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Spyro Gyra

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Template:Short description Template:For-multi Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox musical artist

Spyro Gyra Template:IPAc-en is an American jazz fusion band that was formed in Buffalo, New York, in 1974. The band's music combines jazz, R&B, funk, and pop music. The band's name comes from Spirogyra, a genus of green algae which founder Jay Beckenstein had learned about in college.

HistoryEdit

Early yearsEdit

Saxophonist Jay Beckenstein and keyboardist Jeremy Wall formed a band with jazz and rock musicians who were playing in the Buffalo bar and club circuit.<ref name="Erlewine" /> In 1974, when a bar owner asked for the band's name, Beckenstein said, "spirogyra", a type of algae he had learned about in school.<ref name="Erlewine" /> The bar owner wrote the name incorrectly, "Spyro Gyra", but it stuck.<ref name="Erlewine" /> The founding members of the band were Beckenstein, Wall, bassist Jim Kurzdorfer, drummer Tom Walsh, and keyboardist Tom Schuman.<ref name="Erlewine">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1977, they released Spyro Gyra independently before making a deal with Amherst Records,<ref name="Widran">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> which re-released the album with a different cover. It included "Shaker Song," which reached No. 90 on Billboard's Hot 100,<ref name="Billboard Chart history">Template:Cite magazine</ref> No. 99 on the pop chart in Canada,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and No. 26 on the Canadian AC chart.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Jay Beckenstein and Richard Calandra co-produced the record, while Beckenstein and Wall each wrote an equal number of compositions.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After the success of "Shaker Song," the band went on tour in 1978 with a lineup including Beckenstein on sax, Wall and Schuman on keyboards, Kurzdorfer on bass, Freddy Rapillo on guitar, Eli Konikoff on drums and Gerardo Velez on percussion.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The band's second album Morning Dance reached No. 11 in the UK Albums Chart, No. 27 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart, and No. 47 in Canada.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The song "Morning Dance" reached No. 17 in the UK Singles Chart,<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">Template:Cite book</ref> No. 1 on the US Adult Contemporary singles chart,<ref name="bb">Template:Cite magazine</ref> No. 45 on the Canadian pop charts,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and No. 6 on the Canadian AC charts.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The album was certified gold in 1979, then platinum in 1987 by the RIAA.<ref name="RIAA">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In addition to the band, the album featured guest musicians including trumpet player Randy Brecker, saxophonist Michael Brecker, guitarists John Tropea and Hiram Bullock, bassist Will Lee, drummer Steve Jordan and percussionist Rubens Bassini. Drummer Ted Reinhardt and guitarist Rick Strauss were in the band lineup during recording, but by the album's completion Chet Catallo joined on guitar. Jeremy Wall left the touring lineup but would continue to compose for the band.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The sextet of Beckenstein, Schuman, Catallo, Kurzdorfer, Konikoff and Velez became the band's touring lineup in 1979, continuing into 1980.<ref name="Spyro Gyra 0 Live In Concert">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

1980sEdit

When Infinity Records folded, Catching the Sun was released on MCA in February 1980, becoming the No. 4 jazz album of 1980, peaking at No. 31 in the UK,<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> and No. 80 in Canada.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This album included the first composition for the group by Tom Schuman, who would become a regular writer along with Beckenstein and Wall, while other band members also contributed compositions.<ref name="Catching The Sun">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Bassist Jim Kurzdorfer left the group in 1980, replaced by David Wofford, and for a tour of Japan Sheila Escovedo temporarily replaced Velez on percussion.<ref name="Spyro Gyra Live in Japan '80">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The group released their next album, Carnaval, in late 1980.<ref name="Carnaval">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Carnaval included the hit single penned by guitarist Chet Catallo, "Cafe Amore" which peaked in July of 1981 at 14 on the US Adult Contemporary Chart.

Catching the Sun was certified gold in 1985 by the RIAA, followed in 1987 by Carnaval.<ref name="RIAA II">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The group's next release was Freetime, in 1981.<ref name="Freetime">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Incognito (1982) featured as guests bassist Marcus Miller, drummer Steve Gadd, saxophonist Tom Scott, pianist Richard Tee, harmonica player Toots Thielemans, and pianist Jorge Dalto.<ref name="Incognito">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> City Kids (1983) introduced bassist Kim Stone, replacing Wofford. It was the first Spyro Gyra album recorded at BearTracks Studios, a studio in Suffern, NY established by Beckenstein in 1982.<ref name="City Kids">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The live album Access All Areas, recorded in Florida in November 1983, introduced marimba and vibraphone player Dave Samuels (who had guested on earlier tracks including the hits "Shaker Song" and "Morning Dance") as a full-time member of the band.<ref name="Access All Areas">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After this album, Eli Konikoff and Chet Catallo left the group, to be replaced by drummer Richie Morales and guitarist Julio Fernández.

