....and I got to "roadie" for Schuuuuu....so now I can die happy...heeeee heeeee heeee!

I am honored, and the review is to follow....

Paul

SETLIST:

SET ONE

LASER MATERIAL
OLD SAN JUAN
SHAKER SONG
MORNING DANCE
ISLAND TIME

SET TWO

HELIOPOLIS
DOWN THE WIRE
DE LA LUZ
DRUM SOLO
MAKE IT MINE

ENCORE:

BREAKFAST AT IGORS

Spyro Gyra was at their most intense, and tore it up in Temecula last Sunday, Sept 13, 2009.

Imagine....seeing the band in the middle of acres and acres and acres of grape vinyards. It had been near 100 for three weeks, but for this Sunday, ma nature gave us perfect weather(83 degrees at 4 p m showtime).

It was my 46th Spyro Gyra concert including the intitial Novener 8, 1985 shaow at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles.

I can honestly say that THIS recent show....well it may havew been their best so far....

Details when I have more time.

Paul

Cool, I hope to see them again someday. Peace and goodwill.

Due to an extreme lack of time, this review will be, once again in "fits and starts". My apologies to you all.

Laser Material--Started with Tom Schuman's usual mysterious synth-wall-of sound. This usually lasts about 30 seconds before the band kicks into the opening number. Tonight, Scott had to spend about 1 minute and half or two minutes getting his bass in perfect tune....so the rest of the band kept up with Schuu and his mysterious and dramatic swirl. I joked to my brother Joe(who I took to the concert for his birthday present) that wouldn't it be something if the band just kept up this "free jazz" type warm up for two hours. Joe laughed, and said we'd need some chemical enhancements like they used in the 1950's and 1960's. Ornette Coleman!! Roland Kirk!!!.
Anyway, Laser Material was a great funky opener, with a slight straight ahead nod in the middle. Julio always changes his solo up either a bit or alot. Schuu had a great and extended fleet fingered synth break. And Jay.....whew! A two minute closing solo on soprano with harmonic chirps and squeaks, and flurries of notes. He back announced it as "the first thing Tommy ever wrote for the band"...nearly 30 years ago.

Jay was playing two new saxes, different in color than the one's he used at the July gig at the Hyatt Newporter gig.

Julio was playing a different guitar as well.....not the familiar custom Ronaldo, but the cherry red full bodied one seen in the "Down The AWire promo video.

More Later when I got's mo time.

Paul

Old San Juan followed Laser Material. Just great to have it back in the set after nearly a decade on vacation. It's not just one of the best of Spyro Gyra's impressive latin jazz cannon, sometimes it is the best Spyro Gyra composition period(hey, the cannon lives and breathes, and as such, things change).
My brother Joe whistled in recognition of the opening riff.
It also struck me that one of the many things that sets Spyro Gyra apart from so many other jazz bands(and other bands, period)is the incredible melodies that are integrated into the songs. Sure, the musicianship and high wire act virtuoso playing are mind blowing...but each band member has such a great ear for melody, particularly Jay Beckenstein. Old San Juan is a great example of this.

Julio's solo on this one again is always different....and what a solo tonight! We sometimes forget what a great, well rounded player and musician and writer he is. But this solo built in drama, told a story, and peaked.

I have to mention the awesome point near the end of the guitar solo, everyone knows it--where the band(Schuu, Jay, Scott, and Bonny)all hit "that one note"...it is a musical exclamation point...just one note, but it is like, "WHAM". They do it twice, and it is a great example of how that "one note" can be as effective as 100!

BTW--Crowd was very appreciative throughout....sometimes these venues attrct alot of "lawn yappers" who talk thoreughout the conert in major rudeness. Only one couple of ladies who had been drinking alot did this. I always wonder why. Dod they some for the best in jazz, or to yap for two hours?? Are they so afraid NOT to yap for and hor and a half?? Couldn't what they are yapping about wait for after the show??

More later.

Alrighty then, I can steal another few minutes to finsish OSJ.

After Julio's reflective yet dramtic turn, Tom Schuman took a piano solo that really shined. My brother and I found ourselves laughing outloud because it was so good> Like Julio's guitar solo, Schuu started out sloooow, emphasis on chording, before he built it up to long and incredibly clean runs. Tom is "on" every night, but tonight he was laughingly "on".

As I said to my bro joe, "And we still have Jay's solo!".AND
AND Jay indeed brought it home, with the rest of the band puncuating in the backround..."bahm-buhm-buhm". It is very rewarding to pay attention to what is going on in the backround in Spyro music(particularly during solo's).. It is always rewarding and interesting.

