Steve Smith’s Jazz Legacy plays music that is dedicated to
honoring the legacy of many of the great jazz drummers such as
Art Blakey, "Philly" Joe Jones, Elvin Jones, and
Tony Williams. Jazz Legacy also performs original
compositions and arrangements written by the individual band members
which serves to gives the band a unique direction.
This powerhouse, swinging jazz quintet is made up of five seasoned
musicians; Andy Fusco (alto sax), Walt Weiskopf (tenor
and soprano saxes), Mark Soskin (piano), Baron Browne
(bass) and bandleader Steve Smith (drums).
History of the Band
The story of the group Jazz Legacy
starts with a quintet called Buddy’s Buddies, the Buddy Rich alumni
group that was started by the Buddy Rich estate in late 1990s. The
group was based primarily around saxophonists Andy Fusco and Steve
Marcus, and performed music associated with the legendary Buddy
Rich.
Steve Marcus had spent twelve years
touring and recording with Buddy, and was also part of the early
jazz-rock scene with Larry Coryell and Herbie Mann. Andy Fusco was
the lead alto player of the Buddy Rich Big Band from 1978-1983, and
had also toured with legendary performers such as Mel Lewis and
Frank Sinatra.
Documentary:
Steve Smith's Jazz Legacy at Nighttown!
Steve and Andy recruited Steve
Smith to play drums with the group after they played together on
several occasions with the Buddy Rich Big Band in the ‘90s. To
complete the group, Mark Soskin, a recording artist and longtime
sideman for Sonny Rollins, joined on piano, and Baron Browne, a
versatile musician who has toured and recorded with artists as
diverse as Billy Cobham to Tom Jones (and is also a member of Steve
Smith's Vital Information), became the electric bassist.
Over the course of eight years,
billed as Steve Smith and Buddy’s Buddies, the group recorded three
albums and toured the world. Steve Smith and Buddy’s
Buddies, a studio album, was recorded in 1999, and two live
discs, Very Live at Ronnie Scott’s Set One and Set Two, were
recorded during their week at the famed London jazz club in 2002.
2008 North American Tour
The sad and unexpected passing of
Steve Marcus in September 2005 hit the band very hard. At that point
they, decided to change direction and move away from principally
playing music associated with Buddy Rich.
They asked saxophonist Walt
Weiskopf, a fantastic musician and a long-time friend of both Steve
Marcus and Andy Fusco, to join. In fact, you can see and hear all
three saxophonists on the burning DVD Buddy Rich Live at the 1982
Montreal Jazz Festival (Hudson Music).
Walt is a bandleader and recording
artist, and has been working recently with Steely Dan. The band came
up with its band name Jazz Legacy, which gave them a wide range of
options in terms of musical direction.
Steve Smith wanted to play music
that is dedicated to the legacy of the great jazz drummers. They had
also been playing some original music that was allowing the band to
develop its own voice.
Pianist Mark Soskin is a prolific
writer and arranger, and has been adding exciting original
compositions and arrangements to the book. With Walt Weiskopf
joining the band, they have another strong composer and arranger who
is adding exceptional charts to the band’s repertoire, expanding its
direction.
There are so many jazz drummers
that Steve has listened to and admired over the years. When he
started thinking about new arrangements for Jazz Legacy, some of the
tunes that he chose were ones he had been thinking about for a long
time.
“Two Bass Hit” is one of these. The
main version that he was familiar with is from the 1958 Miles Davis
recording Milestones, where it served as a feature for Philly
Joe Jones. Mark Soskin’s arrangement of the tune is close to the
Miles version, though they band added some parts that are inspired
by a version that Philly Joe played on his 1960 solo album,
Philly Joe’s Beat.
“Sister Cheryl” is a beautiful
composition written by Tony Williams. Steve first heard it on Wynton
Marsalis’ 1981 debut album, and later on Foreign Intrigue,
the 1985 release by the Tony Williams Quintet.
In paying tribute to Tony, Steve
wanted to acknowledge his abilities as both a drummer and composer.
“Sister Cheryl” is strong melodically, harmonically and
rhythmically.
The electrifying “Insubordination”
was written and recorded by Walt Weiskopf for his album
Simplicity. When Steve heard this piece, he immediately wanted
to add it to the Jazz Legacy book because of its extremely fast
tempo and “burn” factor.
Shortly after Steve Marcus’
passing, Walt wrote “For Steve,” which truly captured Steve’s
razor-sharp wit and impish personality. Whenever the band plays this
song, they are reminded of their love for a dear friend in Steve
Marcus.
