I had the pleasure of checking Jay and the boys out last night at The Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin, Illinois. It's about a 1,200 seat venue that advertises "farthest seat 87' from the stage" which didn't matter cause I had front row center. I have had these tickets since late July so I was really looking forward to it and it was only about 15 min. from home.

If I had to describe the show in 3 words it would be IMPROV, IMPROV, IMPROV resulting in what I don't think were any songs less than 7 minutes. Anyway, the band played for an hour and forty minutes and they played LOUD! Check this set list out;

Westwood Moon
Capetown Love
The River Between
Shaker Song (regular, no trio)
Catching The Sun
Monsoon
Bittersweet
Florida Straits
Heliopolis (about a 12 minute version)
South Beach
??(some 8 min. tune where Scott went nuts)
Last Exit

I may have missed one more tune getting caught up in the excitement.

They are all incredible musicians but Jay is the most incredible to me. He is the master! Among all his solos, oddly enough, my favorite had to be him going absolutely frickin' berserk on the soprano during an extended version of South Beach...face like red licorice and all. And then after tearing it up on Monsoon he says, "you won't hear that one on WNUA." Schuu' didn't sit once the whole show. Scott has the coolest looking basses among anyone including this miniturized upright that sounded really sweet.

It's fun watching these guys play because as we all know, they really love what they do and they are so gracious and humble while doing it. What else can I say, they were awesome!!

Uh, oh. Everyone hear this? Sounds like it could be an intersting year...

My favorite part of what I just read was 'Scott went nuts.' Hope he still has it in him (or is allowed) throughout the year.

BTW Steve, Tom usually has no seat available.

Speaking of Y2003 performances...

What's up with the schedule so far?? By this point the last couple of years, they had a pretty full slate of performances. I personally saw them twice last January! I keep expecting to see an updated schedule with lots of dates/venues...

Come on, guys... I've got planning to do... tickets to buy!

Anyone know what's up? Phil Brennan, Tom...??

Rick

Obviouslyu, they need a fulltime Web site updater. Any volunteers?

I could do it, and could even provide a programming interface to it so that they could update content online (i.e. Jay could add a new show essentially by typing it in from anywhere on their tour). I have that technology working on other sites I've designed. Hmmm...marketing potential? Then again, magicisland does have a contract for doing the site. Well, whatever. Phil Brennan reads posts on this site often enough, so I'm sure that there's potential. Phil or others, if you want to see what I can do, go to Mike Chase Web Design .

Rick, Rick, Rick...

...one taste of front row center and look at ya. JUST LOOK AT YA! Frothing like that... It's just shameful...

It's a d*mn shame!

Nice one Steve!!!! Last Exit is a great song which i've never heard live!!!

I hope they come down to SJU this year!!!!

"Scott went nuts"....are you familiar with "Percolator"???

When I had the good fortune to catch the band last Spetember, the set list was almost identical to the one described above...and the song that Scott went nuts on was "Percolator".

Just seeing the ammount of early album material in a Spyro setlist these days makes me "go nuts" in a good way.

BTW, was "Morning Dance" part of the "Shaker Song/Catching The Sun" medely?

Asking because it was at last September's concert.

Peace!
Paul

OK, you got me, Gary!

Those guy's live performances have a tendency to do that to you! I guess I just got spoiled last year... saw them 4 times.

Already planning on their Norman, OK date in October... that's my home state and it will give me an excuse to see my parents, too. I'm trying to bid my schedule for next month to have a layover in Austin, TX for Spyro's concert there. There's a trip that gets into Austin around 10AM the morning of the concert and lays over until the next morning... perfect! Now if I can just get it...

OK, enough "frothing"...

Rick

Yes, Paul to both inquiries. Sounds like the same show.

Speaking of Y2003 performances...

I sure hope they make a stop in Minnesota this year

Last time was August of 99

If it wasn`t for Road Scholars,i think i might have forgotten what the boys sound like live

Please don`t forget us again this year

Peace

Spyro1

Well, the "frothing" paid off! :p

I got the trip... bought my concert tickets this morning! Austin, here I come!!

Now, watch me get re-routed to Newark on that trip.

Rick

Newark? Ugh...

Yeah, Newark... one of our WORST layovers... in fact, I have to do one next week. :rolleyes:

For the relatively short layovers, we stay at a Holiday Inn close to the airport. There's absolutely nothing around it except a maximum security prison right next door! Not one of those places where I go outside for a run...

Rick

Sounds charming! :rolleyes:

Hello,
I also had the pleasure in watching the show in Elgin,IL, I came all the way from London, England to watch the show and I can agree it was great and loud and everyone was enjoying themselves, as usual really, a SG show is always good, But I cannot wait for the new album and some more concerts later this year, Its a long way for me to come, but boy worth the 7 1/2 hour flight and every penny/cent, be safe, Paul

Paul Roberts...

My spies close to the band had told me about you...now I think that flying 7 and a half hours to see the band qualifies you as Spyro Gyra's number one fan!!!!

At least some frequent flyer miles are in order!!!

Welcome aboard, and tell us all you know and think about the worlds number one jazz band!

Peace!
Paul(Lasecki)

Paul, I thought that you were the spy!

P.S. To STEVE H:

Are you positive the last song of your recent concert was "LAST Exit"???

I ask this because up till now, the band has not played that one since the "Incognito" tour.

Could it have been "WHAT Exit" instead???

I mention this due to the fact that "What" has been a favorite encore for the band on occasion over the past six or seven years.

Peace!
Paul

This just announced:

Spyro Gyra....Saturday, May 24th....House of Blues, New Orleans!!!

Be there or be square!!

House of Blues....New Orleans....that must be right down the road from that place that has "washing machines, pool tables, large portions of greasy food, and Spyro on the jukebox!!!"

Igor's!!!

Have a great "Breakfast"!!!

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Woody...translation, please??

Paul...yeah, I guess Igor's is sorta close by...that's where I met "Gary" a while back!

I think what Woody is trying to say is that he is VERY please that Spyro Gyra is coming to a venue that he can get to.

Enjoy, Woody! You deserve it!!

Rick

Geez Donna, did you HAVE to put my name in "quotes?" Now apparently you'll have a chance to do the same with "Woody..."

translation
Heck yeah I intend to be there.
However, it's relatively short notice. It's a Saturday, which means I have to negotiate a swap with one of my co-workers. It being Memorial Day weekend may make that difficult.

Woohoo! Spyro is finally back in Minneapolis! Beats driving all the way to Chicago. Hopefully with the new smooth jazz station in Fargo, they'll eventually get up this way.

Gary...I only did that so the folks would know it was THE "Gary" of Spyro's BB fame that I was talkin' about! (LOL)

Do ya mean, have "breakfast", or gumbo and a beer, at Igor's?? Yeah, maybe we could do that! It would have to beat the Wendy burgers he and I shared in Memphis!! :rolleyes:

Wish there was something I could do about getting Spyro back on the jukebox over at Igor's! Maybe if I brought my boombox over there, and PLAYED the song for them.....hmmmmm....

Tom sent me the lyrics to Patterns in the Rain. I'm learning it (already knew most of it, but couldn't really make out a few parts). Yeah, I know, I'm dreaming, but I can do that.
Yes, Donna, if I can get the swap at work, I DEMAND breakfast at Igor's. Even if I weren't coming to see Spyro, that would be mandatory for any trip to New Orleans. (I haven't been there since '94. And at the time, didn't know about Igor's the place.)