Well we know it's slated for a May release...which of the four Tuesday's will it be?

We know that "Groovin' For Grover" will be on it...I wonder if that Beckenstein/Ambush song that the band opened most of the 1999 tour with("Special Delivery")was recorded for this upcoming studio set?

Less than 90 days we find out how much the sound has changed over the past 27 months!

Peace!
Paul

So, summer is going to start with the right foot!!!!

I just hope they take it easy with the "drum loops" this time.


Eril.


Thanx for the input Paul.

Paul,

This is from a press release that is posted on the Spyro Gyra website:

"January 29, 2001, Cleveland, OH
Heads Up International, considered one of the premier crossover jazz labels, today announced the signing of contemporary jazz legends Spyro Gyra to an exclusive deal to be inaugurated with the May 22, 2001 release of "In Modern Times."

That was written almost 2 months ago... so I don't know if the date may have changed.

In any case, I'll be eagerly heading to the music store as soon as it's out!!!

Rick

Thanks for the heads up on the press release....time to get out the red pencil and circle May 22, 2001, eh!!!

Peace!
Paul

Anyone heard what the lead track release date is for the radio stations???

Generally it's about a month before the actual street date for the release of the CD.

In any case, I am already finding myself listening to KTWV and KSBR out here in sunny Southern California.In case you are out this way, that's 94.7 and 88.5 on the FM dial, respectively.

Peace!
Paul

Hey Paul, where in Cali do you live? I am considering a co-op term there in the future, because I think that doing that is the only way I'll make it down to see Spyro, the Ripps, and Scott Wilkie. Where are good places to work, and where do those three bands usually play?

------------------
Mike Chase
mike_intel@hotmail.com
My Home

Hey Paul, in a review at smoothjazz.com it says that the title for Spyro's new release is "Feelin' Fine".

Which of the two will be huh??????


Eril.

[This message has been edited by Eril (edited April 11, 2001).]

I think Phil Brennan confirmed "Modern Times."

Not to belabor the point, but to me Feelin' Fine says smooth jazz, while Modern Times says cjazz. Good choice.

So with a May 22, 2001 release date, we have, what....40 days to wait????

39
38
37....

Peace!
Paul

Here's an excerpt from Spyro Gyra's website about "In Modern Times", set to hit the record stores on May 22, 2001. It sounds like it's going to be GREAT...

"Beckenstein wrote three tracks by himself -- the funky, tropical flavored "Feelin' Fine", a fiery, Latin jam tribute to the "Florida Straits" (the waterway between Florida and Cuba), and the moody, thoughtful "East River Blue."

Beckenstein collaborated with guitarist Chuck Loeb on the sultry opening tune "After Hours" (which features orchestral enhancement and a subtle horn section) and "Feelin' Fine Pt. 2," a piece that grew out of an improvisational section of the title track. Guitarist Julio Fernandez contributed the energetic rock/blues gem "Julio's Party" and dreamy, almost mystical "Open Door."

Keyboardist Tom Schuman composed the cool, seductive retro-soul flavored tribute "Groovin' For Grover," a showcase for Beckenstein's always marvelous soprano magic.

Schuman and Beckenstein together wrote another beautiful soprano romance "Your Touch." Scott Ambush -- who plays more acoustic bass than on previous Spyro Gyra recordings -- wrote the silky, darkly ambient "The River Between," while drummer Joel Rosenblatt co-wrote (with Phil Magallanes) the vibrant, jazzy and brass-inflected "Planet J," which closes the set. Founding group member and longtime Spyro Gyra cohort Jeremy Wall contributed "Lucky Bounce," a zesty Latin number which finds Schuman switching off playfully between B-3 and jazzy acoustic piano.

Spyro Gyra's goal with each album has always been to try to approximate in the studio the explosive excitement the band creates in live settings throughout the world. Yet Beckenstein admits that making use of the evolving technology does have its advantages.

"Chuck Loeb and I took the funk section from the middle of the song 'Feelin' Fine' and put it in the computer, cut it up, played around and remixed it, and suddenly we had a whole new song (Pt. 2)," he says. "The recording process has changed and we've become products of the digital recording age. Using ProTools and other modern machines in the studio has allowed us to experiment some and saved time. But in terms of the basic idea of what the band does, my feeling is why change? Our music has never been static and our approach has always had a certain similar ethos about it.

"The bottom line," he adds, "is, even after all these years, it's just not going away. With each recording, I feel like I'm playing with a whole new band. When people ask me about the band's history, I have great memories but I can indulge in that for only so long. My inclination is always to be living in the moment, to really be In Modern Times."

I'll be headed to the record store on May 22!

