I don't know if I'd go so far as to say they've grown on me. I've always felt that Fine Time to Explain was a nice song - IF I'd heard it on anything other than a Spyro Gyra album. It was just that mental block of having a straight, R&B vocal on an otherwise jazz instrumental album.
I'm with Paul, that Julio's vocals and Alex on Dreams Beyond Control seemed more in tune to what SG was doing. Likewise, Patterns in the Rain has that Latin/raggae feel to it, so it could work on almost any contemporary jazz setting. Send Me One Line is also straight R&B, but again, I like Alex's voice there — seems much more passionate about it than the leads on Fine Time and Goodbye - and let's not forget, Jay really delivers a punch on his sax solo on Send Me One Line.
Patterns in the Rain works for me not only because I like the rhythm and the singing, but also because everybody's a player. We don't lose the concept of a jazz group the way we do on the other songs - Dave's solo and Joel's rhythm really shine on this one, not to mention Jay's solo.
I guess that's really why I didn't care for the Love & Other Obsession vocals - I don't feel the presence of Tom, Julio or Joel. Still, the barriers have come down on Fine Time to Explain - for now at least. And Let's Say Goodbye is nice background music.

I hear ya Woody. By the way, Billy Cliff sang lead on the demo of 'Fine Time.....'( I was at the studio watching and listening). And I thought his vocals on 'Serengeti' were horrible! I hated his voice then and I hate it still! I personally do not like R&B vocals on a supposed all jazz cd! I wish all these 'Smooth'(yuck)Jazz artists would just cut it out already!

Just Jazz please.................

I hear ya.
You know, if the idea is to attract new audiences by bringing in established vocalists in other popular forms - Wendy Moten, Shai, Jeffrey Osborne, etc. - is it too much to ask jazz groups to borrow a page out of Santana's playbook?
In other words, stick to the format and have those singers sing your style instead of you playing to their style.

Not long ago, Scott's woefully short daily solo was done as a high speed scat with the bass - way cool. Some of you may recall my post entitled something like, 'Scott Ambush - Spyro Gyra's latest vocal sensation.'