The new lineup (Beckenstein, Schuman, Fernández, Samuels, Stone, Morales and Velez) recorded 1985's Alternating Currents, the band's first studio album to feature only the core lineup with no guest musicians.<ref name="Alternating Currents">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After percussionist Manolo Badrena, formerly of Weather Report and a previous guest musician on Spyro Gyra's albums, joined the band as a full-time member, replacing Velez, the group released the 1986 follow-up Breakout.<ref name="Breakout">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alternating Currents (1985) and Breakout (1986) would be among the top 15 Jazz Albums in Billboard in 1986. Longtime co-producer Richard Calandra died in October 1986 of pancreatic cancer.Template:Citation needed

In 1987, Roberto Vally replaced Stone on bass for Stories Without Words, which would also be Manolo Badrena's final album with the band.<ref name="Stories Without Words">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Rites of Summer (1988) introduced bassist Oscar Cartaya, replacing Vally.<ref name="Rites Of Summer">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Both Stories Without Words and Rites of Summer were among Billboard's top 15 Contemporary Jazz Albums of 1988.Template:Citation needed On the 1989 album Point of View Julio Fernández was replaced by guitarist Jay Azzolina.<ref name="Point Of View">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Spyro Gyra ended the decade as Billboard's most successful jazz artist of the 1980s.Template:Citation needed

1990sEdit

Percussionist Marc Quiñones joined the group for Fast Forward (1990), though it would be his only album as a band member, and the last album for Richie Morales and Jay Azzolina.<ref name="Fast Forward">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1990 the group performed temporarily without a guitarist, and with Tony Cintron replacing Morales on drums. Template:Citation needed Guitarist Julio Fernández rejoined the band for two new tracks included on the "best of" album, Collection, which also marked the debut of drummer Joel Rosenblatt.<ref name="Collection">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Three Wishes (1992) introduced bassist Scott Ambush, replacing Cartaya.<ref name="Three Wishes">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The following year's Dreams Beyond Control included guest appearances by former Santana vocalist Alex Ligertwood, marking the first appearance of lyrics on a Spyro Gyra album.<ref name="Dreams Beyond Control">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After this album, Dave Samuels left the band to pursue solo projects, although he would guest with the band on later albums.

In 1995, the band released Love and Other Obsessions with guests Deniece Williams, Barrington Henderson, Billy Cliff, and a host of other backing vocalists and musicians, including Dave Samuels.<ref name="Love and Other Obsessions">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This album would be the band's final 90s release to feature traditional R&B vocals. It was the first of a series of albums with the quintet lineup of Beckenstein, Schuman, Fernández, Ambush, and Rosenblatt, which lasted until 2004.

Recent yearsEdit

File:2017-02-23 Spyro Gyra-Lee, Scott, Julio, Tom & Jay 6628.jpg
Spyro Gyra performs in Richmond, Virginia on February 23, 2017.

Drummer Joel Rosenblatt left the band during the making of The Deep End,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> leaving room for two other drummers, guest Billy Kilson and Ludwig Afonso, who became Rosenblatt's replacement.<ref name="The Deep End">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The band's next album, 2006's Wrapped in a Dream, was the first Spyro Gyra album since 1990's Fast Forward to be nominated for a Grammy Award.<ref name="Grammy">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It would be the band's final album recorded at BearTracks Studios, which Beckenstein closed in 2006. Trinidadian Bonny Bonaparte (Bonny B) replaced Afonso as drummer for Good to Go-Go (2007),<ref name="Good to Go-Go">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> which received a Grammy nomination, as did A Night Before Christmas and Down the Wire (2009).

