there's the new guy, Vinnie Valentino. Valentino makes his Vital Information debut in grand style. Throughout the CD Valentino makes himself right at home, letting people know who the new guitar player on the block is. Valentino lies back at just the right time or simply blisters with some of the best Jazz guitar put down on tape in a long time. Valentino is a perfect fit with Vital Information. On one of the albums more livelier tracks, "Seven and a Half", there's a hot "rock" guitar solo, that may not be what it seems, the listeners will just have to hear it and figure it out for themselves. The band as a whole really shines as a cohesive unit on the "The Closer", which is the larger than life set closer that Vital Information has come to be known for. It's a three part suite that starts in a swinging jazz-rock mode, moves into a fusion middle section, and then recapitulates part one with even more energy. Then the whole thing gets wrapped up with a neat bow in classic style with a blistering Smith drum solo.

Not that it's a big secret, but Steve Smith is a true legend, of not only Jazz drumming, but of the whole drumming community. Smith just continues to get better with age. His work on Vitalization just continues to cement his legacy. Steve Smith is one of, if not the, greatest living drummer we have with us today. He should be revered and appreciated for everything that he is, and everything he continues to do for music. He truly is one of a kind.

Whether a casual fan or hardcore Jazz-Fusion aficionado, Vitalization should be a part of your collection. It doesn't get much better than this.

TRACK LISTING
1) Interwoven Rhythms – Synchronous
2) Get Serious
3) The Trouble With
4) The Bottom Line
5) Seven and a Half
6) Interwoven Rhythms – Dialogue
7) J Ben Jazz
8) Groove Time
9) You Know What I Mean
10) The Closer
11) Jimmy Jive(for Jimmy Smith)
12) Positano

Added: May 10th 2007
Reviewer: Ken Sanford
Score:
Related Link: Vital Information Website
Hits: 2076
Language: english

[ Printer Friendly Page ]
[ Send to a Friend ]