Rick

Scary Buzzword alert
1. Sultry
2. Seductive
3. Silky
4. Beautiful Soprano Romance
guess you can tell I have read too many smooth jazz press releases
If it's on Heads Up I think that means there will be an underweight naked woman somewhere in the cover art..
then again these things are written in an effort to make the release look enticing to people who do not like anything that isnt silky smooth so one can hope that the allusions to more exciting material that lurk between the lines imply that there is some more heated stuff on this CD..
And Joyce Cooling kept here clothes on for both her Heads Up releases and looks like she actually eats on a regular basis so maybe there is some hope on that front too..

Having a bad day, Shannon?... just kidding. :-)

I know what you mean about over-used "buzz words". But I think, like you said, if you read between the lines... this looks like it could be a GREAT release in the best tradition of Spyro Gyra.

BTW, what radio station do you work for? Was it in Jacksonville, FL? I had two layovers on my last trip in Jacksonville (I'm a Delta pilot) and couldn't find a jazz station on the radio (although the radio/alarm clock in the hotel was pretty pathetic and might not have been able to pick it up)...

Rick

From the descriptions I read, it sounds as if the band has made a record quite a bit different than 1999's very successful "Got The Magic".

Of course, that's in keeping with the Spyro Gyra tradition.

Heck, they've had 27 months to change and evolve.

Maybe the songs with the titles that Shannon cited will recieve airings just because of the titles, and will change "smooth" jazz in the process!

Peace!
Paul

Does ANYONE out there know the approximate date on which the radio stations across the country will get their advance copies of
"In Modern Times"????

What track is the lead track?????

Thanks in advance for any info and help!

Peace!
Paul

Paul,

I don't know the answer to your question... but I'll be seeing Spyro Gyra one week from Friday at their Macon, GA concert. I'll listen carefully to any comments made about the new CD as well as any material that they might play from it.

I'll pass along a review for you guys as soon as I get a chance after the concert. (It will probably be a few days before I can, as I have to leave on a 4-day trip the next day.)

Can't wait to hear them!!

Rick

Rick,

Am looking forward to you review of the upcoming gig, and your comments on any "In Modern Times" cuts the band is previewing.

I have to wait till May 19th...just three days before the CD hits the stores on May 22, 2001.

Sidenote:

I remember several months back when Schuuu was posting here....he said that Jay had asked all Spyro Gyra members to come up with compostions for inclusion on the next Spyro Gyra opus.

Great to see that, in the previews of "In Modern Times", it looks as if all of the band members do indeed get writing credits.

A true band effort.

Looking forward to it...fast.

Peace!
Paul

Mike,

Apologies for taking so long to answer your questions about venues and hot work areas.

I don't think I can be much help in telling you where the hot spots are in the job market outside of Orange County...but in Orange County...Newport Beach, Irvine, and of course, Anaheim are three good starting points.

As to where Spyro Gyra, the Ripps and Scott Wilkie like to perform:

Spyro Gyra: The band almost always plays at the Hyatt Newporter in Newport Beach, Ca...usually in August. In 2001, however, the band is playing one of the shows of that venue's jazz series, this time in late September. Spyro Gyra usually makes an annual sojourn to Humphrey's By The Bay in San Diego...this year is no exception. They've played three times in the past four years of wine festivals in Temecula Ca...again, part of an annual jazz series there. Spyro has performed three times at the House Of Blues on the Sunset Strip since 1995, and once at the legendary Roxy Theater in LA. They used to do annual dates at small clubs known as the Galaxy Theater(in Santa Ana)and at it's sister venue, the Coach House(in San Juan Capistrano)...but an upswing in the bands popularity has kinda forced them to go to venues that are more than twice the capacity of those two clubs.

The Ripps usually play anually at most of the same venues listed above.

Scott Wilkie can be found on Friday or Saturday nights at a small restaraunt/bar known as Kikuya...in Huntington Beach.

Hope this helps.

BY THE WAY...Dave Samuels name has thus far not appeared in any of the advance reviews of IN MODERN TIMES. Is it possible that for the first time in history that he has no involvment with a Spyro Gyra studio set???

Peace!
Paul

21 Days to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First review I've seen on the record...
http://www.contemporaryjazz.com/charney/aprilreview.html

Just read that review of "In Modern Times". Wow! Now I REALLY can't wait!!

Hoping they'll play some of that material Friday night when I see them live...

