Drummer Steve Smith has been touring and recording with his jazz group Vital Information since 1983. Smith is one of Modern Drummer Readers Poll’s Top 25 Drummers of All Time, the former drummer for the iconic rock band Journey, and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee. The group’s newest incarnation features virtuoso musicians Manuel Valera on keyboards and Janek Gwizdala on bass. Their 2025 release, New Perspective, features songs that Smith has previously recorded but with arrangements that are vastly different from the original recordings, including three songs by Journey (Open Arms, Who's Crying Now, Don't Stop Believin') one from Steps Ahead (Sumo by Michael Brecker) three from Vital Info (The Perfect Date, Charukeshi Express, Eight+Five) plus two new original compositions. Rooted in the straight-ahead swing of bebop, the group explores exotic time-signatures from the world of South Indian Carnatic music and they have arranged “adventurous funk-driven renditions of jazz standards.” Steve Smith frequently appears at Birdland with various all-star groups. Don’t miss this chance to see Smith perform with his own band and experience their high-level musicianship and collective virtuosic improvisation.