Well,
I just found out the title to the new Spyro Gyra record:
It's titled "Got The Magic" and the suggested add track is titled "Satin And Silk".
There appears to be a buzz about this record...I have heard a couple of independant sources state that Spyro Gyra has come up with an extremely strong record.
Less than a month to go till we get to hear it in it's entirety!
Then...we'll see how the band builds from the blueprints when we see them in the live setting!
Peace!
Paul

Paul, I have "Got the Magic" on "advance order" through CdNow. Getting anxious.

Phil,

Good to hear from you!
I got my first taste of the new Spyro Gyra record...and let me assure you that upon first listen...the Spyro Gyra sound and style remain intact.
The song I heard last night was titled "Silk and Satin"

It reminded me that Spyro Gyra remains one of the most recognizable voices in music...the minute I heard Jay Beckenstein's alto saxaphone, I knew it was the band!
The song would not be out of place on let's say, "Incognito", or "City Kids".
It has a jazzy melody line...and doesn't particularly sound cookie cutter when compare with so much of the music that sounds like either Kenny G or David Sanborn cops.
REAL drums REAL bass!
A concise, bluesy, acoustic solo by Julio Fernandez...sounded improvised in the studio.
Good "throaty" saxaphone work at point s by Beckenstein.
And a laid back but pretty piano solo by Schuman, who also contributes alot of backround color throughout the track.

And, though you only get to hear him for a couple of seconds, Dave Samuels indeed is still at least a part time Spyro-ite, as he add a vibraphone flurry a couple of times in the backround.

Overall, there is alot going on in the song, specifically in the backround.
Oh, there is a wordless vocal line that pops up a couple of time in the song...kind of reminds me of Pedro Aznar's sound and style.
Well, that's my initial take on my first exposure to the new Spyro Gyra song.
Accessable without being overtly commercial...I think it's just the bands strong sense of melody that makes many of their compositions accessable without being "commercial".

Peace!
Paul

Peace!
Paul

Hey now! That is why I dig 'SG' slightly better than the Ripps. They play and record as a band live in the studio. I can't wait to hear this CD!! I am a bassist and I love Scott Ambush's style. And he makes his own basses! Of all the bass players 'SG' has had over the years, Scott is the best in my opinion. Vally and Cartaya were ok but a little to slap happy for me. And Joel Rosenblatt is one of the best drummers I've ever heard. How many drummers can play percussion at the same time? Awsome! I also think Tom Schuman should do another solo CD! He is very underrated in the jazz world in my opinion.
Just my 2 cents, Later.

David Walmsley,

Bro, I agree with evertyhing you stated in your reply to my post.

It's weird...when Vally replaced Kim Stone...it took me a while to get used to him.
I didn't like it when Oscar Cartaya took over for Vally...but eventually he really grew on me...and both Vally and Cartaya are exceptional in the live setting.
Same thing happened with Scott...I did not like it when he replaced Oscar...but, now, as you said, I think that he is the best bass player ever to record and take the stage with the band.
Well, look for "Got The Magic" on June 1st! That is the release date...and I will be at Tower Records in Anaheim at 9:00 on that Tuesday!
Peace!
Paul
Ditto what you stated re: Spyro & The Ripps...though for me there are many other reasons too!

You know, I forgot about Kim Stone with SG!! My bad! Kim wasn't bad either back then. However, he is a much better bassist now! He is very creative although I wouldn't put him in the "master class'. I do think that Scott is a perfect fit for SG, and I hope he stays around a while. What do you think of a band named 'Dotsero'? Or 'Vital Information'? You know, I have over 400 CD's[90% jazz] and I wish I could have my own radio show. I could play stuff that they never play[commercially] for hours. Why doesn't jazz radio play more 'non-single' cuts? More fusion? Why all that watered down crap? I am in NY and cd101.9 plays the same crap day in and day out! Sorry folks, I'm venting! Gonna go play some SG now.
Later

David,

We must be related, dude!

I have been ranting about the softness of alot of the music played on the radio for many many moons!

For example...when was the last time you heard "Conversations" or "Incognito" or "Breakout" or "Sunflurry" or "Pacific Sunrise" or "Joyride" or "The Archer" or "Believe" ect...
Peace!
Paul.

PS. Rant all you want...many times it makes for a great thread, believe me!

Hey Paul, my long lost brother! That 'Shaker Song' trio thang on the 'Road Scholars' CD is slammin'! After hearing that live in concert, how the heck do you top that? I find it amazing that after 20yrs of playing and recording that Jay comes up with new and refreshing tunes cd after cd!! And I love the fact that other band members are allowed to contribute tunes. By the way, where are you from? I live in Peekskill,NY. Home of the famous Paramount Theatre. SG, The Ripps, Chick Corea, Kenny Garrett have all played there. On the 29th, Bela Fleck is coming to town!! As a bassist, you know I am ecstatic that Victor Wooten will be there![I'm not worthy!,I'm not worthy]Front row seats of course!
Later dude.

David,

Man, you keep echoing everything I think about the band...

"Shaker Song" off of Road Scholars...bro I have been talking that version up on Jazz Central Station for a long long time!
Schu, Scott, and Joel are just locked in...I play that song for people who only know Spyro through "Ariana" and "Morning Dance", and have to wrong notion that the band is lite...this changes their opinion...of course I don't tell them who it is until AFTER the song is over!
Road Scholars is probably the best recorded live record I have ever heard...Pat Metheny Group "The Road To You" comes in a close second.
And forgetting the sound quality...Spyro's performances are top notch!
Man, you are so right about Jay and the bands amazing ability of coming up with great songs album after album....so many bands do well for 4 or 5 records and then they lose the inspiration...I think that Spyro has actually gotten BETTER as the years roll by!
The new song that just hit the radio is a prime example....it's hot...and alot of people who are not Spyro fan severely underate the bands sense of melody...it's what keeps them head and shoulders above bands that have great chops but only so so songs!
I live in Anaheim. and am a veteran of 31 Spyro Gyra concerts since 1985's "Alternating Currents" CD.
Will add 32 and 33 to the list on August 11 and 13...and hopefully they will add dates or return a few months later(they usually hit So Cal twice in a tour)!
Peace!
Paul
PS ONly have one Bela Fleck CD but I like it,and have seen em on The Tonight Show and on Letterman...like em a heap!

Hey Paul, my brother! I have some listening suggestions for you. How about Metro. A band w/Chuck Loeb, Mitchel Forman, Victor Bailey and Wolfgang Hafner. Anything by Dave Weckl. How about T-Square, a band from Japan. Vital-Tech-Tones, a band comprised of Victor Wooten, Steve Smith and Scott Henderson [of Tribal Tech]. Petite Blond w/Dennis Chambers and Chuck Loeb. Since you are a California guy, maybe you can get some info on if Flim & the BB's will ever record another CD?! You probably have these CD's already. If not, get them. You will thouroughly enjoy them. I would classify them as fusion.
Later dude.