Vital Information

Vital Information is a pioneering American jazz fusion group led by the world-renowned drummer Steve Smith. The band's origins trace back to 1971, when Smith met bassist Tim Landers and saxophonist Dave Wilczewski in a Boston-area college big band. However, the group officially debuted in 1983 with their self-titled album on Columbia Records, featuring guitarists Dean Brown and Mike Stern. Over the course of four decades, Vital Information has evolved through various lineups and musical phases. In the mid-1980s, the addition of keyboardist Tom Coster (formerly of Santana) led the group toward a "Global Beat" sound, incorporating hand percussion and steel drums. By the 1990s, the band embraced a jazzier, groove-oriented approach with members like Frank Gambale, Baron Browne, and Jeff Andrews. Smith eventually introduced elements of South Indian Carnatic music and konnakol (vocal percussion) into the band's vocabulary, particularly on albums like "Come on In" (2004) and "Vitalization" (2007). In celebration of their 40th anniversary in 2023, the group released the double CD "Time Flies." The current powerhouse trio iteration of the band features Steve Smith alongside keyboardist Manuel Valera and bassist Janek Gwizdala. Their 2025 release, "New Perspective," re-envisions classic tracks from Smith's career—including his tenure with the rock band Journey and the group Steps Ahead—through adventurous new arrangements. Rooted in the swing of bebop but exploring funk, exotic time signatures, and contemporary textures, Vital Information remains a formidable force in the fusion world, known for high-level musicianship and collective improvisation.