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Spyro Gyra
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- Cleveland, OH
- United States
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Latest Activity
Here are some more albums Heads Up has lined up for the rest of 2009:
June:
Alexander Zonjic: Doin' The D
Andy Narell: University of Calypso
July:
Joe McBride: Lookin' For A Change
Yellowjackets: New Morning: Paris Concert DVD
August:
Najee: Mi...
Profile Information
- Favorite Smooth Jazz Artist
- Marion Meadows, Najee, Peter White
- E mail address
- http://www.concordmusicgroup.com/artists/Spyro-Gyra/
- About Me:
- For more than three decades, the band has maintained a position at the forefront of modern jazz by successfully managing not just one, but several feats of creative dexterity. “That's what has kept this band going,” says Beckenstein. “There are always balances to be found – between the individual player and the group, between the songwriter and the player. It's about both satisfying yourself and satisfying your audience. And when you’re improvising in front of a crowd, you’re really walking down that wire. There are always surprises that way, but our openness to those surprises is what makes this band what it is. We just happen to be walking on a slightly more forgiving tightrope.”
Born in Brooklyn, Beckenstein grew up listening to the music of Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins and Dizzy Gillespie, and started playing the saxophone at age seven. Beckenstein attended the University at Buffalo, starting out as a biology major before changing to music performance. During summer breaks, he and an old high school friend, keyboardist Jeremy Wall, played gigs together back on Long Island. Wall attended college in California, and after both graduated, Beckenstein stayed in Buffalo’s thriving music scene, where Wall eventually joined him. This band, whose odd name has since become world famous, was first known simply as “Tuesday Night Jazz Jams,” a forum wherein Beckenstein and Wall were joined by a rotating cast of characters. Tuesday just happened to be the night when the two musicians weren’t playing other gigs that paid their bills. Around this time, a young keyboardist named Tom Schuman began sitting in when he was only sixteen years old, and remains a member to this day.
The band continued its ongoing process of musical exploration with the 2007 release of Good To Go-Go in the summer of 2007, an album that captures a more live groove with the help of drummer Bonny B, a native of Trinidad. Good To Go-Go scored two GRAMMY® nominations in December 2007: Best Pop Instrumental Album and Best Pop Instrumental Performance (the latter nomination for the track entitled “Simple Pleasures”).
Spyro Gyra’s 2008 release, A Night Before Christmas, a collection of eleven tracks that capture the yuletide spirit with a decidedly traditional jazz vibe, was recently nominated for a GRAMMY® in the category of Best Pop Instrumental album.
- Where do you find your music?
- http://www.concordmusicgroup.com/artists/Spyro-Gyra/
http://headsup.com/
Spyro Gyra's Photos
Spyro Gyra's Blog
'Wrapped In A Dream' Press Release
WRAPPED IN A DREAM REAFFIRMS SPYRO GYRA’S
STATUS AS JAZZ FUSION’S MOST ORIGINAL GROUP
Veteran Ensemble’s Fascination with Composition
And Sonic Detail Reaches New Heights
In the mid 1970s, Spyro Gyra crafted a unique new sound – inspired by jazz fusion, pop and R&B – and released their debut album on their own label in 1976. Their records were both artistically challenging and commercially successful, and embraced world rhythms, including Caribbean, African and Brazilian sounds. Morning Da… Continue
STATUS AS JAZZ FUSION’S MOST ORIGINAL GROUP
Veteran Ensemble’s Fascination with Composition
And Sonic Detail Reaches New Heights
In the mid 1970s, Spyro Gyra crafted a unique new sound – inspired by jazz fusion, pop and R&B – and released their debut album on their own label in 1976. Their records were both artistically challenging and commercially successful, and embraced world rhythms, including Caribbean, African and Brazilian sounds. Morning Da… Continue
Posted on June 24, 2009 at 6:56am —
'Good To Go-Go' Press Release
SPYRO GYRA IS GOOD TO GO GO WITH NEW RELEASE
Fifth Heads Up album marks debut of
Trinidadian drummer/percussionist Bonny B
Hybrid SACD in 5.1 Surround Sound
The entity known as Spyro Gyra is a marathon runner in the arena of contemporary jazz. For more than three decades, moving across a musical landscape marked by increasingly challenging terrain and accelerated change, they have maintained the well-deserved reputation as a viable and highly versatile creative force. Since their earliest rec… Continue
Fifth Heads Up album marks debut of
Trinidadian drummer/percussionist Bonny B
Hybrid SACD in 5.1 Surround Sound
