Spyro Gyra
Spyro Gyra | |
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Spyro Gyra in concert | |
Background information | |
Origin | Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
Genres | Jazz, jazz fusion, smooth jazz |
Years active | 1974–present |
Labels | Amherst, MCA, GRP, Windham Hill, Heads Up |
Website | www |
Members |
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Past members |
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Spyro Gyra /ˌspaɪroʊˈdʒaɪrə/ is an American jazz fusion band that was formed in Buffalo, New York, in 1974. The band's music combines jazz, R&B, funk, and pop music. The band's name comes from Spirogyra, a genus of green algae which founder Jay Beckenstein had learned about in college.
History[edit]
Early years[edit]
Saxophonist Jay Beckenstein and keyboardist Jeremy Wall formed a band with jazz and rock musicians who were playing in the Buffalo bar and club circuit.[1] In 1974, when a bar owner asked for the band's name, Beckenstein said, "spirogyra", a type of algae he had learned about in school.[1] The bar owner wrote the name incorrectly, "Spyro Gyra", but it stuck.[1] The founding members of the band were Beckenstein, Wall, bassist Jim Kurzdorfer, drummer Tom Walsh, and keyboardist Tom Schuman.[1] In 1977, they released Spyro Gyra independently before making a deal with Amherst Records,[2] which re-released the album with a different cover. It included "Shaker Song," which reached No. 90 on Billboard's Hot 100,[3] No. 99 on the pop chart in Canada,[4] and No. 26 on the Canadian AC chart.[5]
Morning Dance reached No. 11 in the UK Albums Chart, No. 27 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart, and No. 47 in Canada.[6] The song "Morning Dance" reached No. 17 in the UK Singles Chart,[7] No. 1 on the US Adult Contemporary singles chart,[8] No. 45 on the Canadian pop charts,[9] and No. 6 on the Canadian AC charts.[10] The album was certified gold in 1979, then platinum in 1987 by the RIAA.[11]
Later years[edit]
When Infinity Records folded, Catching the Sun was released on MCA in February 1980, becoming the No. 4 jazz album of 1980, peaking at No. 31 in the UK,[7] and No. 80 in Canada.[12]
Bassist Jim Kurzdorfer died of cancer in 2011.[13] Former drummer Ted Reinhardt died in an airplane crash on March 4, 2015, at the age of 63.[14] Mallet player Dave Samuels died on April 22, 2019, due to an undisclosed long-term illness.[15]
Discography[edit]
Studio albums[edit]
Title | Year of Release | Label |
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Spyro Gyra | 1978 | MCA, Amherst |
Morning Dance | 1979 | MCA, Amherst |
Catching the Sun | 1980 | MCA, Amherst |
Carnaval | 1980 | MCA, Amherst |
Freetime | 1981 | MCA, Amherst |
Incognito | 1982 | MCA, Amherst |
City Kids | 1983 | MCA, Amherst |
Alternating Currents | 1985 | MCA, Amherst |
Breakout | 1986 | MCA, Amherst |
Stories Without Words | 1987 | MCA, Amherst |
Rites of Summer | 1988 | MCA |
Point Of View | 1989 | MCA |
Fast Forward | 1990 | GRP |
Three Wishes | 1992 | GRP |
Dreams Beyond Control | 1993 | GRP |
Love and Other Obsessions | 1995 | GRP |
Heart of the Night | 1996 | GRP |
20/20 | 1997 | GRP |
Got the Magic | 1999 | Windham Hill |
In Modern Times | 2001 | Heads Up |
Original Cinema | 2003 | Heads Up |
The Deep End | 2004 | Heads Up |
Wrapped in a Dream | 2006 | Heads Up |
Good to Go-Go | 2007 | Heads Up |
A Night Before Christmas | 2008 | Heads Up |
Down the Wire | 2009 | Heads Up |
A Foreign Affair | 2011 | Amherst |
The Rhinebeck Sessions | 2013 | Crosseyed Bear |
Vinyl Tap | 2019 | Amherst |
Live albums[edit]
Title | Year of Release | Label |
---|---|---|
Access All Areas | 1984 | MCA, Amherst |
Road Scholars | 1998 | GRP |
Compilations[edit]
Title | Year of Release | Label |
---|---|---|
Collection | 1991 | GRP |
The Best of (The First Ten Years) / 1977-1987 (GRP) | 1997 | GRP, Amherst |
The Very Best of Spyro Gyra | 2002 | GRP |
(20th Century Masters) The Best Of Spyro Gyra: The Millennium Collection | 2007 | Verve |
Best Of The Heads Up Years | 2016 | Crosseyed Bear |
Awards and nominations[edit]
Grammy nominations[edit]
- Best Jazz Fusion Performance: Catching the Sun (1980), Incognito (1982), City Kids (1983), Access All Areas (1984), Alternating Currents (1985)
- Best Pop Instrumental Performance: "Shakedown" (1985), "Simple Pleasures" (2008)
- Best Pop Instrumental Album: Wrapped in a Dream (2007), Good to Go-Go (2008), A Night Before Christmas (2009), Down the Wire (2010)
- Best Rhythm & Blues Instrumental Performance: "Stripes" (1982)
Other awards[edit]
- George Benson Lifetime Achievement Award, Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards (2007)
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Spyro Gyra | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- ^ Widran, Jonathan. "AboutHistory & Bios – Spyro Gyra". Spryo Gyra. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- ^ "Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - July 29, 1978" (PDF).
- ^ "RPM Top 50 AO - August 19, 1978" (PDF).
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums - July 14, 1979" (PDF).
- ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 522. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Spyro Gyra - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - September 1, 1979" (PDF).
- ^ "RPM Top 50 AC - September 8, 1979" (PDF).
- ^ "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". RIAA. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums - May 24, 1980" (PDF).
- ^ "R.I.P. Jim Kurzdorfer". Retrieved 2016-07-19.
- ^ Doc Rock. "January to June 2015". The Dead Rock Stars Club. Retrieved 2015-03-07.
- ^ West, Michael. "Dave Samuels 1948-2019". Jazz Times. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
External links[edit]
- Official website
- Spyro Gyra discography at Discogs