Spyro Gyra

Latin Beat Magazine, April, 2003 by Rudy Mangual

Original Cinema (Heads Up)

After catering to the smooth jazz airwaves and audiences on their last few recordings, the goose bumps are back in the music of Spyro Gyra via this latest production, Original Cinema, on the Heads Up label. For the past 25 years, bandleader/composer/saxophone wizard Jay Beckenstein has maintained Spyro Gyra in the forefront of 'contemporary jazz" music by pushing the boundaries and definitions of the genre. Modeled after the super experimental jazz groups of the 1970s (Return To Forever and Weather Report) Spyro Gyra endured the fall of jazz-fusion as they carved their own unique sound. Selling over ten million copies of twenty-plus albums, and touring the globe many times wore out the creative flow and focus of the band. Realizing this, Beckenstein and gang decided to set things straight with the release of Original Cinema. The result is their best work in recent years, showcasing 13 tracks of back-to-basics good-old Spiro sound. Beckenstein better utilizes the tenor sax throughout the recording, achieving a hard edge, phat sound. Keyboardist Toro Schuman shines through his masterful technical savvy and longevity in the band. Guitarist Julio Fernández brings an urban freshness and Latin tinge to the mix. Drummer Joel Rosenblatt rounds out the core group, together with bassist Scott Ambush--the group's newest member and composer of the track Handheld (a funky radio-friendly jazz tune). Headlining this production are the compositions Funky Tina and Bump It Up (displaying the composition talents, versatility and Latin roots of guitarist Julio Fernández), Beckenstein's compositions Calle Ocho, Extrovertical, and Big Dance Number (all in the tradition of the original Spyro Gyra sound), and the track Party of Seven from drummer Joel Rosenblatt. Guest musicians on this recording include vibist Dave Samuels, master steel drummer Andy Narell, and percussionists Marc Quiñones, David Charles and Mino Cinelu. (RM)