It's a bit disappointing to find that visitors to Magic Island don't at this point. anyway, seem adventurous enough to investigate outside the limited world of the Rippingtons.
I love the Rippingtons, but it's sad that there have been about 100 posts since this new forum opened, and about 80 of them don't venture outside the subject of the Rippingtons.

Though I dig that groups music, I hope that eventually some of that groups fans will investigate some other music.

Maybe I am expecting too much too soon...and after all, this is a bulletin board accessed through the Rippingtons home page, and perhaps fans of that group don't understand Spyro Gyra or the Pat metheny Group or other contemporary jazzers.
Perhaps they are not so much jazz fans as just fans of the Rippingtons.

Or, perhaps I am expecting too much too soon. After all this BB has only been up and running for just a short time.

My question is, after venting my disappointment so far of the fans of that fine group, is......
What is it, for you, that makes Spyro Gyra such a special band...can you put your finger on the reason they are generally considered the live band that sets the standard. What sets Spyro Gyra apart from the rest of the contemporary jazz field?

I will give just one of the reasons I have.

It is the bands natural affinity to be a different band every album, tour, and indeed every concert.

I have many mor reasons, but I will see if THIS thread gets more of response thatn the previous 3 or 4.

Peace!
Paul.

I'm beginning to think that one of the reasons for the low level of discussion here has to do with the fact that there is not a direct like to this board from the Spyro Gyra site, Rips site or other sites, unless I've somehow missed it.

Many are posting on the individual site "Guest" books. I wonder if the proper links were included whether more discussion might be forthcoming? Just a thought.

In my previous post the word "like" should be "link."

As to what sets Spyro Gyra apart from a group like the Rippingtons is not easy to pinpoint for me, though I know that I consider SG the better group.

I think the band's arrangements/writing give the kind of variety touching the Latin, R&B, Fusion and Jazz genres that simply strikes a very responsive chord with me. This comes across in "live" performances so well that I've never seen an audience fail to respond enthusiastically.

I recently saw the Rips on BET's Jazz Central Station playing a number of their best selections. They are a very good group but the music of Russ Freeman just doesn't have the "enduring" quality with me that Jay Beckenstein's group does. I have loved the Rippington concerts but feel that the band's direction since its "Live In LA" release has been subpar.

Bottom line though is that I think both these bands are in a period where they are getting less and less radio play time with the ridiculous "smooth" jazz radio format. They are not alone. the same is happening to Pat Metheny and other truly great music groups who refuse to surrender their musical creativity to the terrible Broadcast Architecture methods of determining for most smooth stations what can or cannot be played.

I hope that these groups can survive this period of musical degradation.

Phil,

Good to hear from you.

Boy was I ever in a bad mood yeasterday! I had a blowup with my girlfriend over a couple of missed connections, and in reading my frustration laden intro to my topic I transfered just a bit(!) of that into the intro.

I wanted to make a comment about the ammount of airplay that Spyro, Pat Metheny Group, and the Rippingtons are receiving.

In Southern California, perhaps because the group is based out of LA, and perhaps that they were gaining popularity just as the smooth jazz format was gaining in popularity, the Rippingtons aren't suffering from a lack of airplay from our local station, 94.7 KTWV(The Wave).

They do suffer from the effect that affects Spyro and PMG....the pidegeonholing of the bands identity by the playlist including only the mellowist of tracks. The station includes several Rippingtons tracks, but, as a friend of mine, who is a huge Ripps fans, the problem is, it is the same several tracks over and over.

If you DO hear a Spyro Gyra track, it is either "Ariana" or the original version of "Morning Dance", frustrating for me, cuz while I love the songs, you tend to get tired of ANYTHING if you do, or hear it over and over exclusively.

The other problem is that potential fans of the band who maybe don't find that much to like in those two tracks, don't get to hear the other wide variety of tracks that Spyro has in it's catalouge that just MIGHT make them take notice.

PMG suffers from the same pidegeonholing...I hear "Last Train Home" "Chris", and once in awhile, "Slip Away" though it's been a couple of years since I heard that one.

I was a little kid when FM radio was in it's infancy and playlists and listener focus groups did not exist, and as a result, a wide ammount of styles and tempos easily co-existed...DJ's were encouraged, and complemented for "turning people on" to an unknown band, or an unknown track by an already known band. Sadly, with focus groups and playlists, this never happens these days in any style of music.

At the very least I wish the programmers of the smooth outlets(which, according to R & R Magaizine grew from 79 stations to over 100 across the USA from '97 to 98), would set aside an hour a day, or even an hour a week to "turn people on" to alternate tracks of artists!

I wonder, since Spyro is based out of New York, and PMG unless I'm wrong grew out of a meeting between Metheny and Mays in Boston, if those bands garner more radio airplay in those cities?

