Seven and a Half minus drums

From the Steve Smith and Vital Information recording Vitalization, this is the track Seven and a Half.  This track features Tom Coster on keyboards, bassist Baron Browne and Vinny Valentino on guitar.

The tune “Seven and a Half,” is based on a tribal sounding drum rhythm that Smith came up with in 15/8, which South Indian musicians call 7 1/2. This drum theme, which Lockett doubles in perfect unison on the kanjira, reappears each time with an altered ending repeated three times before resolving to beat one, what the Indian musicians call a “tihai.”

Unfortunately, tunes written in odd times sometime contain mechanical grooves that never seem to rise above merely stating the “uneven” time signature. However, with Vital Information, this is clearly not the case — this tune grooves hard.

In fact, Smith and the band make the Indian concept of playing in 7 1/2 downright funky. They collectively accomplish this by playing through the “ones” and concentrating on their entire soloing statements instead of the exotic time signature. Note the scorching “rock-guitar” solo after Smith’s outrageous solo; it’s actually a synth solo by Coster!

The Trouble With minus drums

From the Steve Smith and Vital Information recording Vitalization, this is the track The Trouble With.  This track features Tom Coster on keyboards, bassist Baron Browne and Vinny Valentino on guitar.  Featuring Bill Evans on sax.

“The Trouble With” kicks-off with some serious rhythm work by the composer; rarely has a rhythm guitar part been used so effectively as an intro. A traditional Motown drum fill escorts Bill Evans’ muscular tenor saxophone into the melody. Both Valentino and Evans’ solos are instigated by duets with the drummer. With Valentino, Smith’s snare and bass drum answer (and occasionally end) the guitarist’s slippery phrases.

Coster forgoes the duet, and cuts right to the point with a super-funky organ solo that stabs and darts, building up to a soulful and gradual explosion from Evans. Smith and Evans begin with a duet that leaves you wanting more and Bill proceeds to weave his way through the solo form as though he’s played it a thousand times. The band then lays down a nice vamp for Steve to solo over, climaxing with some furious single strokes before the final chord.

Get Serious minus drums

From the Steve Smith and Vital Information recording Vitalization, this is the track Get Serious.  This track features Tom Coster on keyboards, bassist Baron Browne and Vinny Valentino on guitar.

“Get Serious” is an exemplary Tom Coster composition — tight unison lines, gorgeous chords, soaring melodies and dynamic basslines. The percussion section of Juan Carlos and Gilad support the melodies as well as the adventurous improvisations of both Valentino and Coster.

Interwoven Rhythms – Synchronous minus drums

From the Steve Smith and Vital Information recording Vitalization, this is the track Interwoven Rhythms – Synchronous.  This track features Tom Coster on keyboards, bassist Baron Browne and Vinny Valentino on guitar.  Special guest Pete Lockett on percussion.

“Interwoven Rhythms – Synchronous” finds Lockett and Smith’s konnakol vocals synchronized over a modern “trancelike” groove featuring Baron’s dancing bass line and Coster’s floating electric keyboard. Vinny finds the perfect spaces to interject some classic rhythm guitar that ties everything together. At the conclusion of every phrase, we hear unison konnakol and drum set that is simply staggering.

No Strings Attached minus drums

This is “No Strings Attached” minus the drum track (with click) as it was recorded by Vinny Valentino, Baron Browne, Tom Coster and Joel Rosenblatt for the Double B Double V CD.

I Like The Way U Think minus drums

This is “I Like The Way U Think… Sometimes” minus the drum track as it was recorded by Vinny Valentino, Baron Browne, Tom Coster and Joel Rosenblatt for the Double B Double V Album.

Give Me The Night

This is “Give Me the Night” as it was recorded by Vinny Valentino, Baron Browne, Tom Coster and Joel Rosenblatt for the Double B Double V CD.

Dont Count On Me

This is “Don’t Count On Me” as it was recorded by Vinny Valentino, Baron Browne, Tom Coster and Joel Rosenblatt for the Double B Double V CD 

Alter Ego minus drums

This is “Alter Ego” minus the drums by Vinny Valentino, Baron Browne, Tom Coster and Joel Rosenblatt for the Double B Double V CD

I Like The Way U Think