Jay and the band end OSJ to much appreciation, and Jay states that he wrote Old San Juan "on my 30th birthday...though I won't tell what year that was!!".

What a performance of a great Spyro composition.

More tomorrow......

As always....thanks for the review.....i had the chance also to become Tom's roadie when they played here in '04....well...more like a keyboard tech...hehehe. I qas reading about Julio's guitar and you mentioned he was using the same guitar from Down The Wire's EPK. I think that guitar is the Telecaster he used on the "Bob Goes To The Store" video.....i remember saying that when i saw the EPK. It also has signs of wear and tear from 20+ years.

Check it out and let me know! I'm looking forward to see them Dic 16 in Ft. Lauderdale!!!

Thanks again for the review....oh...and it's been 10 years now since i joined The Magic Island!!!...time sure flies!!!

Again, my sincere apologies for posting this review in fits and starts(what is THIS--a FIT--or a START??).

I am just REALLY busy, and can't find a half hour or hour to knock this out in one fell swoop.

Before I get to "Shaker Song"....I want to say that I heard the NEW theme song to "SESAME STREET"....stay with me now....

I watched when I was a kid, and remember the jingle jangle riff at the beginning.

Well, the updated version features a funk riff that sounds(to MY ears) that it is a DIRECT cop of Tom Schuman's main funk riff from Laser Material!!!!

Am I crazy of what??? Please search out an episode of Sesame Street and listen to the theme song at the the VERY start....and tell me if ya agree or not.

I'll close for now, only to say that Scott and Bonny B seem to be having an incredible ammount of fun, Bonny played the drums AND percussion parts on OLD SAN JUAN perfectly.....with a huge smile on his face.

Scott seems to be playing better than ever, with alot of "short features" within songs in addition to his own 7 minutes feature on "Down The Wire".

As someone mentioned to me after the Hyatt gig(a fellow musician who has lead his own bar band for 20 years)--well seeing Scott play for the first time LIVE, he had to meet Scott...and tell him that there was something wrong, no one should/could be that great a player....he could not believe how great Scott played, both individually and as an ensemble player.

And as someone just posted on the Spyro Gyra comment board(on Spyro homepage), it is impossible to "pop" like Scott on a five string bass and be so clean in his playing...yet Scott does it!

Next time I post, I promise to get to Shaker Song....which MAY be the best version I have heard thus far.

Paul

Another start....

"Shaker Song" was again, a wonderful arrangement. First saw it a couple of months ago in Newport Beach at the Hyatt. Just incredible, as it combined the jazz trio arrangement from the "Road Scholars' days in 1996-97 with sax and guitar. In fact, Jay and Julio had a "call and response" battle that was out of this world.

Tom's piano solo was in the vein of the 1996-97 take, but even better. Scottie's bass turn straight ahead and well, you know Scott! Bonny was right there.

Jay jazzed up the sax, playing a bit behind or ahead on purpose to change the phrasing of the ssx singing he does.

There exists a full take of this tours arrangement on youtube....I don't know how to link it, but it is worth hunting down, I promise. Maybe someone else can find the non pro shot youtube vesrion and link it here on the "new video" thread.

More later when I got's mo time.

Paul

Stealing a couple of minutes from my work station computer(shhhhh--don't let my boss know!!):

Random thought before I mention "Morning Dance" performance:

The band alwsys seems to be having alot of fun onstage, even while playing very seriously.

Sept 13th, well, they were having as much fun together as I have ver seen in my privlidged 46 Spyro Gyra concerts.

The Julio/Jay duel on Shaker Song had some jump swing stuff that recalled "Sexy and Seventeen(My Little Rock n Roll Queen).

My brother Joe reminded me that we saw a first: Schuuu playing "air bass" to one of Scott's bass solo's(perhaps it was during Down The Wire). Also, it looked like Schhu was twittering for a brief minute of two while he and Jay watched Julio Bonny and Scott from off stage!!

Morning Dance was great and remember:

The 2009 tour is the 30th anniversary of the release Of Morning Dance!

In honor, Tom, instead of playing a piano solo, in honor of Dave Samuels contirbution on the originals studio track, played a near note perfect "Marimba" solo on his synth!!

It is indeed a great band that can play it's "signature song" early in the set and have NO problem following itself....kinda like Led Zeppelin playing "Stairway" in the first half of it;s concerts and being able to follow themselves(or course they sould too!)

Paul

Let's at least finish the first half(of the review) of the September concert....if anyone is still interested.

Island Time--a bonus track for this concert...in August, it was indeed on the first half setlist, but was scapped due to time constraints(Jay said, "We just played four songs in about 45 minutes, so we're gonna take a 15 minute break and come back".

