Since signing with Windham Hill, we've been told that a solo Beckenstein release is currently in the making that features a whole lot of talented musicians who have been involved with Spyro Gyra over the years.

Supposed to have a late fall '99 release date. Understand Spyro's first WH release is due this spring as well.

Anyone have more information?

Not exactly on topic, but along the same vein....

Anyone know why the defection to WH? More creative freedoms, or what? GRP used to be the main label for Contemp. Jazz, I thought, but Now SG and the Rips both...

What gives?

Scott . . .

There has been a lot of discussion about GRP and its artists on Jazz Central Station's "Smooth" BBS (http://www.jazzcentralstation.com). As you may know, the Yellowjackets, Nelson Rangell, and others have gone elsewhere for record deals. I don't know whether you've heard, but the Seagrams company purchased Polygram Records along with labels like GRP and Verve and is now called "Universal Records" (or something to that effect). GRP & Verve are now a combined label under this arrangement. Whatever else has happened, this new GRP/Verve could be a real plus for jazz promotion. But only time will tell.

I think it was during this transition period that artists like Spyro, the Rippingtons , Yellowjackets, etc. could not work out a deal with the GRP brass while at the same time having good offers from other record companies like Windham Hill, Shanachie, etc.

One thing nice about the web is that you can actually exchange e-mail with people in the industry, including the musicians. They are pretty forthright with answering a fan's questions. I had e-mailed Yellowjackets' bassist Jimmy Haslip about why the YJ's left GRP and the above is what he told me. he likened it to a form of free agency where an artist contracts for so many releases, after which they try to negotiate a new contract. He didn't think that GRP was going under (as many have suggested) though there have been major management changes along with the Seagrams acquisition.

The bottom line is that apparently GRP was not willing to match other offers from other companies to keep artists like Spyro, the Rips, etc.

Hope this has been helpful. If you want to read further about GRP and the Seagrams purchase of it and other music sources, they have a website that I can get the address for (I don't know what it is off the top of my head.

Scott . . .

If any of you want to read more about the structuring of this enormous company (Seagrams) check out the information at the following Polygram/Universal web site. The address is (http://www.universalstudios.com/music/). You should read the information under the "Press Releases."

Apologies to Paul...we seem to have strayed from SG again...*L*

Seriously, though, Thanks tons for the info, Phil. It's great to finally have a forum like this. Granted, Contemp. Jazz is reasonably popular, but I don't have any close friends that are nearly as interested as I am. It's great to have people to bounce ideas off of, and ask questions.

I guess I always had the (obviously WAY incorrect) vision of GRP being a label "BY the artists, FOR the artists" or some such idealistic thing. Maybe because of Grusin, or something.

Anyway, I'm glad all my faves are still able to find a label that allows the freedom they need to keep making the great music we love so much (unlike RADIO....but that's another topic all together).

Peace.

I think that this forum is great!

I have a dream....

That some programming mogul will surf the web...find these pages and realize that there are fans around who really want stations around that feature instrumental contemporary jazz.....and don't really relate to very much of the pop vocal stuff that so many stations feel a need to mix in.

I only wish to make sure that bands like Spyro Gyra, the Pat Metheny Group, The Rippingtons, Yellowjackets, ect...don't fall through the cracks....i.e. neither old school jazz stations or smooth stations play them because what these bands do is a little outside of both "formats".

And as for contemporary guitar based, four on the floor fusion? I'd love a station that wouldn't mind sneaking some of that stuff, some of those mind blowing chops-meisters, into the mix!

Peace!
Paul.

I think that this forum is great!

I have a dream....

That some programming mogul will surf the web...find these pages and realize that there are fans around who really want stations around that feature instrumental contemporary jazz.....and don't really relate to very much of the pop vocal stuff that so many stations feel a need to mix in.

I only wish to make sure that bands like Spyro Gyra, the Pat Metheny Group, The Rippingtons, Yellowjackets, ect...don't fall through the cracks....i.e. neither old school jazz stations or smooth stations play them because what these bands do is a little outside of both "formats".

And as for contemporary guitar based, four on the floor fusion? I'd love a station that wouldn't mind sneaking some of that stuff, some of those mind blowing chops-meisters, into the mix!

Peace!
Paul.

P.S. Phil...back to your original question, I haven't heard anything more about Jay's solo release, other than a few musicians who guested or played on some of the early Spyro Gyra albums make appearences....I know, from memory, that Will Lee, who played bass on many Spyro Gyra studio tracks is listed...and maybe Marcus Miller, ditto for him. I look for the record to be a bit mor laid back, perhaps maybe even revisit earlier Spyro territory. I know there will be AT least one vocal performance on it, as Basia, who is a big Spyro fan makes an appearence in production cedits.

My guess is that after Spyro Gyra's new record has been out for several months, maybe has dropped out of the top 30 or 40 jazz reocrds on the charts, then we will get Jay's release. After all, he probably DOES NOT want to do much in the way of "competing with himself"!!! Peace/Out!

I think that I read somewhere that Jay Beckenstein, when asked by a fan if there would be any "acoustic" performances on his side project record, he said yes, or something to the effect that one or two were, or had a "acoustic" influence.

Other than that, and that there may be one or two vocal compositions on it, my question is:

Do you think there us a possibilty that the record may have a sound closer to the overall "lighter" tone of Spyro's first four or five releases?

Guesses??

Peace!
Paul