Vital Groove

Vital Information consists of Baron Browne on the bass, Vinny Valentino on guitar, Tom Coster on keyboards and accordion, and Smith on the drums. Each is an accomplished artist in his own right and together the quartet’s performance was nothing short of brilliant. In their twenty-fourth year since their first release Vital Information, they performed pieces from their new album Vitalisation along with some tracks from previous albums.

Smith has recently been performing and collaborating with Indian musicians, including tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain, and the latest album bears evidence of that. “I’ve been very interested in north and south Indian music, especially Carnatic vocal percussion and I’ve tried to include some of the compositions in the new album,” says Smith, who delivered a flawless performance of vocal percussion in the track Seven and a Half. “Carnatic music follows a taal of seven and a half beats. Using that in a contemporary jazz track gives it a completely new twist and blends the music of both cultures seamlessly,” he says.

The audience agreed and their appreciation was rewarded with Europa, a terrific track that featured Coster on the accordion. Coster wrote this track along with Santana, which explains the beautiful imagery of the music that filled the auditorium.

What made the concert such an experience was the musical genius that was evident in their performance. Though Smith was the most prominent and respected performer, the other three musicians quietly showcased their own skills in some magical solo asides. Valentino shone in a track called The Trouble With and Browne matched Smith’s vocal percussion with his jazz groove.