Island Time was a great party time first half closer, Tom playing the steel drum parts and everyone having a ball onstage. Julio had a fantastic break at the end of the song., but the rest of the band had their own great turns as well.

Next: I get to the second set, and another surprise bonus track that was NOT played at the Hyatt gig in August.

Paul

Only have a minute(litterally)before I have to be on my way home, as I am posting from my office computer>

I have to give a shout out to Dave, the legendary photographer of many a Spyro moment....sure, I've been to 46 Spyrto Gyra performances since 1985, but dollars to donuts that Dave has been to hundreds over the years!!!

Anyway, between sets, Dave brings my brother Joe and I some ice cold bottled water to keep us hydrated in the 85 degree sun....come to think of it, he did so BEFORE the concert as well. Everyone is family when it comes to Spyro Gyra...I mean everyone greets ya with a smile and a handshake or hug. They appreciate you as much as you apprecciate them.

Anyway, next time, I get to:

Heliopolis

Paul

It's time to put this thing to bed....

Heliopolis was the second in a row played in Temecula that the band did NOT perform at the Hyatt Newporter gig(Island Time being ta udda).

Bonny B started it off with some improvised singing. Sang something about summer, mixed with effective wordless vocal.
Then, BAM, main riff kicks in.
I caught myself expecting Julio to that short response riff that Chet Catallo did on the AAA take. Julio caught me looking, and instead gave me a ''''wasssssup'''' look when he recognized me.Great electric piano sound was there, great solo by Schu. Jay and Julio were great as well. Crowd loved it.

Caught Schuuu playing 'air bass' at the start of "Down The Wire". What a heavy bass line and a great song. Scottie tore things up. Julio did a VERY fusion-y weird chording solo, just outstanding....that is my stuff!!! Great riff...by Scott. Jay and Tom stood off to the side reveling in the Scott bass solo, and the mix of Scott, julio and Bonny a few minutes later.

De La Luz...is never less than great....................and it was great in Temecula. Julio has changed it up a bit by doing a bluesy solo vocal during his intro solo. That helps to keep things special, the way the band insists on adding to and changing things on arrangments every tour! Shaker Song on THIS tour is another prime example..a mix of the original with the piano trio jazz stuff, and voila! A 14 minute Shaker Song that may be the best take on that song ever.
'Make It Mine' had the hundreds in attendance up on their feet dancing. As usual, Bomny threw in the double en tendre stuff...scat jazz ala Satchmo....even a bit of MJ....""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""DO You remember the Time?""""""""""""""""""""""""""More later

It's official--this is the longest ammount of time EVER taken to finish a review!!!

Encore was "Breakfast at Igor's"....great, as usual...but, again with fresh and dazzling spins and changes from other tour takes.

The guitar solo, instead was a guitar solo and bass solo call and response, and Schuu kept hitting that one note tuba sound at momments that made Jay, Scott and Julio laugh. Jay solo'd, and then Schuu brought it home with what is always an 88 key investigation of great ragtime jazz--and I DO mean ALL 88 keys!!

End of review!!! Alleluia!!!

POST SCRIPT:

Met a couple in their late 70's after the gig....he looked like the guy in the first two Jason Bourne movies...the leader of the good guys that went bad and killed himself at the end of movie.

Anyway, I promised to mention him in my review, his name is Jeff and he is a huge jazz fan. He saw Spyro Gyra was back in the 1970's, perhaps before they took the name!!

He and I and my brother talked for 20 minutes until I could see that his wife was getting upset at being lef out!!

This guy also saw Dorsey and Brubeck and Louie Belson and Davis and Gil Evans and rates Spyro up there becaouse they have their own style that hundreds of bands aspire to acquire!!

Last add(perhaps):

My brother and I hang after the (even for Spyro's always quality gigs) way above average cocnert....talk with Jeff the fan, a bit with Scott, with Tom Schuman's beautiful bride, Yvonne...what a sweetheart.

We get to guard Schuuu's equipment...and I silently pledge that I will guard it with my life..hee hee heee. Tom takes a couple of fans up to the VIP area to meet Jay, and returns five or ten minutes later. I tell Schuuu that the band was on fire, ask 'what was in the water'...he says Bonny B's unquenchable enthusiam and energy and endless smiling gives he and Jay and Scott and Julio new energy....hence, even for a 45 timer like myself, perhaps new levels of being impressed.

Then, as I mentioned earlier, Tom allows me the privlige of "being his roadie" and carrying his main keyboard rig out to his rental car. Tom and Bonny are driving together.

That is about it./....for now.

Paul