Based on the cuts they played during their set in Phoenix at the May Day festival, the sound is just as good. They did 2-3 cuts from it, including "Grover's Groove", which was very nice. Although a fan of many of the artists that played at Phoenix that weekend, Spyro Gyra was the tightest band. The newest issue of JAZZIZ has a cut from the Modern Times CD, "Planet J", featured on the compilation CD for this month's issue. Very good.

Hey!!!, I think Dave's not contributing this time with the band!!!!Hmmmmm that's a bummer!!!

Does anyone has some info about this????

Eril.

If you want a preview of In Modern Times, you can go to http://www.headsup.com/albums/3061.asp where there are some Real Audio samples AND a FREE MP3 full length download available of one song, "Florida Straits"!

Sorry about the double post.

[This message has been edited by Phil Brennan (edited May 22, 2001).]

(this is long..scroll down if ya wanna )
Rick,
its a lot harder to get airplay on A/C and top 40 now. Before the telcom act and all the consolidation (1994-5) local Program and Music directors were involved in the music selection process so it was easier for a song to "break": some stations would start playing it, have success with it, and other stations would put it on so hitmaking was more of a grassroots process and a few programmers who were passionate about a song could really help make it a hit. Now corporate programmers do the music at the home office and there is little local input..
so the hitmaking process has changed. AC plays very little current music and Top 40 stations play really short lists of fast-flash type hits..so the climate to break music that is a bit different from the format staples isn't there anymore..in another time and another place an edit of Julios Party could kick in.
Actually Morning Dance would have a hard time making a Smooth Jazz playlist if it came out today because it is much more foreground and uptempo than the format will tolerate, plus it isn't RnB oriented. They play it because it was a hit in 79 and it has familiarity, but if it came out "cold" right now it would be hard to pull off..