STEVE SMITH - Touring/Recording Drummer, Educator (Journey, Vital Information NYC Edition)

[@kellyrains4976]

I saw his clinic at Forks drum closet June of 2008 ...Great clinic....He signed whatever autographs you wanted at the end of the clinic..I have a photo with him....Very humble ,honest drummer

[@coolhatadventures8111]

Steve had awesome points about playing time and dynamics with a band in a room.

[@KONAMAN100]

What a drumming intelligence Steve Smith brings. Fascinating interview with this encyclopedic master.

[@BonnieHalfElven]

Drummers fascinate me, and Steve Smith is clearly among the very best. The way he moves when he describes playing looks like a fluid dance.

[@jamessholtz6016]

Kudos to Mr. Smith. How rare the musician that consistently strives to improve throughout a life. And he has done just that.

[@Joesfosterdogs]

Journey Frontiers is a rock drumming masterclass on composing parts. It should be taught in music schools.

[@edgenovese]

Great humbleness from two very great drummers..patience and listening... the most important part of being a great musician!

[@richboshart1201]

Terrific interview Dom. If Steve Smith isn’t an inspiration of yours, you aren’t a drummer.

[@MP-ju4ol]

Watching my personal idol and fav drummer musician. I got to run into Steve many times in the SF Bay Area...........subbing in for Michael Walden with the Warriors (Steve please tell me I recall right?). Walter Afanasioff took a liking to me me and brought me up on stage to meet Steve. What a guy, what a friendly man, happy. Saw Steve with Journey first time ever with The Baby’s opening. What a perfect concert! Ran into Steve at The Old Waldorf for Chick Correa and Jack DeJohnette. Again what a great guy, so humble and fun. Kept seeing Steve at Yoshis with Vital Information. Consistently a good human being. After seeing Max Roach at Berkeley Festival play the you know what out of a hi-hat, I saw that duplicated.......and surpassed by Steve at Yoshis. Hope to see Steve and the NY Edition someday soon.

[@stevenbardsley2489]

Two monster musicians who are so humble and both eternal students!! Yes!!! 👍

[@jamesnewman6032]

Another terrific interview. One of my all time favorite cassettes was Players, with Scott Henderson, Steve Smith and a few other terrific players. Steve’s playing has really evolved. His knowledge of Indian rhythms is remarkable as well.

[@DrummerDanVa]

I don't know if Steve remembers but when he played with Montrose as the opening act for Journey in 1978 they played in Norfolk Virginia at Scope. They were staying at Holiday Inn Scope where The Bruce Hornsby Band was playing locally before Bruce became famous. After the Montrose show, Steve sat in with Bruce playing Seven Steps to Heaven in the Holiday Inn Lounge. Those were the musical days! 🎼

[@roscoegarbonzo9966]

Been following Steve for over 45 years now! Formally Carved his teeth in the World of Jazz & Fusion, "76 I had the distinct pleasure seeing him perform in Jean Luc Ponty Band including Allan Holdsworth, Incredible stuff back then! He demonstrated & showed his versatility over the years keeping it on cruise control staying below the radar in Journey

[@RodgerCarter]

One of the best interview series I've ever seen!!! Great work Dom!!!

[@mariabrashear3968]

One of the most versatile drummers on the planet. He can play in any situation. Whether its rock, soft ballads, jazz fusion and many more.

[@philenns6797]

Dom, you have a wonderful way of bringing out the "best" of those you interview. And that "best" graciously rewards all of us who know of 'The Sessions Panel". I really appreciate the discussion about grip ... I think each has beneft. A terrific interview with Steve Smith! Thank you, Dom! A great show!

[@TheSessionsPanel]

Thanks Phil for your support!!....Hope to see you at an event, next one is in Nashville & open to public.... thesessions.org/upcoming-events/

[@tjroy]

Awesome. Love both these guys

[@JazzDig]

Thank you Steve for taking us through this Journey with all your Vital Information. Much needed!!!

[@MusicianMarkusRaivio]

All my biggest Idols have been on this channel. Thank you so much for your sessions!!

[@TheSessionsPanel]

Appreciate your support & sharing our channel to help us grow & bring you more!

[@1111Paiste]

Great conversation! Don, you are a good interviewer, conversationalist. Rather than just asking a bunch of questions you listened very well.

[@zepgen8]

Steve is such an inspiration...Dom is also an incredible player, these interviews are wonderful.

[@jimbarcelona1078]

Another spectacular drummer. I follow Steve Smith as well as Dave Weckl and Virgil Donati. As well as Simon Phillips ,of course Todd Sucherman my five favorites.

[@dickielarue1451]

One of my favorite drummers...Feel Blessed to have seen him live with Journey in 1983...Rock On!

