Live Around the World: Where We Come from Tour 1998-1999 [LIVE]

Vital Information, Steve Smith

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 9, 2000)
• Original Release Date: September 12, 2000
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Live
• Label: Intuition
• ASIN: B00004SV0B
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #308,673 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
More of a souvenir for the converted than an enticement to the uninitiated, Live Around the World is a double-disc dosage of Vital Information, the jazz-rock vehicle that former Journey drummer Steve Smith has cultivated since the early 1980s. Recorded in club-sized venues in Sydney, Toronto, Chicago, and Amsterdam, the group leans on jazz and traces of R&B as its principal benchmarks, bringing to mind an evolved, slightly edgier Chick Corea Elektric Band minus Eric Marienthal on saxophone--no surprise, really, given guitarist Frank Gambale's in both units.

The four-man Vital Information's selections are regularly sweetened by the Hammond B-3 and accordion of former Santana keyboardist Tom Coster (bassist Baron Browne rounds out the foursome, replacing Jeff Andrews). Coster, in fact, is the primary instrumental focus of many selections and even contributes a subdued accordion version of his Santana hit, "Europa." The group's clever take on Led Zeppelin's "Moby Dick" surfaces here as an energetic fingerpainting exercise by Browne (supplemented by a soulful Hammond rave-up by Coster) before the tune becomes recognizable in its final 45 seconds--without a single Bonhamesque workout on drums from Smith. Several selections are attractively performed ("Swamp Stomp" and "First Thing This Morning" are treats), though the group never fully catches fire (Gambale in particular) until the 15th track, "Over and Out," the closest the band gets to full-throttle fusion on this package. Interesting; not overpowering. --Terry Wood

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars it's almost like being there......, October 9, 2000

By	steve kiener (rochester, n.y. usa) - See all my reviews

this a wonderful reminder of seeing the band in lovely buffalo n.y. at the tralfamadore two marches ago or so. one of the things that makes this even better is the extra bonus studio cuts included within, soulful drums originally recorded by joe dukes on jack mcduffs screamin'. it's kind of an update and just as greasy, highly recommended. the other big highlight for me is steve's solo on mr.pc, a textbook of keeping the form and blowing over the changes. do yourself a favor and pick this one up, you'll be glad you did. then play it for a friend who also loves great music, he'll owe you one.....

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Listen To This, February 26, 2002

By	Jeff Arenson (Colorado Springs, CO United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"Live Around The World We Come From" is a double CD that captures Steve Smith's Vital Information in concert. This is the second time that Vital Info has been recorded live and is the better of the two. The band performs all types of music: The Creole influenced "Swamp Stomp", the Jazz of Ornette Coleman's "Happy House", the atonal romp that is "Cranial Jam" are all a part of this eclectic mix. Some highlights from the first disc are a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Moby Dick". The center piece of this version is the Baron and not the drumming of Smith. The other members of the band follow Baron's bass lines and improvise over them. The end result is a very different sound than the one that Zeppelin originated. "First Thing This Morning" is another great tune and is one of Frank Gambale's best compostions. Frank has always been an amazing guitarist but this song demonstrates that he has made leaps in the composition side of being a complete musician. The song itself has a catchy melody and the band is brilliant throughout. The end of the piece has Baron and Steve improvising around the song's groove and is simply awesome. The second disc has a couple of show stoppers as well. "Over and Out " is a showcase for Mr. Gambale's impressive sweepicking technique and should amaze most guitarists. The often covered John Coltrane masterwork "Mr. P.C." is the last live song on the disc and also the most blistering. Tom Coster has an amazing hammond solo and Gambale picks up the baton and runs with it. The song then has Gambale, Coster and Smith trade fours until Steve Smith performs a jaw dropping drum solo that will knock some paintings off of your walls. Also incuded on these discs are a couple of studio songs that are also very good and may provide a hint of things to come. Vital Information is one of the, and to some the, best Fusion bands currently touring. Buy this and see why for yourself. Highly recommended.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 3 & 1/2 stars for me, August 25, 2003

By	Jazzcat "stef" (Genoa, Italy Italy) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

When this record came out I immediatly bought it without thinking it twice. I am a Jazz/fusion enthusiast so Vital Information is one of the bands in my map. The album has some strong points but also some weaknesses. I appreciate Gambale' s playing and the exceptional musicianship from all the guys. Coster is such a talent! His musicality is nothing less than amazing. But in the end this album is really not that much in my opinion. Apart from Europa (here in a splendid accordion version), twe two minor blues Mr P.C. (Coltrane) and the Jazzy Moby Dick (Led Zeppelin), Take eight and few other moments I'm not completly satisfied with the music. It's too flat. These guys can do a lot better than this in my opinion. Probably is the material that does not shine. Where we come from was not their best album for I am concerned and this live is almost completly based on that material. In the end this double live is a little disappointing. I still prefer Uzeb live '90 which in my opinion still eats this live in a single bite. Anyway sometimes I enjoy listen to this album but it's a little less than what I was expecting from such tremendously gifted players.