Meanwhile, I will try to be more patient in waiting for this Paul/Phil Discussion Forum eventually gets taken over by Spyro Gyra fans who hear about it "through the grapevine"!!!

Peace!
Paul

P.S. I agree with your points about Spyro's dynamic live elements!

Hey Paul!

I'm partially guilty of what you accused...I've posted to the Rips' BB numerous times, but only to this one once, I think. No particular reason--Rips' are my faves, but I'm a big fusion/contemp. Jazz/whatever fan, SG included. I only own one of their discs....stories w/o words....but based on your rave reviews, I'm going to try and expand my collection, and check out a show next time they come to Dallas. Any recommendations for Discs?

Now, on to the "Smooth Jazz" format...I TOTALLY agree with all your observations. I had the good fortune to get interested in Jazz while living in Central FL. They are fortunate to have what I still consider to be the best Jazz station I've come across anywhere I've visited or lived (4 major markets in the last 2 years....Orlando, Boston, Pittsburgh, Dallas). WLOQ FM.(www.wloq.com)
They do (or did....) just what you mentioned....lots of variety, different artists, different songs from different albums, not just the HOT songs on the damn playlist this week. Played some Bob Marley, Jimmy Buffett, Michael Franks (a great musician, IMO, who doesn't seem to get ANY "Smooth" airplay), New York Voices, Manhattan Transfer, etc. etc. NO Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Michael Bolton (ugh!!) Heck, I like Mariah Carey, but NOT ON MY JAZZ STATION, DAMN IT!! I truly share your frustration. I can't wait for the station here in Dallas to get their website online again so I can send a message to this same effect.

I understand their goal is to make advertising revenues by increasing listenership and ratings share, but I feel like they're alienating their core audience by playing this crap. Not only playing it, but OVER and OVER. It's pretty sad when you can set your watch to when a given Jazz song will be played, just like all the "carbon copy" Pop stations. The benefit of such a format, I always felt, was that it was unnecessary to have such repetitive playlists....there is SO MUCH music out there, and it doesn't seem to get dated like so much pop does. Even the older stuff still has appeal.

Anyway, I've raved enough. Hope this comes across cohesively. Happy listening.

Scott

BTW, I haven't been to NY in a few years, but I never noticed any increase in the frequency of variety of Metheny/Mays music in Boston (my hometown).

"frequency of variety "

oops...that should have read "frequency or variety".

Oh, board admin...what about a spell checker??? =)

Here Here, Guys you've all hit this right on the head. There is something else to consider as well. "Broadcast Architecture" this is a service that handles a substantial percentage of radio stations programming for this NAC/SJ format. If you don't conform they don't play you! By the way I love Spyro!
This band hasn't been around for over 20 years for nothing.

And a spell checker would rock!






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Nick Sodano

Howdy,
This is my first post at MagicIsland. I think Phil pounded the nail when he said the Guest Book links are limiting the responses at this BB. I always thought the GBs were a place for signing in just to show I had been to a particular website. A link to MagicIsland with text to indicate the link takes you to a BB where you can talk jazz with jazz lovers and musicians should do the trick.
I started seriously listening to jazz a couple years ago when KSKX (this is not a plug) came on the air in Colorado Springs. My first jazz CD purchases were Dave Koz's first three releases. Since then I've bought CDs from saxmen David Sanborn, Gato Barbieri, and most recently Jeff Kashiwa. Next I began to really appreciate the music of Acoustic Alchemy and Russ Freeman's 12-string performances with the Ripps is what drew me to them.
I've been a Ripps fan for about six months, ever since my wife and I saw them in concert here in Colorado Springs last Sept. What really juiced my jeans at the concert was Steve Reid's performance on percussion. He's a wild man on stage! Shortly after the concert I rediscovered Spyro Gyra.
I say rediscovered because when I bought Road Scholars late last year, many of the cuts were very familiar. Since then I have purchased the 20/20 and Best of CDs. I just came to this BB from SpyroGyra.com and was disappointed at the Tour Dates section of the website. The local jazz station KSKX (still not a plug) has been announcing for a week Spyro Gyra will be here in Colorado Springs on April 9 and the website shows no dates in April for here or anywhere else. I will still buy my tickets on Monday.
What sets Spyro Gyra apart from the rest? Spyro Gyra's musicians have the superb ability to masterfully blend sax, drums, guitar, bass, and keyboards to play the best jazz on the planet. And as Nick says, they have been doing it for over 20 years.
Norm Skelly

testing....

(very important!)




[This message has been edited by dipix (edited 02-10-99).]

Nick,

You struck a nerve when you mentioned Broadcast Architecture. They are evil, and must be stopped. They're turning "Smooth Jazz" into "snooze jazz"!!

More ranting to come . . .