“We were the kings of self-indulgence, but eventually we earned our right to charge a quarter at the door. “Don’t forget the interminable Dead-like solos we were taking,” Beckenstein cracks.
This young man, of course, remains a member to this day. Around this time, a young keyboardist named Tom Schuman began sitting in when he was only sixteen years old. Tuesday just happened to be the night when most musicians weren’t playing other gigs to pay their bills. Spyro Gyra, 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. I was in the horn sections around town, backing some great vocalists.” “After being confined to classical music for so long, it was heaven. “Not many people know it, but Buffalo was like a mini Chicago back then, with a smoking blues, soul, jazz, even rockabilly scene, of all things,” Beckenstein muses. Wall attended college in California, and after both graduated, Beckenstein stayed in Buffalo’s thriving music scene, where Wall eventually joined him. During summer breaks, he and an old high school friend, keyboardist Jeremy Wall, played gigs together back on Long Island. Beckenstein attended the University at Buffalo, starting out as a biology major before changing to music performance (read classical and avant garde). Their biggest hits are "Shaker Song" (1977) and especially "Morning Dance" (1979).As Spyro Gyra looks forward to 2020 and beyond, they show no sign of slowing down. Over the last 40+ years, they have performed over five thousand shows, released thirty-one albums (not counting “Best Of…” compilations) selling over ten million albums while also achieving one platinum and two gold albums. Although few acts have accomplished this type of record, they have done it by constantly challenging themselves as is evidenced by their last studio release “The Rhinebeck Sessions” which was written and recorded over three days in the studio.īorn in Brooklyn, bandleader Jay 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. However, they are recognized as talented musicians, especially for their live performances and accumulate Grammy Awards, both in the categories Jazz Fusion, Instrumental Pop and R & B Instrumental.
Their music combines jazz and elements of funk, R & B or pop (with some notable Caribbean influences), so they are considered one of the groups that forged the sound of smooth jazz, which will sometimes be worth the critics of purists who they will be reproached for their too melodic approach and therefore their lack of improvisation, a classic case of all artists or groups belonging to this genre. With over 25 albums on the clock and 10 million copies sold, they are one of the most successful jazz fusion groups in the United States. They are currently supported by guitarist Julio Fernandez, bassist Scott Ambush and drummer / percussionist Bonny Bonaparte. He has had many different versions, the only current members of the original band being alto saxophonist Jay Beckenstein and pianist / keyboardist Tom Schuman. Spyro Gyra is an American jazz fusion band formed in the early 1970s in the city of Buffalo, New York.