Throughout drummer Steve Smith's lengthy career, from Maynard Ferguson and the rock stadium years in Journey to his acclaimed jazz-rock group, Vital Information, and his most recent group, Jazz legacy, he has always acknowledged and paid tribute to the jazz drummers that inspired and influenced him — from Art Blakey and Elvin Jones to Buddy Rich and Tony Williams. Together with Hudson Music he has now created a mammoth three-disc (two DVDs plus a bonus CD) box set, Standing On The Shoulders of Giants (£29.95), which not only demonstrates the music and styles of these legendary names but also presents analyses of their conceptual approaches and technique, partly in discussion with renowned drummer and educator John Riley.
The core of this fascinating package is a one-hour concert featuring Smith's band Jazz Legacy, captured live at the 2006 Modern Drummer Festival, playing numbers associated with Philly Joe Jones and Joe Dukes, in addition to the drummers mentioned above. The discussion with Riley is particularly useful, getting right inside some of the licks played, while the second DVD includes live performance footage of Smith in New York and a masterclass held in Australia. A Jazz Legacy live CD, a 40-page booklet and a link to a 50-page e-book that can be downloaded and printed out complete this mouth-watering package.
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