Special Friday Show

Drummer Steve Smith has been touring and recording with his all-star group Vital Information since 1983. The new line-up of Vital Information incorporates players with vast experience and collectively creates a powerhouse sound.

Keyboardist Manuel Valera, a Guggenheim Fellow and Grammy nominated artist, who was born and raised in Havana, Cuba and now living in NYC, plays with many of the NY jazz elite like Antonio Sanchez, Dafnis Prieto and John Patitucci. 

Bassist Janek Gwizdala, originally from London, records and tours with Peter Erskine, Mike Stern, Randy Brecker and is one of the most in-demand bass players in the world.

Although the band is rooted in the straight-ahead swing of bebop, at times the group explores exotic time-signatures from the world of South Indian Carnatic music and they have arranged adventurous funk-driven renditions of jazz standards.

Lineup: Steve Smith (drums), Manuel Valera (piano, synthesizer), Janek Gwizdala (bass)

Website: www.vitalinformation.com