[@colinreynolds9600]

Such a fantastic interview Dom, with Steve ...I was fortunate to meet Steve at The Drumeo Festival..... It's through lock down and encouragement by yourself and watching Steve, I started doing exams with Rockschool...and have started at grades 3. Then doing 4...6...7...and now doing grade 8...really a huge step up... Got Distinction for 3...and merits for the others... Red Baron, by Billy Cobham is one of my exam pieces ... But Thankyou for this amazing interview with Steve .. Colin Chelmsford Essex....UK

[@vincentroberto9673]

Thank's dom!! Another grandslam interview. Best show in the world. With all those great interview's.

[@yarpyarp85]

Dom is the best interviewer ever, his enthusiasm is so palpable. I love this!

[@sammieis9]

Dom...this is an excellent interview. Great questions......and my two favorite drummers...together!

[@CosimoKeitaCadore]

Fantastic, thats all I can say. Thank you Dom, great great interview. Steve is for ever an inspiration.

[@markmagnarella967]

Great inspiration.I had the good fortune to attend a drum instructional session in chicago with Steve. One of the best modern drummers across Jazz , fusion, and rock!! Dom is so good with these interviews.

[@luperodriguez7534]

This is a gentleman that I would love to meet. Deep down in my heart it will never happen. A big influence on me. Thank you Mr. Smith.

[@vanhunsberger4192]

outstanding interview. wonderful job dom and steve! thoughtful, informative and interesting.

[@barlypop]

Great interview 👍

[@supreethkurthukoti9851]

Thank you Dom Famularo for these wonderful inspiring sessions. Thanks to KZbin for helping us access these great moments. I, sitting in my home in a suburb in an Indian city am inspired now to practice and learn from these greats. Legends like yourself Dom and the others drive us to love the instrument all the more.

[@MikeSmith-pz5vl]

Man now I admire him even more. Thank you for this interview.

[@robertfarquharson581]

Great interview!! I learned a lot ❤

[@derek5168]

Two men who have been playing for a lifetime and articulating how drumming is applied to different forms of music enjoying all the interviews in this series

[@TheSessionsPanel]

Thanks Derek! Glad you are enjoying our Artist Series interviews...please continue sharing them to help us bring more in 2023!!

[@drumier]

Saw him at cecil's jazz club in jersey,got on cecil's little sonor kit and worked it like it was his own,a real master and fine gentleman.

[@5Antvin]

These interviews are great and are here to warn the "next generation " of players that the music industry is pretty much dead ,with little club work to be found and NO studio work ,but at one time ,several decades ago ,it was really happening!! Good work Dom to wake people up ...

[@zeketrick]

I once met Steve at a Buddy Rich event at a Hotel in Toledo, i had no idea he played like that at the time! I was completely floored for real. He signed a beautiful Dejembe for me and told me "I hope i don't see this on ebay" i assured him it would not be. I was quite nervous as well as impressed. Yes i still have it! Dj Fontana , and Artimus Pyle signed it and noticed Steve's signature

[@mrrob817]

Once again famularo is as good as an interviewer as the artist he is interviewing he led a master and listened and played off it....great job

[@johnfoote-unknownlocation1290]

Love this interview! Thanks, Dom. The message to the next generation is consistent with his approach to being successful. I was fascinated with not only the match v. traditional and open hand, but what you were saying about information overload as being a key challenge that drummers today face. One can get lost - easily. Good judgment and decision-making are critical.

[@dd007x]

Totally agree.

[@roscoegarbonzo9966]

Had the distinct pleasure of hearing & seeing Steve with Jean Luc Ponty Enigmatic Ocean tour '77, They were Sensational Not for Casual ears! Allan Holdsworth, Daryl stuermer, Ralphie Armstrong, The Gig with Journey $ ! Steve had to play below the radar always on cruise control never to out shine Neals Guitar

[@Bricameron]

I love hearing the beginning stories of the drummers that you interview.

[@pjones8404]

As I am listening to this wonderful interview..I wanted to make some comments. Mr. Smith was just talking about widening his skill set and being able to be consistent from performance to performance. It made me think of how I define the word technique. "The ability to play what you want when you want to play it." It's a moving target...one that grows with work, experience and learning. It's not about reaching a certain speed playing 16th notes for example. As your talent and skills grow..the definition of one's technique will change with it.

[@adityatyagi4009]

Great comment. This also explains why seasoned pros like Steve Smith and others are rarely impressed with a full onslaught display of "chops" that would impress, for example, a teenager.

[@wolowolowolo]

Thank you Dom for these wonderful interviews!!!!

[@christopherbaier4847]

I love Steve He very is smart and an amazing Artist One of the all time Greatest contemporary Musicians

[@RichFarago]

Amazing series . Getting to see the master drummers in an infinite setting . Great interviews ..

