| |
FEATURING:
Jay Beckenstein, sax
Tom Schuman, keyboards
Julio Fernandez, guitar
Joel Rosenblatt, drums
Scott Ambush, bass
|
THE BLUE NOTE PRESENTS ONE OF MUSIC'S MOST POPULAR & ENDURING CONTEMPORARY JAZZ ENSEMBLES EVER
The band consists of leader/founder Jay Beckenstein, saxophones; Tom Schuman, keyboards; Julio Fernandez, guitar; Scott Ambush, bass and Joel Rosenblatt, drums.
In an industry where the latest sonic trends emerge and disappear in brief flashes of expectation and disappointment, Spyro Gyra's constantly evolving musical vision has made them the most consistent, popular and enduring of all contemporary jazz ensembles. By choosing to push the artistic envelope in unique and invigorating directions with each project, the band has set the standard for blending the improvisational energy of jazz with the smooth and soulful seduction of pop/R&B. Enhancing their stature over the years with one of the most dynamic live shows in the instrumental world, leader/founder Jay Beckenstein and his cohorts have over the course of 20 albums since 1977 achieved a level of success unparalleled in the annals of a genre whose boundaries they have helped redefine.
As many classic bands do, Spyro Gyra hails from humble beginnings which could only hint at the widespread success and influence to come. The scene was Buffalo in the early 1970's and Jay Beckenstein led a revolving ensemble of players who were making a modest living hanging out the jazz and rock club scene. When a club owner needed a way to advertise and market the group the saxman kiddingly offered the moniker 'Spirogira,' a term he recalled from a college biology course. When the impresario misspelled it as "Spyro Gyra," he inadvertently gave birth to a name whose sound would one day become legendary.
The group funded the recording of their first album project through a lease agreement on a 16-track studio while working on other jobs with more commercial potential and selling studio time to pay-off the lease. Their initial recording attracted the interest of Amherst Records, a local label, which offered them a deal and later transferred their option to Infinity Records, a division of MCA. Not long after, they recorded the platinum album "Morning Dance," which spawned a Top 40 hit single of the same name in 1979.
The song, as well as Spyro Gyra, became a significant part of the growing acceptance of the contemporary jazz genre, which then included names like Grover Washington Jr. and George Benson. Becoming one of instrumental music's most potent live attractions further cemented the band's status as a significant force in the jazz world. Jay Beckenstein reflects, "As the band improved and certain people came into the group, I was convinced that no one could play Spyro Gyra music better than the people who were playing with me all the time. Since then, I've occasionally brought somebody in to supplement the band but never to replace a bandmember." While the band's overall sound and some of its personnel has gradually changed over the years, there's never any doubt as to the band's unique and tasteful playing, which is always evident in their performance; either live or on CD.
In 1997, Spyro Gyra celebrated 20 years of recording with their 20th album on GRP, "20/20." Their latest and 22nd CD is entitled Original Cinema. Though the fusion phenomenon failed to endure, Spyro Gyra definitely did catch on. With their unprecedented blend of virtuosity, stylistic range, and accessibility, they've built a massive following even as the media harnessed them with labels that didn't quite fit. The band soldiered on, selling more than ten million copies of twenty-plus albums and tearing it up on marathon tours throughout the world. But finally, Beckenstein admits, things got to the point where they couldn't tune out the static anymore.
Original Cinema, the follow-up to 2001's In Modern Times, which spent 64 weeks on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Album chart, peaking at #2. More than any of their other records, this one stems from a sense of mission. Though just as accessible as anything else they've done, Original Cinema defies preconceptions about who Spyro Gyra is and, more crucially, what jazz is all about.
According to Beckenstein, Original Cinema brings them "back to their roots, making it clear that we are at the height of our studio craftsmanship abilities." Master guitarist, Chuck Loeb produced six track (co-writing three) on the album. Another treat is the guest appearance by ex-longtime Spyro vibes and marimba player, Dave Samuels on two cuts. The same excitement that Spyro Gyra felt in the studio also comes across via their live performances. Indeed, one of contemporary jazz's most awe-inspiring and continuing legacies.
|
