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Groove: Blue
2015 Release
Tony Monaco (Hammond B3), Vinny Valentino
(guitar), Steve Smith (drums).
We owe the existence of this precious jewel
to a chance encounter in Indonesia's capital
Jakarta in March, 2011. Drummer Steve Smith and
guitarist Vinny Valentino decided to go for a
nightcap after playing the Java Jazz Festival
with their band Vital Information.
As
they approached the lounge bar, they heard the
sound of a wild swinging electric organ.
Wondering “who the hell was swinging that hard
on the B3,” they walked in and saw Tony Monaco,
an “unsung hero” of the instrument. Few people
knew Monaco, though he had been promoted by
organ legend Jimmy Smith and had spent two years
touring with jazz guitarist Pat Martino. Smith
and Valentino made their way through the crowd
and asked if they could join in. They proceeded
to spend the rest of the night jamming together,
later joined by festival greats George Benson
and Roy Hargrove.
Five months later, fate
once again intervened. Smith and Valentino had
been booked for Drum Fantasy Camp, an annual
drum camp in Cleveland Ohio. Tony Monaco lived
close by in Columbus, a modest 230 km drive
away. A spontaneous phone call resulted in a car
journey and resulted in the three of them
playing in Monaco’s small home studio.
Steve borrowed a small jazz drum kit from a
friend of Tony as his own didn’t fit in the car.
Valentino plugged his guitar into the only
available amplifier and they were off. They
worked so well together that they decided to
record an album. One and a half days later, the
recording was in the can!
To get a sense
of the style of this album, think of the classic
Blue Note organ trios of the '60s. These true
musos effortlessly inject a 50-year-old sound
into their own compositions, adding a few
specially arranged jazz standards along the way.
Those standards include the legendary
1958 Miles Davis version of "On Green Dolphin
Street," where Smith’s zestful drumming gives a
distinct Latin feeling. The group also covers
Ray Nobles' "Cherokee," gently modernised with a
funky groove. Nat King Cole’s immortal "It's
Only A Paper Moon," from the Broadway musical
"The Great Magoo," retains a timeless swing but
with a walking pedal bass from the Hammond
organ. The album winds down with a gentle
version of "That's All,"an unforgettable ballad
from the Great American Songbook.
Although Smith, Monaco and Valentino had
virtually no time for rehearsals, they harmonise
on "Groove: Blue" as if they’d known each other
all their lives.
Released on Q-rious
Records.
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The Steve Smith/Michael
Zilber Group: Reimagined, Vol. 1
Michael Zilber (sax, arranger), Steve Smith
(drums), Paul Nagel (piano), and John Shifflet
(bass). This is Steve playing in an all acoustic
quartet with a small jazz kit. Click
here to
read the liner notes.
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Steve
Smith & Buddy's Buddies
1999 Release
The late
drum legend Buddy Rich held no interest in
nostalgia. He'd undoubtedly be pleased, though,
with this musical tribute featuring Steve Smith
and four Buddy Rich Big Band alumni: tenor and
soprano saxophonist Steve Marcus, alto
saxophonist Andy Fusco, pianist Lee Musiker and
bassist Anthony Jackson.
Read the liner notes...
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1. Nutville |
6. You Stepped
Out of a Dream |
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2. Norwegian
Wood |
7. Moments
Notice |
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3. New Blues |
8. Cool |
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4.
Airegin |
9. You Gotta Try |
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5. How Do You
Keep the Music Playing |
10. Untitled
(hidden track) |
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Steve
Smith & Buddy's Buddies:
Very Live at
Ronnie Scott's, Vol. 2
2002 Release
Recorded
Live at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, London June 7
and 8, 2002. Featuring:
Steve Smith - drums
Andy Fusco - alto sax
Steve Marcus - tenor and soprano saxes
Mark
Soskin - piano
Baron Browne - electric bass
Click
here to read liner notes and review
of this title!
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Your Price:
$15.00 (plus
S&H)
SOLD OUT! |
Steve
Smith & Buddy's Buddies:
Very Live at Ronnie
Scott's, Vol. 1
2002
Release
Recorded Live at Ronnie
Scott’s Jazz Club, London June 7 and 8, 2002.
Featuring:
Steve Smith - drums
Andy
Fusco - alto sax
Steve Marcus - tenor and
soprano saxes
Mark Soskin - piano
Baron
Browne - electric bass
Click
here to read liner notes and review of this
title!
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1.
Love for Sale |
6. Pies of
A.Z. |
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2.
Nutville |
7. Manfredo's
Fest |
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3. Big Man Blues |
8. Ya Gotta Try |
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4. Bopformation |
9. Moments
Notice |
5. How Do You
Keep the
Music Playing? |
10.
Airegin |
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