When Steve heard “The Peacocks” on
Tea For Two, a fantastic album that is co-led by Andy Fusco
and Walt Weiskopf, their treatment of this Jimmy Rowles gem moved
Steve Smith. Walt’s arrangement speaks to the very depths of life’s
pains, and the band’s performance keeps the solemn mood throughout.
This has become one of Steve Smith's favorite pieces.
The original 1962 recording of
“Inception” is the title track of pianist McCoy Tyner’s debut as a
leader. The drummer on the recording is Elvin Jones.
Along with Art Davis on bass, the
trio plays this minor blues with a ferocious pulse. It’s truly some
of the most exciting jazz Steve ever heard on record. Walt arranged
the tune for Jazz Legacy, and playing it is a high point of each
night’s performance.
As another nod to the incredible
Elvin Jones, Walt transcribed the Jimmy Garrison tune “Ascendant.”
Steve heard this on the 1968 recording The Ultimate Elvin Jones,
which featured a trio with Elvin, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Joe
Farrell on sax.
This tune is the perfect brush
feature, and the melody is so clear and identifiable that Steve was
able to play it on his drum kit before the final head comes in.
The tour-de-force drum feature of
the night is “A Night In Tunisia,” which is inspired by Art Blakey.
Steve has a number of versions of this tune by Art, on both DVD and
CD. Those who haven’t heard Art play this tune should check out the
Blue Note recording The Best Of Art Blakey for an incendiary
version. The original
album, Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers: A Night In Tunisia,
has a different and very good version also.
Mark Soskin wrote an arrangement
that incorporates many of features of the different Blakey versions,
complete with percussion parts for the band members to play, and a
bass solo over the form and percussion “hits.”
The only tune that can follow “A
Night In Tunisia” is “Moanin’,” the good-time shuffle by Bobby
Timmons. “Moanin’” is another standard of Art Blakey’s and a great
way to end the set.
Check out the preview for the
band's performance at Modern Drummer Festival 2006 - from the
upcoming Hudson Music DVD (click on the first link in the navigation
bar on the right of the player).
Steve Smith’s resume includes Journey, Steps Ahead,
Randy Brecker, Ahmad Jamal, and more than 30 recordings
as a leader and co-leader including 12 with his fusion group
Steve Smith and Vital Information.
PREVIEW: Steve Smith Drum Legacy - Standing on the Shoulders of Giants (Hudson Music)
Steve Smith has been voted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame
as well being named one of the Top 25 Drummers of All-Time in a
Modern Drummer reader’s poll.
Pianist Mark Soskin, a prolific writer and arranger, has been adding
exciting original compositions and arrangements to the book allowing
the band to develop its own voice. Mark is a recording artist,
bandleader, and a longtime sideman for many renowned jazz artists
including Sonny Rollins, Billy Cobham and Herbie Mann. (www.marksoskin.com)
Tenor and soprano saxophonist Walt Weiskopf is another strong
composer and arranger who has added great charts to the band’s
repertoire. Walt is also a bandleader and recording artist. His
credits include touring and recording with Toshiko Akiyoshi,
the Buddy Rich Big Band, and Steely Dan.(www.waltweiskopf.com).
Andy Fusco was the lead alto saxophonist of the Buddy Rich Big
Band from 1978-1983. He has toured with a number of legendary
performers including Gerry Mulligan, Mel Lewis, and
Frank Sinatra.
Andy and Walt have led many of their own solo recordings for the
Criss Cross jazz label, including their recent co-led recording
Tea For Two.
Bassist Baron Browne, one of most versatile and talented bass
players on the scene, has toured and recorded with Gary Burton,
Billy Cobham, Jean-Luc Ponty, Steps Ahead, and
Tom Jones. Baron is also the bass player in Steve Smith’s
jazz/fusion group Steve Smith and Vital Information.
(Click a photo to enlarge in a new
window)
Andy, Mark, Baron and Steve played together for many years -- along
with the late saxophonist Steve Marcus -- in the Buddy Rich
alumni band called Steve Smith and Buddy’s Buddies. The band
recorded three CDs for Tone Center Records, “Steve Smith and Buddy’s
Buddies” (1999), “Steve Smith and Buddy’s Buddies -- Very Live at
Ronnie Scott’s Set One and Set Two” (2003).
Steve Smith’s Jazz Legacy is carrying on the tradition of many of
the great drummer-led jazz bands; communicating with music lovers of
all generations, striving for excellence, and playing
non-compromising, burning, straight-ahead jazz.
