I think we all are touched by individual band member solos on certain releases. What about your favorite solos by Spyro's members during their 22 years together?

1. Jay Beckenstein?
2. Julio Fernandez?
3. Tom Schuman?
4. Dave Samuels?
5. Chet Catallo?
6. Richie Morales?

Or anyone else who has been a part of this band's phenomenal history. Finally, what is the "one" solo that is your very favorite?

First of all I want to add with all the rest that think this is a great forum. It's a treat to share my love of jazz with others who feel the same.
As far as the favorite solo question, I've always liked the duets between Tom Schuman and Jay Beckenstein. Their interplay - especially when playing in octave/unison is just beautiful. I count among my favorite songs, Innocent Soul, The Unknown Soldier, and Taking the Plunge. These are all ballads, I know, and I do love the upbeat stuff as well, but the ballads will always be my favorites. Beyond the Tom/Jay stuff I'd have to say Julio's solo on the song Breakout (anybody remember that one?). Those Jeremy Wall songs always have a special drive to them and Breakout has always been one of my favorites.

Steve . . .

I agree with your assessment of Julio's solo that I believe closes "Breakout." One of his best.

As to Jay &Tom's interplay, one of my favorite SG pieces is "Captain Karma" (a Schuman arrangement) that features their interplay very nicely.

Gosh Phil....

It's not like you came up with a tall order or anything!!! Are we allowed to quote bootleg performances? Probably not, as the other posters will have no point of reference.
It would be easy to go to the live rendition of "Conversations" to find many of my favorite solo's....after which I will go home and sit down and try to really sort things out!!

But hey, "Conversations" is a great sarting point. Beckenstein's solo is one I will always come back to for proof that he is one serious player! He does alot of interesting, challenging, and complex things that he normally doesn't show a need to bring out. That is one reason it''ll always be one I go back to, and one I also will play for people that say he lacks in the "chops" dept.

And what can one say about Tom Schuman, in that same performance. People could never get away with saying that Tom lacks in the "chops" dept....but man....even for Schu, he really flies...on both piano AND synthisiser!

"Conversations" may also present Dave Samuels at his best! The interplay, the call and response is something the smooth jazz stations will probably never put on the airwaves.

Kim Stone's bass playing, and if I remember correctly, on a 100 year old stand up bass, for me anyway, reached it's appex on the four on the floor straight ahead playing he comes up with on "Coversations" live! I had the good fortune of speaking with Stoney at a gig he was sitting in on about a year or so ago...beteen sets we talked of his five year stint with Spyro, and he agreed that perhaps his playing on that track was Kim at his best. He also said that Tom Schuman is the best, and also the best kept secret in jazz!!

Well...in the next two or three days I'll have researched other Spyro discs and post my faves...Right now...my fave Julio's solo's are on "Rockin' A Hard Place", "Breakfast At Igor's"....and lest we forget, his solo on "Bob Goes To The Store" is tremendous!

Peace!
Paul.

just off the top of my head:

Jays best: Live Shanghai Gumbo, and laser material on the live video

Kim Stones best: Islands in the Sky Live

Scott Ambush: Anything he plays is spectacular! ESPECIALLY LIVE!!!

Toms Best: Shaker Song Live, also breakfast at igors live, synth on no mans land, pacific sunrise

julio: breakout, del corazon played live, de la luz both live and studio

oscar cartaya: para ti latino

dave samuels: pygmy funk, pyramid, just about everything on access all areas

chet catallo: cockatoo on the live video and autumn of our love, pacific sunrise

Joel: anything live, shaker song live

roberto vally: played some nice stuff on stories, not solos but nice stuff

everyone that has ever been associated with sg is a great player! keep on rockin'!




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Don't be so open-minded your brain falls out.

Some of mine would be:

1. Jay Beckenstein - "Captain Karma," "Para Ti Latino" and "Harbor Nights."

2. Tom Schuman - "Shaker Song," "Schu's Blues" and "Introduction to Breathless."

3. Julio Fernandez - "Walk the Walk," "Breakout" and "Same Difference."

4. Scott Ambush - "Nothin to Lose," "Shaker Song" and "What Exit." (We hear much more of Scott at SG "live" concerts.

5. Dave Samuels - "Yosemite," "Real Time" and "Conversations."

6. Joel Rosenblatt - "South American Sojourn"

7. Richie Morales - "The Archer."

Honorable mention for me would be Jay's solos on "Incognito" and "J Squared." Dave Samuels' on "Claire's Dream" and "Breathless." Finally, Tom Schuman on "Laser Material" and "Breakfast at Igor's."

My all-time favorite solo still has to be Jay's on "Captain Karma."

Phil and gang,

Just driving in today I was listening to the live rendition of "Old San Juan" off of "Access All Areas"....and Jay Beckenstein's solo near the close of this composition has to be one of his best??

What are your thoughts on that solo?

I also seconf the motion on Tom Schuman's solo on "Shaker Song" live, from "Road Scholars" WHEW!

On synthesiser, his solo's on "City Kid's" and "The Archer" have always made me rewind, just to hear em again!!

Still having fun "researching" for this thread!!

Peace!
Paul

Ok....a couple more...

Dave Samuels....solo on "Shaker Song" live, off of "Access All Areas"

Beckenstein solo on "Heliopolis" live, also off "AAA"

Jay Azzolina, solo on "Hannibal's Boogie" very unique composition AND solo!

Also, Azzolina's solo at the coda of "Escape Hatch".

This is turning out to be a fun thread!!

Peace!
Paul.

P.S. Phil, you still alive????????

I always like to refer to Julio Fernandez as the "closer" since many of SG's songs fade with the guitarist really getting into it. I always find that I wish the solos were a bit longer.

"Rollercoaster" from the Three Wishes release is a great example of Julio as a "closer." Other great Fernandez solos are on Rockin' A Heart Place" (Love and Other obsessions), and "Believe" (Heart of the Night).

As for "guest" musicians over the years on SG releases, I really enjoy trumpeter Jeff Beal's arrangement and Miles Davis-like muted solo on "4MD" from Fast Forward.

The fabulous group driving drum work by Richie Morales on "Ocean Parkway" from Fast Forward is incredible.

Phil,

I like Richie Morales' drumming alot...on "Captain Karma" and epecially "The Archer" and "Carolina" he is very very diverse.

One of Beckenstein's finest moments is on "Joyride" off of "Stories Without Words"

Roberto Vally's bass work on "Stories" is very unique....next time you listen to "Serpentine Shelly" off of "Stories", and even "Cayo Hueso" just listen to the bass....it's great!!

Peace!
Paul

Just a move it back up post!
Peace!
Paul