Wow! These guys have a pretty nice jam going!!

[boneyguy]

Just had to post this. To me it's a nice example of a band really working together, listening and alert.

I'm especially blown away by the sax playing particularily during the solo. The interplay with the drummer is wonderful.

I'm not a huge fan of jazz fusion but I think what makes this work for me is that the drumming is more firmly rooted in traditional jazz than in rock. To my ears anyway.

Hope someone else enjoys this as much as I did.

[Daddydex]

Isn't that Vital Information? I have seen this act a couple of times. Very entertaining!

Dan

[Daddydex]

Steve Smith is the drummer from Journey.

Dan

[Five Finger Fender Fiend]

Brilliant video. I love Frank Gambale. Thanks for posting this.

[boneyguy]

Originally Posted by Five Finger Fender Fiend

Brilliant video. I love Frank Gambale. Thanks for posting this.

Frank was the reason I found this video. I had heard his name of course for a long time but it's only in the last few months that I been checking him out. I think he's absolutely brilliant.


On this particular clip I think the sax player steals the show though!

[Mark Davis]

THat was a good jam I liked it!

[GoldieLocks]

thats some Nasty sax playin' (awesome). Gambale sounds like a bedroom shredder who's onstage for the 1st time. THats some strange tone to bring to a jazz gig. especially with some serious players like those guys. I dare anyone to try and hum anything Gambale's played 30 seconds later.

[boneyguy]

Originally Posted by GoldieLocks

thats some Nasty sax playin' (awesome). Gambale sounds like a bedroom shredder who's onstage for the 1st time. THats some strange tone to bring to a jazz gig. especially with some serious players like those guys. I dare anyone to try and hum anything Gambale's played 30 seconds later.

I agree. The sax is just outrageous. I also agree that the guitar tone is not very appealing and his solo doesn't really say much other than 'I know alot of notes and can play them quickly'. I've definitely heard FG play more lyrically. Some of his more straight up blues playing is really nice.

I just thought it had a nice energy overall and some great sax and drums in particular.

[beach bob]

Boney, not sure if you knew, but this style is known as boogaloo. Something of a precursor to funk, it got started in the mid sixties by a couple players, notably 'Boogaloo' Joe Jones [he was called that to distinguish himself from Joe Jones the drummer]. Boogaloo Joe was a killer big jazz box guitarist. He's well worth seeking out; I have a couple CDs of his that are great.

More recently, the Greyboy Allstars mined this style, and New Orleans' Galactic did as well on their first couple CDs. Galactic's ace drummer Stanton Moore has done a few solo CDs that are in a similar vein. I happen to love this style; great party music for sure. If you like the style, any of the above are worth a listen.

Thanks for the link; Steve Smith rocks it on the drums (even if he is kinda cheating w/ that double kick thingy ), and the sax solo effin' kicks butt. Seems to me Vital Information was initally a quartet... Gambale seems to stick out, as in not fit in. Frank, ya wanna hang w/ these dudes, at least get a 335 and clean up the tone! (my 2c)

[garytelecastor]

Where's the tele??????

Just kidding. I love this stuff. Very Nice.

[Larry F]

Take two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zomIMvCrvaY&NR=1.

[Larry F]

Yeah, terrible tone. When he gets going fast and high, it sounds like Pac-Man. That was mean. I don't like that kind of playing at all, but I still admire the shapes of his lines.

[boneyguy]

Originally Posted by beach bob

Boney, not sure if you knew, but this style is known as boogaloo. Something of a precursor to funk, it got started in the mid sixties by a couple players, notably 'Boogaloo' Joe Jones [he was called that to distinguish himself from Joe Jones the drummer]. Boogaloo Joe was a killer big jazz box guitarist. He's well worth seeking out; I have a couple CDs of his that are great.

More recently, the Greyboy Allstars mined this style, and New Orleans' Galactic did as well on their first couple CDs. Galactic's ace drummer Stanton Moore has done a few solo CDs that are in a similar vein. I happen to love this style; great party music for sure. If you like the style, any of the above are worth a listen.