A Foreign Affair was released in 2011 and included Beckenstein, Schuman, Fernández, Ambush, and Bonny B, as well as guest vocalists Arijit Singh and Keb' Mo'.<ref name="A Foreign Affair">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard jazz album chart. Bonaparte left the group due to health issues in November 2011 and was replaced on drums by Lee Pearson.Template:Citation needed

The Rhinebeck Sessions (2013) included Beckenstein, Schuman, Fernandez, Ambush, and Pearson. According to the group, it was written and recorded over three days in a recording studio in Rhinebeck, New York.<ref name="The Rhinebeck Sessions">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2015, there was another change of drummers with Lionel Cordew replacing Pearson.Template:Citation needed Vinyl Tap (2019), the band's most recent record to date, was a departure as it had no original material, instead featuring the band's interpretations of classic rock and r&b songs from the 60's and 70's.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2020, with the band forced to stop touring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the band uploaded a video to YouTube on June 23, 2020, featuring a medley of early hits "Shaker Song," "Catching the Sun" and "Morning Dance" synchronized from recordings of each band member at home.<ref name="Early Hits Medley">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2021, the group resumed touring.<ref name="Orlando Weekly">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On December 19, 2022, the band announced on Facebook that Tom Schuman planned to move to Europe and would play his final shows with the band in February 2023.<ref name="Facebook">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On December 28, 2022, the band announced that Chris Fischer would be their new keyboardist starting in March 2023.<ref name="Facebook2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2024, the group toured in celebration of its 50th anniversary.<ref name="Tour Dates">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Former membersEdit

Original bassist Jim Kurzdorfer died of cancer on April 26, 2011.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Former drummer Ted Reinhardt died in an airplane crash on March 4, 2015, at the age of 63.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Mallet player Dave Samuels died on April 22, 2019, due to an undisclosed long-term illness.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Original former guitarist Freddy Rapillo died on March 24, 2021.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

TimelineEdit

<timeline> ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:120 bottom:90 top:0 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat =dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1974 till:01/01/2024 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy ScaleMajor = increment:3 start:1974 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1974 Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3

Colors = 

 id:Winds value:gray(0.5)        legend:Saxophone
 id:Keys   value:purple       legend:Keyboards
 id:Bass   value:blue         legend:Bass
 id:Drums  value:orange       legend:Drums
 id:Guitar value:green        legend:Guitar
 id:Perc   value:claret          legend:Percussion
 id:Mallet value:lavender   legend:Mallet
 id:Plus   value:yellow        legend:Supporting_member
 id:Studio value:black        legend:Studio_album
 id:bars   value:gray(0.95)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

BarData = 

bar:Beckenstein text:"Jay Beckenstein"

bar:Rapillo text:"Freddy Rapillo"
bar:Strauss text:"Rick Strauss"
bar:Catallo text:"Chet Catallo" 
bar:Fernandez text:"Julio Fernandez"
bar:Azzolina text:"Jay Azzolina"
bar:Wall text:"Jeremy Wall"
bar:Schuman text:"Tom Schuman"
bar:Fischer text:"Chris Fischer" 
bar:Kurzdorfer text:"Jim Kurzdorfer"
bar:Wofford text:"David Wofford"
bar:Stone text:"Kim Stone"
bar:Vally text:"Roberto Vally"
bar:Cartaya text:"Oskar Cartaya"
bar:Ambush text:"Scott Ambush"
bar:Walsh text:"Tom Walsh"
bar:Reinhardt text: "Ted Reinhardt"
bar:Konikoff  text:"Eli Konikoff"
bar:Morales text:"Richie Morales"
bar:Rosenblatt text:"Joel Rosenblatt"
bar:Afonso text:"Ludwig Afonso"
bar:Bonny text:"Bonny Bonaparte"
bar:Pearson text:"Lee Pearson"
bar:Cordew text:"Lionel Cordew"
bar:Velez text:"Gerardo Velez"
bar:Badrena text:"Manolo Badrena"
bar:Quiñones text:"Marc Quiñones"
bar:Samuels text:"Dave Samuels"

PlotData= 

bar:Beckenstein from:start till:end color:Winds width:11

bar:Wall from:start till:01/01/1978 color:Keys width:11

bar:Schuman from:start till:01/01/2023 color:Keys width:11
bar:Schuman from:start till:01/01/1978 color:Plus width:3

bar:Fischer from:01/01/2023 till:end color:Keys width:11

bar:Rapillo from:start till:01/01/1977 color:Guitar width:11

bar:Strauss from:01/01/1977 till:01/01/1978 color:Guitar width:11

bar:Catallo from:01/01/1978 till:01/01/1985 color:Guitar width:11

bar:Fernandez from:01/01/1985 till:01/01/1989 color:Guitar width:11
bar:Fernandez from:01/01/1991 till:end color:Guitar width:11