Rick

Wow! Just read this review of In Modern Times in the May 4 issue of Radio & Records and wanted to share it with all of you:

Spyro Gyra
In Modern Times
Heads Up

Earlier this week scientists in Antarctica announced the discovery of minute patterns in a glow from primordial gases, which were probably traces of the forces that set the Big Bang into motion and led to creation of the universe. It may seem a stretch, but listening to Spyro Gyra’s 23rd release and the quintet’s label debut for Heads Up — In Modern Times gave me a sense of the band’s seminal role in what is now called smooth jazz, as well as its creative expansion across time and space. I’ve always loved Spyro’s records, but, to my ear, In Modern Times is the group’s most fully realized album yet. Top to bottom, In Modern Times reflects the group’s stunning ability to create exciting, wholly original contemporary music, a tribute to each member’s unique gifts as composers and players, as well as to the spirit of brotherhood with which it is made — a spirit that imbues Spyro Gyra’s music with timeless appeal.

- Carol Archer


[This message has been edited by Phil Brennan (edited May 04, 2001).]

Hey Hey..........

Now with all of us bass players on this BB you could have told us that Marcus Miller and Wayman Tisdale have new cd's out!!!

Gosh.........

Thanks for sharing that with us Mr. Brennan!!!!
Can't wait to get it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eril.

Another good review! I found this at jazzreview.com

Rick

Review: Celebrating 25 years of recording excellent jazz, Spyro Gyra releases IN MODERN TIMES, a collection of original, finger-clicking, good times jazz songs such as "After Hours," "Feelin' Fine," "Julio's Party," "The River Between," "Groovin' For Grover," "Open Door," "Florida Straits," "Feelin' Fine Pt. 2," "East River Blue," "Your Touch," "Lucky Bounce," and "Planet J." Each song performance is Spyro Gyra at its best!

Spyro Gyra has set many standards of ongoing excellence in the jazz world, incorporating jazz, R&B, Latin, Brazilian, and other jazz motifs into its original performances. They are always fresh and innovative whatever they are creating, and they share that with the listening audience.

Each performer is at his best on IN MODERN TIMES and this is a great feel-good, lively collection of songs. Spyro Gyra is constantly re-inventing itself and coming up with something totally, wonderfully different, and so it is with their IN MODERN TIMES, sure to be a hit with all jazz listeners everywhere. Great songs. Great melodies. Great harmony.

Record Label Website: http://www.headsup.com

Reviewed by: Lee Prosser

I got the CD and it is everything these guys say it is..in other words it is "all that"..best Cjazz release this year so far, its the real deal, not upscale musical wallpaper for your next wine and cheese party ..grab it!!

Rick..
I work at 1029 The Point, the 80s station. I had a jazz show for 10 years but when the new owners took over locally originated programming was eliminated on all the stations in the cluster..however the 80s format is trendy right now and I get to do live broadcasts from bars. I have done CJazz shows on A/C and Top 40 stations on and off for 20 years but never worked the format fulltime..largely because I would rather be hyper on the radio than "sultry" and "sensual", which just ain't me..I am doing music features for this site..just go to features and click on for some music mixes that are very contemporary but without so much the easy listeing/lite RnB thing..and I'm not afraid of guitar solos like the one on "Julio's Party".
have to admit that I agree with Carol Archer's words that this is the "most fully realized album ever". But I Would not be allowed to play most of the cool songs on this CD on the radio so for now I would rather play the Talking Heads and Depeche Mode than Vanessa and Luther. Now what is really funny is that there is this stereotype that everyone who has issues with the Easy Listening Smooth radio format is a "jazz purist who has no concept of the realities of commercial radio"..so you should see them backtrack when I tell them I am primarily an A/C-Top 40 person. Oops

[This message has been edited by Shannon West (edited May 15, 2001).]

Just got my new Jazziz mag and sampler CD. Spyro's "Planet J" from the new release is track #2 and if this is any indication of what the CD is about, all I can say is "Wow!" Great arrangement that features Jay's tenor saxophone dueting with a trombonist and Julio closing the cut out.

Still waiting for my copy of "In Modern Times." I have to say that Jazziz this month features a full-page ad of the band, its release, and 2001 tour dates. Downbeat has a half-page ad that is similar. Nice to see the band get some promotional visibility via Heads Up International.

7 more days!!!!

7 more days and we'll have it in our hands and then in our CD players(not to be removed for months!).

Phil, thanks for the "heads up"(pun intended)about the ads in the magazines.

And props to Heads Up for getting behind the band.

Appears they know what they got when the inked the distribution deal!

And as I mentioned elsewhere on this bbs, Heads Up can count on 100-125 concerts this year alone where Spyro will be playing and re-inventing the new tunes live.

Peace!
Paul

does anyone know if may 22 is also gonna be released in hte UK>?
specially for me?
i have an exam on may22, it would be perfect to get it afterwards, and play it to death whilst getting considerably drunk!


[This message has been edited by antiguabil (edited May 17, 2001).]

Shannon,

Do you think any of the songs from "In Modern Times" have potential to cross-over as A/C-Top 40 hits like "Morning Dance" did in '79?

Rick

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..