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Europe Jazz Network
STEVE SMITH |
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Every once in a while, someone comes along with a different perspective -- a new vision in which the combination of many musical styles is expressed in a most welcome way. Steve Smith is unique in his ability to be at home in many musical settings.
Steve attributes this talent to the way he studied music. "I studied all the traditional methods, rudiments, George Lawrence Stone's Stick Control, Jim Chapin's Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer, Ted Reed's Syncopation, etcetera, and my development traced the history of the evolution of American music. I developed by studying and playing Marching Band, Dixieland, Swing, Big Band, Bebop, Avant-Garde, R&B, Rock & Roll, Fusion, Heavy Metal, and World Rhythms." He began studying drums at age 9 with former Big Band era drummer Bill Flanagan. This background prepared Steve for his continuing education at the Berklee College of Music in his hometown of Boston, MA. There, he studied with Alan Dawson and Gary Chaffee. Courses in composition, arranging, and ear training helped to mold Steve into the consummate musician he is today. Opportunity knocked in October of 1976, when Steve left Berklee to join jazz/fusion pioneer Jean-Luc Ponty. After touring and recording with Ponty for a year, Steve got the urge to delve into Rock & Roll, and linked up with Ronnie Montrose in 1978. This then led to his seven year-stint with the immensely popular group, Journey. Steve, however, kept his interest in jazz alive by recording and touring with his own group, Vital Information, during breaks from Journey. Their first recorded release was Vital Information, followed by the albums Orion, Global Beat, Fiafiaga (Celebration), Vitalive!, Easier Done Than Said, Ray of Hope, and their most recent release, Where We Come From. Steve left Journey in 1985 and has since recorded and/or toured with Steps Ahead, Randy Brecker, Allan Holdsworth, Frank Gambale, Stanley Clarke, Mariah Carey, Ahmad Jamal, Stu Hammn, Tony MacAlpine, Dweezil Zappa, and Y&T. He joined in the Journey reuinion tour in 1996-7, and performed on their 1996 disc, Trial By Fire, on the Columbia label. Steve is highly regarded as a teacher/clincian, having given many clinic sessions throughout the USA, Canada, Europe, and Japan. As part of his commitment to helping his fellow musicians, he has released two instructional videos through DCI. The 1987 American Video Conference award "Steve Smith Part 1" Best Music Instructional Video. Steve is especially proud to have been voted "#1 All-Around Dummer" in the Modern Drummer Readers Poll for five consecutive years, from 1987-1991, which earned him a place in the Modern Drummer Poll Hall of Fame. Steve Smith plays Sonor Hilite drums, Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth "Steve Smith" Signature Sticks, Remo Drum Heads, DW Bass Drum Pedals, and puts them all in Porcaro Cases. DISCOGRAPHY
For booking, contact EMMECI |