[@DbeeM]

Not a musician or drummer but learned a lot about the process . Fascinating stuff!

[@CoryTACP]

I can't speak highly enough about this interview. Steve seems like a great person, who just happens to be an amazing drummer. Dom creates a great environment with his questions and he actually LISTENS to the person. Haha strange concept huh? Nice work gentlemen.

[@MrAlainpoudrier]

Yet another great interview Dom ! It was great hearing about Jean-Luc and Baron Brown. I used to see Baron play with Tiger Okoshi in Sherbrooke, Quebec back in 1979-80 . I was in college back then studying classical percussion and Tiger's band used to come to play at a little bar approximately every three months. I used to take lessons with Robbie Gonzalez(phenomenal drummer) and I would go and have breakfast with Tiger, Baron, Robbie and Mr Atkins. The next time I saw Baron, he was playing with Jean-Luc at the the Spectrum in Montreal. What a great experience. Thanks so much for doing these interviews and bringing the behind the scene of education. I love it !

[@dwodo21]

Alain Poudrier Great memories! Thanks for mentioning. I used to see Tiger's Baku frequently just south of you in Manchester, NH. Anyway, I agree, fantastic interview! Glad I discovered this series!

[@johnwaller5386]

his drum parts on journey tunes are totally amazing and musical. it is truly "part of the song". i like his coming into music.... jazz first and then to rock. pretty cool. i have a similar exposure with mangione, rich, RTF....even a les demerle, and discovered rock later. late coming to journey, but really appreciate the music.

[@tjroy]

The North East, New England, i am proud to be from New England. There is so much musical talent there BECAUSE the MASTERS were all in BOSTON & NY. Even me, being from Maine, my most inspirational teacher i had, had studied WITH ALAN DAWSON, & the "drum set" really is a NEW instrument. Its a "baby" so to speak, so to receive instruction from sum1 who studied with a MASTER, DIRECTLY, personally, WAS HUGE. I love New England & i will return there i am sure. I love it. O ya, btw, so many pros say "they attended" a music school, cuz no one finishes. Even myself, i went for 9 semesters, no degree. Its cuz we all wanna play instead of going to core classes. But its all in the wording. "i attended" 😆💯💯 makes all the difference 💯😆😆

[@BryceChristopherHodge]

That was incredible. Thank you so much!

[@sammyvh11]

He created power ballad drum riffs. He can play any genre.

[@jaysonfate8422]

Great interview.

[@gt-nj8wf]

Steve lowkey flipping the bird at 37:15 A great interview with one of the best drummers out there!

[@russell_szabados]

Thank you for all of your insightful interviews, Dom. I play keys & bass but I'm a frustrated drummer and many of my favorite players are drummers, most of whom you've interviewed! I just discovered your channel and I'm so glad I did. This clip with Steve Smith is so enlightening, I look forward to following your output from here on out.

[@TheSessionsPanel]

Thanks Russell! Lots more coming, including Nathan East & Matt Bissonette soon!!

[@porkpie102264]

Ya Brockton, We had some great drummers and musicians in the area... All the greats have personal characteristic of practice.... Great Job Dom.

[@HarryJoiner]

steve smith is a specimen. if tim ferriss was 65 and played drums, this is what he'd be like. i love the balance.

[@udomatthiasdrums5322]

.............like the playing of steve!!

[@scottawes921]

Steve is a badass.

[@EdsonGW]

I just bought that book "Path of motion" on Chinese to learn drum Chinese language. Was so nice to see Steve`s explanation about things I`m reading in Chinese now. Thanks Dom!

[@Rectifiable]

BRAV0! L0VE $teve. Thank you both... It seems most musicians get their first Insturments as Christmas gifts. And most are first inspired by the Beatles and then, Mitch Mitchell. I’m wondering if it’s actually because of Mitch or Jimi. My main mentor is Ansley. What if he would of won the tossing of the coin instead?

[@Theheavymetalshop]

The One The Only Steve "machinegun" Smith! Him and Tommy Aldridge are two of my all time fave drummers!

[@claytonb9685]

Same here.

[@trevormcmanis]

Another phenomenal interview!! If anyone has never played the drums before email American One Productions in NJ to arrange a complimentary opportunity to experience sitting behind a kit and explore the joy of playing!

[@nickgelis5109]

Love Dom and Mapex!!

[@davidcurtis4478]

Steve is absolutely right, the way you learn best is one on one with a teacher and then you play with other musicians. Also putting in the work to learn. It's like I can show you Tiger Woods' swing in 5 minutes but then you have to go out and hit a million plus balls to ingrain it where it becomes the pathway of motion. Keep the groove with passion. 🎶🥁😎DC

[@rsitch1]

The problem with Steve Smith is that he only knows the right way. Their are others and I will call you out. Thank you for the courage to do the work. Putting in your skills and show others. Clint Eastwood said,” Man has gotta know his limitation”.... Bob. Ps I’m 71 now and working on my rlrrllrrllrl...

