After a very exciting and musically rewarding
week playing with Hiromi and Anthony Jackson at
Marians Jazzroom in Bern, Switzerland - one of
the nicest jazz spaces in the world - Steve went
on a clinic tour of Switzerland.
The
tour was a total success with packed houses
everywhere. Organized by the Swiss Zildjian
Cymbals distributor, Olar Music, the tour also
had the support of Sonor Drums, Vic Firth
sticks, Remo heads, Puresound snare wires, DW
Pedals, Hudson Music, and CymPad cymbal felts.
Danny Zimmermann, from Olar Music, did
an excellent job driving the van and taking care
of advancing the dates, setting up and breaking
down the drumset each day. The weather had been
extremely cold, but that didn't stop the people
from coming out to attend the clinics.
1.26.12
NAMM 2012
This year's NAMM Show attracted more than 90,000
attendees, including manufacturers, merchants,
and musicians! Vital Information played several
sets at the Korg booth, and Steve and Vital
Information signed a deal with BFM Digital to
release "Live: One Great Night." The release
date is May 15 (June 1 in Europe). The band will
tour Europe in late October/November! Stay
tuned!
12.23.11
Steve's "Top-10" for 2011!
Steve bought many excellent new releases in
2011. These are the albums that he found both
enjoyable to listen to and inspiring to his
creativity!
What albums inspired you?
Tell Steve on his
Facebook page!
The Impossible Gentlemen
- The Impossible Gentlemen (Adam Nussbaum
drums / Steve Swallow bass / Gwilym Simcock
keyboards / Mike Walker guitar)
Jojo Mayer & Nerve
The Distance Between Zero and One (Jojo Mayer
drums / John Davis bass / Takuya Nakamura
keys)
Ari Hoenig
Lines of Oppression (Ari Hoenig drums /
Tigran Hamasyan piano / Gilad Hekselman /
Orlando LeFlemming bass)
James Farm James Farm (Eric
Harland drums / Joshua Redman sax / Aaron
Parks piano / Matt Penman - bass)
Roy Haynes Royalty
(Roy Haynes drums / Roy Hargrove trumpet /
David Wong bass / Martin Bejerano, Chick Corea
piano / Jaleel Shaw sax)
Steve Gadd Live at Voce
(Deluxe Edition) (Steve Gadd drums / Joey
DeFrancesco B3 / Ronnie Cuber sax / Paul
Bollenbeck guitar)
Modern
Drummer Magazine and Blue Note Records Present:
Jazz Drumming Legends A
fantastic compilation with some exceptional
choices of amazing performances from Art Blakey,
Joe Morello, Gene Krupa, Philly Joe Jones, Elvin
Jones, Billy Higgins, Jack DeJohnette, Tony
Williams, Chris Dave, Lewis Nash, Bill Stewart,
Ignacio Berroa, Max Roach, Roy Haynes and Buddy
Rich.
Hiromi Voice
(Simon Phillips drums / Hiromi keyboards /
Anthony Jackson bass)
Eric
Harland - Voyager Live by Night
(Eric Harland drums / Taylor Eigsti piano /
Walter Smith III sax / Julian Lage guitar)
Bill Frisell All We Are
Saying (Kenny Wollesen drums /
Bill Frisell drums / Jenny Scheinman violin
/ Greg Leisz steel guitars / Tony Scherr
bass)
Journey Greatest
Hits 2 (Steve Smith, Aynsely
Dunbar, Larrie Londin drums / Steve Perry
voice / Neal Schon guitar / Ross Valory bass
/ Gregg Rolie, Jon Cain keyboards)
11.19.11
Journey Releases Greatest Hits Volume 2
(Press Release) Prices Reduced on all CDs and
DVDs!
Steve has reduced
most CDs to just $15 and most
DVDs to $39.95 (or less)! Click
here
to open the Steve Smith Store.
JOURNEY'S GREATEST
HITS VOL. 2 SPANS HIT SINGLES, ALBUM TRACKS AND
RARITIES FROM 1978 TO 1996
Journey's
Enduring Appeal Is Affirmed Everywhere From Rock
Band To The Sopranos, from Broadway's Rock Of
Ages to Television's Glee
CD and gatefold double 180-gram virgin vinyl
edition of GREATEST HITS VOL. 2 - AND gatefold
double 180-gram virgin vinyl edition of original
GREATEST HITS - available everywhere starting
November 1, 2011
GREATEST HITS VOL. 2, a brand-new collection of
original recordings by the mega-platinum band
Journey will be available as a single CD,
digital download, and special gatefold
double-vinyl edition (which includes a code for
a free digital download of the vinyl remastered
album), available starting November 1, 2011.
This new package from Columbia/Legacy, a
division of SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, spans
singles and album tracks recorded between 1978
and 1996.
Journey's original Greatest Hits collection is
one of the top-selling American rock albums of
all time with worldwide sales in excess of 25
million. In conjunction with the double-LP
version of GREATEST HITS VOL. 2, the original
Greatest Hits will also be issued as a gatefold
double-vinyl edition on the same date, November
1 (which also includes a code for a free digital
download of the vinyl remastered album).
11.18.11
World's Greatest Drummer Concert
On November 6, 2011, Steve performed at the
"Worlds Greatest Drummer
Concert."
The concert was a tribute to Gene Krupa,
Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson and Joe Morello. To
see Steves personal videos of "Time Check,"
"New Blues", and "Nutville" filmed with Steve's
Zoom Q3 HD, click here.
Steve enjoyed playing with all of the fabulous
musicians at this event.
You can see the
entire photo album on Steve's Facebook fan page (make sure to click "like" when you
visit the page!)
11.18.11
Two New Articles
Steve
was recently interviewed for articles in
Rhythm and Batterie magazines.
