Steve Smith

[Terry Branam]

Yes! What an epic solo. Thanks, Mark. It was a pleasure and honor to have been able to work on the Steve Smith transcriptions for the MD Legends book. As always, it was a great learning experience. You did a fantastic job on the interview as well! Great stuff.

Cheers,

Terry

[Kurtis]

[Tom Reschke]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRsmrl1A3wc

At the risk of having my HOD card rescinded, I thought this was unnecessary. It's such a vanilla groove from Steve Smith, and he's not even laying into it at all. Imagine Steve Jordan (a similar age as Mr. Smith) playing this. There's something to me about backbeat music that needs a backbeat, not just a hand hitting on two and four in time. There's just no oomph there. And he's a legend that can do that. Guess he chose not to, and now I'm MAD ON THE INTERNET.

[BennyAndTheSkins]

Plus, he seems to be playing ahead of the beat, while Janek is laying back in the pocket. Feels a bit unsettled to me......
(Coming from a guy who reveres SS as much as any other drummer....)

[Pocketplayer]

Just a thought...Steve is 68...sometimes I want to see him
play like it was 1981 again...he keeps in great shape...but
he is getting older like us all...some days might be off.

[Kurtis]

Steve's playing is super solid in this clip. Love the GONG! who brings a gong to a jazz/fusion gig

[Paul Marangoni]

[Kurtis]

[Paul Marangoni]

I ordered and received that newest recording that Smith released a few weeks ago. I gotta say, it's easily the worst thing he's ever done.
I'm a massive fan from way back, and I honestly don't understand why this was released.
Most of the tunes are completely forgettable, and his drums have never sounded this bad (to me at least).
I expected much, much better from these guys.
Real head scratcher. Just one more reason for people to shun jazz.

[Rodge]

But SS is not a Jazz musician, he loves Jazz but Jazz doesn't love him back.
He's a Rock drummer at heart, Jazz Rock, Jazz Fusion, but straight ahead Jazz, he's not, he's never been.
I never been fan of him, but he did some great stuff with Steps back in the days.
But, he must be a GREAT teacher, I feel that in him.