Thanks for the link; Steve Smith rocks it on the drums (even if he is kinda cheating w/ that double kick thingy ), and the sax solo effin' kicks butt. Seems to me Vital Information was initally a quartet... Gambale seems to stick out, as in not fit in. Frank, ya wanna hang w/ these dudes, at least get a 335 and clean up the tone! (my 2c)

Thanks man. That's all new information for me and I will definately go on a search now.

And yeah that sax solo is crazy good.

A Tele, a 335, an LP, almost anything would be better than the tone FG is getting from his rig in that clip.

[garytelecastor]

I have one question: Why is the vid so focused on the drummer? At the beginning of the vid I can understand but as the song progresses the camera spends almost all the time on the drummer. Granted, he smokes, but the other players, especially Gambale, are no bunch of slouches.

[FirstBassman]

Video gone.

[beach bob]

Originally Posted by boneyguy

A Tele, a 335, an LP, almost anything would be better than the tone FG is getting from his rig in that clip.

Yep... I'd like to hear Robben Ford or Larry Carlton sit in with those guys.

Happy music hunting

[boneyguy]

Originally Posted by beach bob

Yep... I'd like to hear Robben Ford or Larry Carlton sit in with those guys.

Happy music hunting

Thanks beach bob. I've already turned up some nice stuff from 'Boogaloo' Joe Jones ,The Greyboy Allstars and Galactic. I'm digging it. Nice funky, laid back stuff with a little edge. And that Bugaloo Joe really does play some sweet lines. I'm reminded of funkier Wes as well as Grant Green. West coast cool with some spicey heat thrown in is what I'm hearing.

Thanks for turning me on to this stuff.

[beach bob]

Happy to pass it along. I would not have heard much of the stuff I like were it not for people saying, come out and hear these guys / hey listen to this!

Also, if you use Amazon, a feature I like (sometimes) is the 'people who bought this also bought this' w/ links to 4-5 other artists. Some will be similar, and some won't really even be close but it's useful for mining a style you don't really know about. I've found a few good / odd bands that way. The record industry may be in the toilet, but there's still tons of good music out there, and most of it is well below the radar ...

[boneyguy]

Originally Posted by beach bob

Happy to pass it along. I would not have heard much of the stuff I like were it not for people saying, come out and hear these guys / hey listen to this!

Also, if you use Amazon, a feature I like (sometimes) is the 'people who bought this also bought this' w/ links to 4-5 other artists. Some will be similar, and some won't really even be close but it's useful for mining a style you don't really know about. I've found a few good / odd bands that way. The record industry may be in the toilet, but there's still tons of good music out there, and most of it is well below the radar ...

Sometimes on YouTube you can get lucky like the Amazon feature you mention. Doing a search for a particular artist can turn up some unexpected gold that you weren't looking for. It's good when that happens.

I had no idea about this whole 'bugaloo' buisness but I'm really enjoying the stuff I've been hearing. It's a really nice mix of some of my favourite sounds.

The record biz only scratches the surface of all that's out there that's worthwhile listening to, you're right about that.
It's like shining a flashlight in a huge pitch black room full of treasure. You're only aware of the treasure the light shines on but meanwhile hidden in the darkness......!!! It's nice to see what treasures other people have found.

[Jackson Jackson]

Originally Posted by garytelecastor

I have one question: Why is the vid so focused on the drummer? At the beginning of the vid I can understand but as the song progresses the camera spends almost all the time on the drummer. Granted, he smokes, but the other players, especially Gambale, are no bunch of slouches.

Vital Information is Steve's band. He's practically the only constant member.

[Colt W. Knight]

Theres some phenominal musicians in jazz but I still dont care for jazz music. Lots of respect for their skill though

[boneyguy]

Originally Posted by Colt W. Knight

Theres some phenominal musicians in jazz but I still dont care for jazz music. Lots of respect for their skill though

I think you've got the right attitude Colt. Regardless of whether or not I like any particular style I like to give credit to musicians who have obviously put in the hours on their craft. To me that deserves recognition beyond whether or not I care for the style they play in.