Spyro Gyra is an American jazz fusion band that was originally formed in the early 1970s. With over 20 albums released and 10 million copies sold, they are among the most prolific as well as commercially successful groups of the scene. Among their most successful hit singles are "Shaker Song" and "Morning Dance". Bitches Brew (1970) by Miles Davis is considered the most influential early fusion album. ...

Their music, which has been influential in the development of smooth jazz, combines jazz with elements of R&B, funk and pop music. Although generally considered to be more "jazz" than "smooth", Spyro Gyra's music has been criticized for being light-weight and for emphasizing melody over improvisation. They have nevertheless been praised as skilled instrumentalists and for their live performances. Smooth jazz is generally described as a genre of music that utilizes instruments (and, at times, improvisation) traditionally associated with jazz and stylistic influences drawn from, among other sources, funk, pop and R&B. Since the late 1980s, it has become highly successful as a radio format; one can tune... Jazz is a musical art form that originated in New Orleans at around the start of the 20th century. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... Funk is an African American musical style. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

With the exception of alto saxophonist, songwriter and founding bandleader Jay Beckenstein, the personnel has changed somewhat over time as well as between the studio and the live stage. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Jay Beckenstein is saxophone player and founder of Spyro Gyra. ...

Personnel

As of late 2006, Spyro Gyra was:

• Jay Beckenstein - saxophones
• Tom Schuman - piano, keyboards
• Julio Fernandez - guitars
• Scott Ambush - bass
• Bonny Bonaparte - drums, percussion

History

Appearance on the Buffalo club scene

Spyro Gyra emerged around Jay Beckenstein and keyboardist Jeremy Wall, who had met and formed a band during their high school years. Although they headed in different directions during college—Beckenstein to the State University of New York in Buffalo and Wall to Cal Arts—they spent summers together playing outdoor concerts, and Wall moved to Buffalo soon after graduating. High school is a name used in some parts of the world, and particularly in North America, to describe the last segment of compulsory secondary education. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY (IPA pronunciation: ) is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. ... Nickname: City of Good Neighbors, Queen City, City of Light Location of Buffalo in New York State County Erie County Mayor Byron Brown Area    - City 136. ... Entrance to CalArts on McBean Parkway The California Institute of the Arts is commonly referred to as CalArts. ...

Beckenstein had been working in clubs in Buffalo since his junior year of college, backing various vocalists. Wall teamed up with Beckenstein, and the two started playing instrumental music—mostly covers of R&B songs—together. In Beckenstein's description of the Buffalo club scene of the time: In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... An instrumental is, in contrast to a song, a musical composition or piece without lyrics or any other sort of vocal music; all of the music is produced by musical instruments. ...

"Not many people know it, but Buffalo was like a mini Chicago back then, with a smoking blues, soul, jazz, even rockabilly scene, of all things."

Over a year, their work evolved into Spyro Gyra. Wall has commented that their sound was a "gutbucket of rhythmic tradition. We did simple music and esoteric stuff. It all came together, this oddball mix, until we found a middle ground, our own groove".

The name "Spyro Gyra" is a misspelling of spirogyra, a kind of algae on which Beckenstein had written a college biology paper years earlier. He recalls: Spirogyra is a genus of filamentous green alga of the order Zygnematales. ... A seaweed (Laurencia) up close: the branches are multicellular and only about 1 mm thick. ... Biology (from Greek Βìο meaning life and Λoγος meaning the study of, see below) is the study of life. ...

"Before a gig in a Buffalo club that was called Jack Daniels, the owner twisted my arm for a band name. As a joke, I remembered the paper and said, 'Spirogyra'. He misspelled it 'Spyro Gyra,' advertised it that way, and it stuck."

From the clubs to the studio

As an established band

Much of Spyro Gyra's music has been aired on The Weather Channel's Local On The 8s. For the Australian Weather Channel with the same name, see The Weather Channel, Australia The Weather Channel (TWC) is a cable and satellite television network that broadcasts weather and weather-related news 24 hours a day. ...

Discography

Full Albums

GRP Records is an American jazz record company that was founded in New York by Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen in 1982. ... Windham Hill Records is a record company, founded in the 1976 by guitarist and carpenter William Ackerman and his then-wife Anne Robinson . ...

Live Albums

Compilations/Box Sets

Grammy nominations

Spyro Gyra has received the following Grammy nominations: Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards, commonly abbreviated as the Grammys or GRAMMYs ), presented by the Recording Academy known as NARAS, (an association of Americans professionally involved in the recorded music industry) for outstanding achievements in the recording industry, is one of four major music awards...

• 1980: Best Jazz Fusion Performance for "Catching the Sun"
• 1982: Best Rhythm & Blues Instrumental Performance for "Stripes"
• 1982: Best Jazz Fusion Performance for "Incognito"
• 1983: Best Jazz Fusion Performance for "City Kids"
• 1984: Best Jazz Fusion Performance for "Access All Areas"
• 1985: Best Pop Instrumental Performance for "Shakedown"
• 1985: Best Jazz Fusion Performance for "Alternating Currents"
• 2007: Best Pop Instrumental Album for "Wrapped in a Dream"

The Grammy Award for Best Jazz Fusion Performance was awarded from 1980 to 1991. ... The Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance was awarded from 1970 to 1990 and in 1993. ... The Grammy Award for Best Jazz Fusion Performance was awarded from 1980 to 1991. ... The Grammy Award for Best Jazz Fusion Performance was awarded from 1980 to 1991. ... The Grammy Award for Best Jazz Fusion Performance was awarded from 1980 to 1991. ... The Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance has been awarded since 1969. ... The Grammy Award for Best Jazz Fusion Performance was awarded from 1980 to 1991. ... The Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album has been awarded since 2001. ...

External links

• Spyro Gyra's official website