BTW, my apologies for interrupting the flow of this thread. I posted the above reply before I read page 2.

I, personally, think that the vocals have, on the whole, added a new dimension to SG's recordings. (Of course, SG has been using vocals on their recordings for quite some time, but it was only with the release of "Dreams Beyond Control" that we heard songs with lyrics--it is the lyrical vocals that I am referring to here.)

However, I think it is important that the vocals themselves do not in any way detract from the instrumental music--after all, we are listening to the album to hear "Spyro Gyra", not "Alex Ligertwood featuring Spyro Gyra". I like the vocalists that have been suggested here, especially Al Jarreau (a long-time personal favorite) and Janis Siegel (I'm also a big ManTranFan). There is certainly the chance, however, that the vocals could start to become "overdone", and I think that this would be disastrous for our favorite band.

Another idea that might be explored is featured duets between SG members and other instrumental artists. I have had this "fantasy" (if you will excuse the expression) about a duet featuring Jay Beckenstein and David Sanborn, written by Schuuu, entitled "Beauty and the Beast", with each saxophonist's theme line exemplifying one of the title "characters", and scored in an odd meter (like 7/8 or 5/4). What do you think about such an idea?


Hoping to recover gracefully from my faux pas, I am--

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The JazzKnight

Jazznight,

You bring up and interesting point:
I'd love to see the band and individual band members do some cross polynating with other bands and musicians.
For example, Pat Metheny frequently goes outside of the Pat Metheny Group to team up with others from the jazz elite...sometimes the results are amazing.
Of course, are we ready to accept reduced production and touring from the band?
Probably not, so maybe when the band members are in their 60's and 70's....it'd continue the jazz traditon perfectly, in my opinion.

Peace!
Paul

Well people, just finished my "gig frenzy" weekend. It was a lot of fun. I feel good that the jazz scene is growing a lot here in Puerto Rico. This is the lineup we played this weekend:

Old San Juan
Heliopolis
Shangai Gumbo
Armando's Rhumba (Chick Corea)
Oye Como va (Composed by Tito Puente but we play the Santana Version)
Guiltless
A night in Tunisia (Dizzy Guilespie)
Joy Ride
Captain Karma
When evening Falls
Rubi (Gato Barbieri)
Feels so Good (You all know)
The poster's Dream (Still working on it. Didin't like it when we played it).
Well It's really tough playing the SG songs without a marimba player, but at the end it gives me more space to improvise and to create more between songs. Oh!!! also I twisted my ankle and i'm wearing a cast!!!

Wierd Huh!!!!

Let me know what you think about this line up.

Eril.

Eril, just four words:
I LOVE YOU MAN!

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Woody

My feelings about your lineup in THREE words, Eril:

"Sweet 'N' Savvy"!!


Shamelessly borrowing another SG title, I am--

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The JazzKnight

Thank you!!! I really appreciate your oppinion Guys. Funny Thing!!! When we played "The Poster's Dream" I was telling the people about when did my inspiration for this song came from, so when i told them every body was asking me about the magic island site. So maybe we'll have new members aboard.


Eril.

Well, JazzKnight, you're not alone in that area.
I'm an aspiring novelist -- would be a successful one already if it hadn't taken so many years to figure out a way to work jazz into the scenario I'm developing.
(In the real world, my 12-y.o. son, who loves pro wrestling's The Rock, lit up when he saw "It Doesn't Matter" on the Morning Dance cover.)
The first story in the series that should spin off from the story in progess will be "Awakening."
A favorite hot spot for my main characters is the Oasis Lounge. They visit a Kansas City area restaurant whose menu includes cajun delicacies and Chinese food. The name: Shanghai Gumbo. One principal, a married woman with a dirty secret, does a striptease to "No Man's Land." It could be said that she does it because she's got too much "Freetime" and eventually sacrifices everything for redemption because she's got "Nothing to Lose."

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Woody

First, to Eril...

Loved that setlist. Not just for the Spyro(natch!)but for the selections.
Also loved it for the other artists you picked(Chick, Gato, Santana version of "Como Va") You know Eril, someday before I go off the those "Islands In the Sky", I HAVE to meet you and see your band.
For Jay, Tom, Julio, Scott, and Joel, it's got to be a RUSH to see that your band and others are playing their music!
To Jazzwriter:
I think it is so cool and creative to have those songs inspire your writing. Jay says on that first, REALLY old video that the bands music is open to many interpretations!

Peace!
Paul

Paul writes:
To Jazzwriter:
I think it is so cool and creative to have those songs inspire your writing. Jay says on that first, REALLY old video that the bands music is open to many interpretations!

You have no idea how much.
Naturally, I've got an agenda.
On the one hand, music (especially that by SG) is pretty much the HEARTBEAT of my life, so I would not be GUILTLESS of being a FAIRWEATHER friend if I fail to share my DREAMS BEYOND CONTROL of a jazz-induced society. On the other hand, should my writing lead to my being in the LIMELIGHT, you can bet my written stories would become moving pictures wherein STORIES WITHOUT WORDS would be part of the soundtrack, educating the masses with a WHIRLWIND of fusion.

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Woody

In ref to previous post:
Whew!