Drummer Steve Smith will be performing at Birdland Jazz Club in New York City for an unprecedented five consecutive weeks with five different groups September 16 through October 16, 2022. Steve Smith is known for playing with Jean-Luc Ponty, Journey, Steps Ahead and his own group Steve Smith and Vital Information. Smith will unveil the newest version of his Vital Information group in the Birdland Theater, September 16, 17 and 18. The new trio version of Vital Information features Manuel Valera on keyboards and Janek Gwizdala on electric bass. Vital Information is approaching its 40^th Anniversary in 2023 as the first Vital Information album was released in 1983. Wounded Bird Records recently released a four CD set of the first four Vital Information albums called The Complete Columbia Recordings. For more info: www.vitalinformation.com

The group Coltrane Revisited will celebrate the music, and September 23^rd birthday, of John Coltrane from September 20 through 24. In addition to Smith on drums, Coltrane Revisited features Vincent Herring, Jimmy Greene, and Greg Osby on saxes, Helen Sung on piano (Sept 20,21), Jeremy Pelt on trumpet (Sept 22-24) and Lonnie Plaxico on bass. Coltrane Revisited plays Birdland each September performing different material from John Coltrane’s varied recorded output. For their September 2022 engagement, the group will perform the entire Giant Steps album.

The Bouncin’ With Bud Trio will perform the music of Bud Powell September 29 through October 2 celebrating Bud Powell’s September 27 birthday. Drummer Steve Smith will join pianists Helen Sung (Sept 29), Manuel Valera (Sept 30, Oct 1, 2) and bassist Lonnie Plaxico to perform the music from Bud Powell’s album The Scene Changes. The album features some of Powell’s best loved compositions, such as “Cleopatra’s Dream,” “Duid Deed,” “Danceland” and “Crossin’ the Channel.” The group will also tackle chops-busters “Un Poco Loco” and “Tempus Fugue-It!” Advertisement

The Misterioso Quartet, featuring Tim Hagans on trumpet, Steve Cardenas on guitar, Ben Allison on bass and Steve Smith on drums, will play the music of Thelonious Monk October 7, 8 and 9 in the Birdland Theater. This line-up of some of the world’s leading jazz improvisers, have a deep knowledge, and appreciation, of Monk’s compositions. The Misterioso Quartet will bring Monk’s music into the 21^st century.  

The Thelonious Monk tribute line-up called Four In One, will perform the music of Thelonious Monk in the Birdland Theater October 13 through 16. Four In One will feature Jimmy Greene and Greg Osby on saxes, Paul Bollenback and Mitch Stein on guitars and Steve Smith on drums. This unique line-up will perform singular arrangements – and interpretations – of some of Monk’s best love compositions.

For details and to make reservation, go to www.birdlandjazz.com