Well ladies and gentlemen, I finally bought the cd! And to my suprise, the only tune I did like was the 'Basia' tune!!! The rest all suck! I don't think that they put their best effort into this cd! I also am disappointed in Chuck Loeb as I am a big fan of his works! I would be ashamed to even have my name associated with this cd!! Jay, you really let down all your fans on this one! Let's hope you can make a comeback on the next cd! Sorry folks, I am a sad man today. I wish I could get my money back I am happy to see a friend of mine [Scott Kreitzer] playing on the cd though. I also know Billy
Cliff[vocals]very fine vocalist but SG is at their best without vocals.

Later

[This message has been edited by david_walmsley (edited 06-20-99).]

Jader,

I agree with you. I too think horns add a lot used in the right places.

My humble assessment of Spyro's new CD....I have listened to it many times since I bought it and although it is a bit of a departure from their earlier stuff, it still is all SG. I could do without Basia, and the cuts are nothing like "Conversations", "Bob Goes to the Store", etc. but it will stay in my CD rotation along with all of their others.

Just my opinion...

wow im glad im not the only one who had this less than enthusiastic response to "got the magic"..i agree with most of what everyone has said...i really dont see the reflection of the older spyro though..im referring to songs like heliopolis, pyramid, islands in the sky, great songs like that...this album disappoints me greatly..you can read what i wrote in their guestbook..i pretty much said the same things as you guys...

You guys might think this weird, but I've had the best time exposing my kids to SG. You know what song they liked the best from 20/20? The Deep End....I laugh out loud every time I listen to it-great stuff. Just what the world needs, a whimsical side....

De La Luz is probably my all time favorite SG tune, I wish I spoke Spanish....My best to a legendary band!

Bill B,

I have so many favorite Spyro Gyra compositions, it's hard to name my absolute favorite--suffice it to say that when "Heart Of The Night" was the latest release, "De La Luz" was in the zone of being my favorite Spyro Gyra composition. And of course, the way the band built upon the studio version in the live setting made it evn better.

On the new record, "Got The Magic" my favorite from the beginning has been "Havanna Moonlight"...it probably will grow and mature in concert also.

On 20/20, my faves are "The Unwritten Letter" and "South American Sojourn"

On Road Scholars, definitely the piano trio version of "Shaker Song"...a great on amongst an entire record of great ones!

Peace!
Paul

I just wanted to ask other posters if they happened to see the Spyro Gyra guestbook recently? Phil Brennan has posted some comments from people who have purchased "Got The Magic". They seem to be nearly universal in praising the new record.
In this thread, we have noticed more mixed reviews. I personally love many more songs on "Got The Magic" than I dislike...I think that other than the titlke track, and the other songs with pop oriented vocals, "Got The Magic" has turned out to be a strong record. It is still in the contemporary jazz top 10 after nearly two months in release.
What are your thoughts? Are WE the one's who are disconnected?

I agree with you Paul. I like "Got The Magic" quite a bit. Title track could be the most brutal song on the cd though. I wonder why they did that? The boys can't possibly think that is one of the highlights on the cd. But Breezeway, Havana, If You Will, Teardrops and Pure Mood(could be a cut on Topaz) are all awesome. My favorite SG recordings are "Three Wishes" and "Dreams Beyond Control." I guess we all have to expect some variation in artists music as they produce new material. There's nothing wrong with a little variety I guess. However, here's one I can't figure out. The new Boney James "Body Language" is clearly the lamest cd I have purchased in 1999 yet go to his website and 90% of feedback is it is his best work to date. I have listed through it 12-15 times. "Into The Blue" is the only worthwhile song. The rest is nothing more than wedding reception dinner music. What am I missing??? Compared to "Camouflage", this latest is a complete frisbee. Help me out.

David,

I agree with you. Over at another bbs(the late great Jazz Central Station) Boney James caught the fancy of a few of the posters.
He has great influences...Boney says that if it weren't for playing "air saxaphone" to Spyro Gyra and Grover Washington Jr. records when he was a teen, he would not be doing what he is doing today.
I DO like "Into the Blue" quite alot...reminds me of early or mid period Spyro Gyra. I only hesitated on buying the CD because I suspected that there might not be alot of variety composition and instrument wise(for example, Spyro has songs that feature synthesiser, or piano, acoustic or electric guitar, vibraphone or marimba, tenor, alto, or soprano sax...I did not here the potential for that type of diversity on "Into the Blue").
Boney is undeniably popluar.... his latest has sold around 500,000 units...which is pretty rare these days for a jazz release.
And your point about Spyro Gyra being forever open to change and to new musics is well taken. I guess that with that attitude(and I NEVER want that attitude to change!)occasionally the band will come up with a track or two that doesn't float my boat.
As a matter of fact, the bands commitment to looking forward and to change is what will keep me buying the new releases and, of course seeing them in concert. They will always be at the top of the heap when it comes to live performances...even if they made a country or hard rock record, that aspect of the band would not change.

Peace!
Paul

An earlier message of mine contained the following:

>>... The tracks are very listenable in the vein you describe so my hope for Spyro in their fight to survive in the music world is that this release hits the charts and stays there for the whole year! ...<<

Just visited the Gavin website (http://www.gavin.com) and see that "Got the Magic" is still climbing the Smooth Jazz charts and is now #3, seemingly picking up speed relative to "airplay." Only David Benoit's latest and Tom Scott's "Smokin' Section" are ahead of it. Lookout, here comes that "pond scum" band (Paul Lasecki's phrase).

Phil,

Actually, the truth be told, I stole that "Pond Scum" reference from one Mr. Jay Beckenstein.
I remember hearing Jay when being interviewed by David Sanborn on Sanborn's "The Jazz Show"(radio syndicated). Jay was relating the now legendary story about how the band was named, and as an aside, said something like, "So basically we are named after pond scum..." Sanborn laughed...and I've remembered that exchange since 1986(Beckenstein and Sanborn were previewing cuts "Breakout"). Now you know.

Peace!
Paul

P.S. Attended two top notch Spyro Gyra concerts in the past two days(Aug 10th, and 11th)...will post epic, long winded reviews in a day or two. Hee hee hee.