Steve Smith & Vital Information at Birdland Theater

Drummer Steve Smith brings his long-running jazz group Vital Information to Birdland Theater for an evening of virtuosic improvisation. Smith, a former drummer for Journey and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, has led the band since 1983. The current trio features keyboardist Manuel Valera and bassist Janek Gwizdala, and their 2025 album *New Perspective* reimagines songs from Smith's past, including Journey classics like "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Open Arms."

The group's sound is rooted in bebop swing but ventures into exotic time signatures inspired by South Indian Carnatic music, with funk-driven takes on jazz standards. Attendees can expect high-level musicianship and collective improvisation from a band that has evolved over four decades, from its early fusion days to its current adventurous trio format.