The entity known as Spyro Gyra is a marathon runner in the arena of contemporary jazz. For more than three decades, moving across a musical landscape marked by increasingly challenging terrain and accelerated change, they have maintained the well-deserved reputation as a viable and highly versatile creative force. Since their earliest rec… Continue
Posted on June 24, 2009 at 6:56am —
'A Night Before Christmas' Press Release
SPYRO GYRA RINGS IN THE HOLIDAY SEASON
A Night Before Christmas due in stores September 23, 2008
As the seasons change and the end of the year draws near, even the most forward thinking and cutting-edge artists take a nostalgic moment to count their blessings. Spyro Gyra has spent more than three decades pushing the boundaries and definitions of jazz beyond the commonly accepted parameters. In so doing, they continue to forge an edgy, enduring sound that incorporates some of the best elements… Continue
A Night Before Christmas due in stores September 23, 2008
As the seasons change and the end of the year draws near, even the most forward thinking and cutting-edge artists take a nostalgic moment to count their blessings. Spyro Gyra has spent more than three decades pushing the boundaries and definitions of jazz beyond the commonly accepted parameters. In so doing, they continue to forge an edgy, enduring sound that incorporates some of the best elements… Continue
Posted on June 24, 2009 at 6:55am —
Official Biography of Spyro Gyra 2009
“Life is being on the wire, everything else is just waiting.” - Karl Wallenda
The patriarch of the famous aerialist family certainly knew what he was talking about after a lifetime of thrilling, edge-of-the-seat performances for his audiences. While the stakes might not be as high for a jazz band improvising in a recording studio or in front of a live audience, Spyro Gyra’s Jay Beckenstein understands the passion that drives a person and makes “life on the wire” so appealing.
For more than thr… Continue
The patriarch of the famous aerialist family certainly knew what he was talking about after a lifetime of thrilling, edge-of-the-seat performances for his audiences. While the stakes might not be as high for a jazz band improvising in a recording studio or in front of a live audience, Spyro Gyra’s Jay Beckenstein understands the passion that drives a person and makes “life on the wire” so appealing.
For more than thr… Continue
Posted on May 20, 2009 at 8:01am —
Official Press Release of Spyro Gyra "Down The Wire"
SPYRO GYRA TAKES ANOTHER STEP ON THE WIRE
ON NEW HEADS UP RELEASE
Down the Wire set for worldwide release on April 28, 2009
“Life is being on the wire, everything else is just waiting.” - Karl Wallenda
The patriarch of the famous aerialist family certainly knew what he was talking about after a lifetime of thrilling, edge-of-the-seat performances for his audiences. While the stakes might not be as high for a jazz band improvising in a recording studio or in front of a live audience, Spyro Gyr… Continue
ON NEW HEADS UP RELEASE
Down the Wire set for worldwide release on April 28, 2009
“Life is being on the wire, everything else is just waiting.” - Karl Wallenda
The patriarch of the famous aerialist family certainly knew what he was talking about after a lifetime of thrilling, edge-of-the-seat performances for his audiences. While the stakes might not be as high for a jazz band improvising in a recording studio or in front of a live audience, Spyro Gyr… Continue
Posted on May 20, 2009 at 8:00am —
Comment Wall (8 comments)
- At 8:47am on October 10, 2009,
ESB said… 
Visit ESB Jazz Radio
Just wane thank you all for the good music. keep the good music coming, best regards...
- At 9:51am on July 21, 2009,
Keith (BooBoo) Bodah said…
- Saw you at Jazz Fest in Syracuse...Had a great time, so Thank You
- At 11:32pm on July 12, 2009,
Smoothlys said…
- Just wane thank you for the friends request, it's just great i'm a fan of ur music way back in 1980 when I heard ur music for the first time and have many cd's from Spyro Gyra, keep the good music coming best regards, Robert :-)
- At 10:47am on July 7, 2009,
Olegs Grišins said…
- Hello Spyro Gyra, thank YOU for friends!
I very like your music! Olegs Grisins w/ SMOOTH BAND from Latvia / Europe.
SMOOTH BAND - V.Ritovs / O.Grisins / M.Linde
- At 4:05pm on June 29, 2009,
Vince Wilson said…
- I was introduced to your music when I was a high school Jazz/Rock musician in the early 80s and I still love your music! Thanks!!
- At 12:08pm on June 24, 2009,
Jazz Radio said…
- Many thanks for adding me to your friends ...
Keep it smooth ...
- At 7:49pm on June 15, 2009,
Ms J said…
HELLO I'M SENDING BLESSINGS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD.
- At 11:06am on May 25, 2009,
Stan The Man said…
Click on the "ON AIR" to take you there.
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