bar:Azzolina from:01/01/1989 till:01/01/1991 color:Guitar width:11

bar:Kurzdorfer from:start till:01/01/1980 color:Bass width:11

bar:Wofford from:01/01/1980 till:01/01/1983 color:Bass width:11

bar:Stone from:01/01/1983 till:01/01/1987 color:Bass width:11

bar:Vally from:01/01/1987 till:01/01/1988 color:Bass width:11

bar:Cartaya from:01/01/1988 till:01/01/1992 color:Bass width:11

bar:Ambush from:01/01/1992 till:end color:Bass width:11

bar:Walsh from:start till:01/01/1977 color:Drums width:11

bar:Reinhardt from:01/01/1977 till:01/01/1978 color:Drums width:11

bar:Konikoff from:01/01/1978 till:01/01/1985 color:Drums width:11

bar:Morales from:01/01/1985 till:01/01/1991 color:Drums width:11

bar:Rosenblatt from:01/01/1991 till:01/01/2004 color:Drums width:11

bar:Afonso from:01/01/2004 till:01/01/2007 color:Drums width:11

bar:Bonny from:01/01/2007 till:01/01/2013 color:Drums width:11

bar:Pearson from:01/01/2013 till:01/01/2016 color:Drums width:11

bar:Cordew from:01/01/2016 till:end color:Drums width:11

bar:Velez from:01/01/1977 till:01/01/1986 color:Perc width:11

bar:Badrena from:01/01/1986 till:01/01/1988 color:Perc width:11

bar:Quiñones from:01/01/1990 till:01/01/1992 color:Perc width:11

bar:Samuels from:01/01/1976 till:01/01/2008 color:Mallet width:11
bar:Samuels from:01/01/1976 till:01/01/1983 color:Plus width:3
bar:Samuels from:01/01/1995 till:01/01/2008 color:Plus width:3

LineData = 

layer:back color:studio
at:01/01/1977
at:01/01/1979
at:01/01/1980
at:07/01/1980
at:01/01/1981
at:01/01/1982
at:01/01/1983
at:01/01/1984
at:01/01/1985
at:01/01/1986
at:01/01/1987
at:01/01/1988
at:01/01/1989
at:01/01/1990
at:01/01/1991 
at:01/01/1992
at:01/01/1993
at:01/01/1995
at:01/01/1996
at:01/01/1997
at:01/01/1999
at:01/01/2001
at:01/01/2002
at:01/01/2003
at:01/01/2004
at:01/01/2006
at:01/01/2007 
at:01/01/2008
at:01/01/2009
at:01/01/2013
at:01/01/2019

</timeline>

DiscographyEdit

Studio albumsEdit

Title Label Year released
Spyro Gyra Infinity Records, Amherst 1978
Morning Dance Infinity, Amherst 1979
Catching the Sun MCA, Amherst 1980
Carnaval MCA, Amherst 1980
Freetime MCA, Amherst 1981
Incognito MCA, Amherst 1982
City Kids MCA, Amherst 1983
Alternating Currents MCA, Amherst 1985
Breakout MCA, Amherst 1986
Stories Without Words MCA, Amherst 1987
Rites of Summer MCA 1988
Point Of View MCA 1989
Fast Forward GRP 1990
Three Wishes GRP 1992
Dreams Beyond Control GRP 1993
Love and Other Obsessions GRP 1995
Heart of the Night GRP 1996
20/20 GRP 1997
Got the Magic Windham Hill 1999
In Modern Times Heads Up 2001
Original Cinema Heads Up 2003
The Deep End Heads Up 2004
Wrapped in a Dream Heads Up 2006
Good to Go-Go Heads Up 2007
A Night Before Christmas Heads Up 2008
Down the Wire Heads Up 2009
A Foreign Affair Amherst 2011
The Rhinebeck Sessions Crosseyed Bear 2013
Vinyl Tap Amherst 2019

Live albumsEdit

Year recorded Title Label Year released
1983 Access All Areas MCA, Amherst 1984
1998 Road Scholars GRP 1998

CompilationsEdit

Title Label Year released
Collection GRP 1991
The Best of (The First Ten Years) / 1977-1987 (GRP) GRP, Amherst 1997
The Very Best of Spyro Gyra GRP 2002
(20th Century Masters) The Best Of Spyro Gyra: The Millennium Collection Verve 2007
Best Of The Heads Up Years Crosseyed Bear 2016
50/50 Amherst (Reservoir Recordings) 2024

Awards and nominationsEdit

Grammy nominationsEdit

Other awardsEdit

  • George Benson Lifetime Achievement Award, Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards (2007)

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

External linksEdit

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