[@t3hgir]

hey thanks for that pattern, ive been woodshedding six-stroke rolls and I haven't thought of this sticking...

[@joerico9461]

Kids today need to put in the same kind of work to get what they want.

[@joshuajuaire8757]

awsome :)

[@steveburchfield5576]

I remember playing some early club gigs with Steve and Neil Stubbenhous on bass I was new to jazz concept of laying out part of the time for drum and bass solos and being a big duck in a little pond , but Berklee and players of this level were great EGO ASSASSINS !!! Smaller town younger players need to go to major music capitals to GET REAL!!!!

[@eltonron1558]

Don't stop believing, is a great tempo, unlike the usual straight approach.

[@jasoncavitt2043]

Top 5 Influences: 5. Matt Cameron 4. Danny Carey 3. Steve Smith 2. John Bonham 1. Dave Weckl

[@TheSessionsPanel]

Wish we could have added John Bonham to the Artist Series, glad to have your other top 3....maybe Matt & Danny someday too!! Thanks for your support!!

[@KONAMAN100]

What a pair of gents

[@sthulander1]

Can you, Dom, get-hold of Gary Chaffee for an interview?

[@TheMICMusicInspirationChannel]

You should've asked him what it's like to be depicted in an arcade game. I don't know of any other drummer who enjoys that distinction.

[@musik4markwajdeman1964]

"Steven Bruce Smith (born August 21, 1954) is an American drummer best known as a member of the rock band Journey, rejoining the group for the third time in 2015. Modern Drummer magazine readers have voted him the No. 1 All-Around Drummer five years in a row. In 2001, the publication named Smith one of the Top 25 Drummers of All Time, and in 2002 he was voted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Journey on April 7, 2017. After high school, Smith attended the Berklee College of Music. He later recorded and toured with jazz violinist Jean-Luc Ponty in 1977-78. He was the drummer on the Focus album Focus con Proby (1978) and played with Ronnie Montrose. From 1978-1985, he was the drummer for the rock band Journey. He left the band in 1985 but returned in 1995 for the band's comeback album Trial by Fire. In the interim, he played with Journey offshoot The Storm. In 2015, he rejoined Journey again. Since 1977, Smith has led his own jazz group, Vital Information. Drummer Neil Peart of Rush invited him in 1994 to perform on Burning for Buddy: A Tribute to the Music of Buddy Rich, a tribute album to Buddy Rich, who inspired both drummers. Smith recorded the song "Nutville" and was invited for the sequel tribute album, Burning for Buddy: A Tribute to the Music of Buddy Rich, Vol. 2, for which he recorded "Moment's Notice". He recorded two albums with Buddy's Buddies, a quintet composed of musicians who played with Rich. In 2007, Smith and Buddy's Buddies were renamed Steve Smith's Jazz Legacy. The band pays tribute to many great jazz drummers in addition to Buddy Rich. In 1989, Smith headlined the Buddy Rich Memorial Scholarship Concert held in New York City, performing a duet with drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith. Smith released two albums, Very Live at Ronnie Scott's Set One & Set Two, for Tone Center that were recorded live at Ronnie Scott's club in London. In 2001 Modern Drummer magazine named Smith one of the Top 25 Drummers of All Time. During the following year, he was voted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame. In 2003, his DVD Steve Smith Drumset Technique - History of the U.S. Beat was voted the No. 1 Educational DVD of the year. He has worked as a session musician for Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli, Elisa, Vasco Rossi, Zucchero, Savage Garden, Bryan Adams, Zakir Hussain and Sandip Burman. Additionally, he has played with jazz musicians such as Steps Ahead, Wadada Leo Smith, Tom Coster, Ahmad Jamal, Dave Liebman, Larry Coryell, Victor Wooten, Mike Stern, Randy Brecker, Scott Henderson, Frank Gambale, Stuart Hamm, Dweezil Zappa, Anthony Jackson, Aydın Esen, Torsten de Winkel, George Brooks, Michael Zilber, Steve Marcus, Andy Fusco, Kai Eckhardt, Lee Musiker, Howard Levy, Oteil Burbridge, Jerry Goodman, Tony MacAlpine and Bill Evans." -wiki

[@TheSessionsPanel]

Thanks Mark for the info in the comments in our Artist Series interviews! Appreciate your support in helping us Empower musicians with additional knowledge about these Artists!

[@nohaste4me]

'No 40 years' 😂 (first minute)

[@TheWitchOvAgnesi]

It's official. Traditional grip and cross hand playing are antiquated.

[@Bricameron]

This interview is tuition.