Click the links, below, to read them!
Steve is a longtime Vic Firth endorser and
has played a key role in the development of
signature products including his signature
sticks and the VERY popular Tala Wands!
Click the ad to enlarge, and click
here to
learn more about the Vic Firth products that
Steve uses.
9.1.11
In Memorium: Freddie Gruber
"My good friend and
mentor Freddie Gruber passed away on Tuesday,
October 11, 2011.
Even though I had been
recently talking with Freddie and knew his
passing was inevitable (his health began
declining a couple of months earlier), when Adam
Nussbaum called me that night with the news, I
was deeply saddened.
Freddie was full of
life, had great wisdom, and was mentally sharp
right up until the end. It was always inspiring
to speak with him about music and life in
general.
He was my link to the history,
heart and soul of jazz, and was able to expertly
guide me to become a better drummer and a better
musician. As he got older I know he appreciated
each day that he lived and every time we spoke
he would reminded to take a moment and give
thanks for my talent, my great relationship with
my lovely wife Diane, and the career I have
developed.
I am very happy to have known
Freddie and I miss him deeply." -
Steve Smith
9.15.11
Red Sea Festival
Steve and Vital
Information performed at the Red Sea Jazz
Festival on August 23
and 24.
Steve conducted a drum clinic on
the 24th.
Other acts included Avishai
Cohen, Pedrito Martinez, Jason Lindner, Diane
Reeves, and more.
Click
here to view more photos on
Steve's Facebook fan page!
8.15.11
Steve's Appearance at Drum Fantasy Camp
Steve performed
and taught at the 2011 Drum Fantasy Camp,
which ran from
August 11-15 in Cleveland, Ohio. He joined
Chris Coleman, Peter
Erskine, Gavin Harrison,
and Dave Weckl.
Steve took part in the instructor
roundtable, performed with the Mike Stern Band
(featuring Tom Kennedy and Bob Franceschini),
and taught master classes for four days. Steve
also joined in during the camp's Jam Nights,
including a fun jam with the great Sivamani
(from India).
Steve
was recently featured in a two-part article on
SomethingElseMusic.com. The
article covers various topics spanning Steve's
dynamic career, and features lots of photos and
YouTube videos.
Click
here to read part 1. Click
here to read part 2.
7.18.11
Hiromi/Anthony Jackson/Steve Smith Videos
Popping Up!
Several
videos from the recent Hiromi Trio tour are
popping up on YouTube. Here are a few of the
initial ones:
Umbria Jazz 2011
Liburnia Jazz
Festival (begins at 2:25)
6.8.11
Stick on Stick Lesson
Steve
has a new video on his
YouTube Channel devoted to
"stick-on-stick" techniques for getting
interesting sounds on the drumset. Check it out
- and click on the PDF link (below) to see some
examples that were published in
Rhythm.
6.1.11
New Videos Added to Steve Smith Channel
Steve has added
a new video to the Steve Smith Channel on
YouTube. The latest video features Steve Smith
and Vital Information - NYC Edition performing
Interwoven Rhythms Synchronous. The video
features Steve, Andy Fusco, Mark Soskin, Baron
Browne, and Vinny Valentino. Click
here to watch!
6.1.11
Steve Smith and Vital Information Headlining
Red Sea Jazz Festival
Steve and the
band will headline the incredible Red Sea Jazz
Festival in Eilat, Israel. The band will perform
on August 23 and 24. Steve will also do a drum
clinic on August 24. Click
here to visit the Red Sea
Jazz festival Web site for more information.
5.30.11
Steve Smith to Tour with Pianist Hiromi
Uehara
Steve will join
legendary bassist Anthony Jackson in support of
Hiromi's new album Voice. The band will tour
throughout Europe and the USA beginning on June
15. Click here
for all the tour dates!
3.2.11
Vital Information in Jazz Music Examiner
Steve and Vital
Information were recently featured in Seattle's
Jazz Music Examiner. Click
here to read the story!
Also, check out this
short article from Steve's
recent trip to India!
2.28.11
2011 Drum Fantasy Camp
Steve will join
Chris Coleman, Peter
Erskine, Gavin Harrison,
and Dave Weckl at the 5th
annual Drum Fantasy Camp.
The camp will take place August 11-15, 2011, at
the Hyatt and House of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio.
This will be the fourth time Steve has
taught at the camp. He and the other instructors
will run small classes (15 to a class), nightly
jams, and take part in a concert at Cleveland's
House of Blues.
People of all ages and
playing levels attend the camp. Find out more at
www.drumfantasycamp.com .
1.8.11
Guitar Center Drum Off Finale
On
January 8, 2011, Steve performed at the
Guitar Center Drum Off in Los Angeles.
Steve kicked off by performing "Salt
Peanuts" with Jeff Hamilton.
He then played a wicked Drum 'n Bass duet with
Jojo Mayer. After a drum solo,
Steve was joined by an all-star group of
musicians including: George Brooks,
Kai Eckhardt, Fareed
Haque, Pete Lockett,
and Mahesh Vinayakram. The
group performed several upbeat Indian fusion
tunes.
Other performances included: a
duet with Gavin Harrison and Simon Phillips,
Dave Lombardo, and a collaboration with Cora
Coleman-Dunham, Tony Royster, Jr., Nisan
Stewart, and Trevor Lawrence.
Click a photo to enlarge!
1.15.11
2011 NAMM Show
Steve
attended the 2011 NAMM Show in Anaheim,
California. He attended signings for Sonor,
Remo, and Samson, and also attended a "lifetime
achievement" presentation to Freddie Gruber.
Click a photo to enlarge!
Click the links, below, to read "Drum Talk" articles written
by Steve Smith:
The camp will take place August 11-15, 2011, at
the Hyatt and House of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio.
