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Diana Krall Gettin' All Sexy
Dec. 22, 2008 – Diana Krall says get ready for a more intimate, sensual and erotic album this time around. I guess that explains all those promo shots of the singer wearing stiletto high heels. More

B.B. King Club Helping the Unemployed
Dec. 22, 2008 - Suze Orman won’t help you out of the credit crisis but maybe B.B. King can. The famous guitarist has slashed prices at the B.B. King Blues Club in New York. With so many losing their jobs and homes maybe going to a concert is at the bottom of most everyone’s list but at half price, who knows? More

Incognito Launching "More Tales Remixed" in January 2009
Dec. 22, 2008 - Incognito has been performing for 30 years in the dance world and in great live performances. They will start 2009 with an offer to their numerous fans worldwide, the January 27 release of "More Tales Remixed," a collection of original tracks from Incognito's 2008 album "Tales from the Beach." More

Paul Hardcastle Wins the Billboard Smooth Jazz Artist of the Year
Dec. 21, 2008 – Billboard magazine has officially honoured Paul Hardcastle as "Smooth Jazz Artist of the Year." The world-acclaimed musician is also a much appreciated radio host on the Smooth Jazz Network, heard throughout the US on Saturday and Sunday evenings. More 

Nate Harasim and Darren Rahn to Perform for Presidential Inaugural
Dec. 20, 2008 - Pianist Nate Harasim and guest saxophonist Darren Rahn will perform "A Time for Hope" at the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Jazz Gala. The show is at the Carlyle Club in Alexandria, Virginia (Washington, D.C.) on January 20, 2009. More

Check Our Sister Site Rock History Book
Expect updates on Classic & Modern Rock. Also interviews and reviews. Check out the new site right now. www.rockhistorybook.com.

 
 

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Spyro Gyra - A Night Before Christmas
Heads Up international/ 2008
Dec. 20, 2008 - The holiday season.  It brings a flood of memories to every man, woman and child, no matter what color of skin or religious belief. As with every holiday season it brings out the overwhelming rush of our personal ‘have-to get done list’ as well as all forms of media proclaiming to us what gift one absolutely cannot be without this festive season. It can be confusing, frustrating and hectic and if allowed to will take away the real beauty of the season, family and friends getting together. Just like the rest of the retail world the holiday season also brings us a flood of holiday music that can be difficult to sort through and after a while undistinguishable from piped in mall songs.

A lot of the new releases are simply holiday standards redone by an artist or artists, and those that are not are usually sold out and become an effort to find. Such is the case with the legendary Jazz band Spyro Gyra and their new holiday release “A Night Before Christmas.” You may not find it at your local music store but make the effort to find and hear it.

Spyro Gyra have spent the last 3 decades pushing the boundaries and definitions of Jazz becoming one of the most recognizable names in the world and with this their new holiday release they have connected to that time and place where tradition and fundamental values in music and life come together to create something new and fresh, yet friendly and familiar. More

Spyro Gyra Tributes Pouring in for Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards
February 13, 2007 - Getting musicians to praise Smooth Jazz supergroup Spyro Gyra hasn't exactly been a labour - "there is a lot of love for these guys," say Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards co-chair John Beaudin. "After all their body of work had served as 'the manual' as to how it's done right in Smooth Jazz - leader Jay Beckenstein has certainly done that for me as a radio programmer." The 3rd annual Canadian Smooth Awards will honour Spyro Gyra with the "George Benson Lifetime Achievement Award" on Friday April 27 2007 at Hammerson Hall at The Living Arts Centre, Mississauga Ont. The band will perform at the ceremony. In 2005 George Benson travelled to Ontario to receive the first Lifetime Achievement prize and it's now official named after the guitar genius. Lee Ritenour says, "From the seventies to now, from 'Morning Dance' to the current project, Spyro Gyra has been a legendary group in the Contemporary Jazz movement." Alfie Zappacosta who is nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year says, "Spyro Gyra is cool intelligent music as well the Crusaders and Larry Carlton on guitar formed the basis and platform of where I knew I wanted to be Musically." He adds, "we, my fellow band mates and I, cut our teeth, proud in the fact that we knew greater bands than those who where forced on us by Pop and Rock radio stations, formulated with drivel." Walter Beasley also gave the band props, "One of my first memorable experiences in music was the first time I heard morning dance . I didn't know who or what I was hearing I just knew it was perfect." Check out our huge tribute to Spyro Gyra here. - Kari Graham
CANADIAN SMOOTH JAZZ AWARDS 2007 HONOURS SPYRO GYRA!
September 29, 2006 - Wave 94.7FM Toronto/Hamilton and smoothjazznow.com together present the 3rd Annual Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards on Friday April 27th, 2007 at 8pm. This Gala evening will take place once again at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga, Ont. in wonderful Hammerson Hall. The beloved band, Spyro Gyra, celebrating over 30 years together, will receive the 2007 Benson Lifetime Achievement Award. Incomparable saxophonist, Jay Beckenstein, and his band will attend to accept their award and to perform on stage. More

Smooth Jazz Music News
June 21, 2005 - Spirit Cruise Lines of New York City will once again offer its popular summer cruise series beginning June 29th, 2005. The evening cruises leave from Pier 61 and will feature Smooth Jazz artists Brian Culbertson, Down to the Bone, Spyro Gyra, Peter White, and The Rippingtons. - by Cheryl Philips

Smooth Jazz and Cool Cars
June 8, 2005 - Everyone knows cool cars and smooth jazz go hand in hand. At least they will every Thursday from June 30th - August 4th, at the Walter Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills, Michigan during the 2005 Cool Cars and Smooth Jazz Concert Series. Attendees will be allowed to take a spin in a 2005 Chrysler, Jeep, or Dodge vehicle before each evening show and the new Dodge Charger will also be spotlighted in a special exhibition showcasing eight decades of Dodge vehicles. The free series will feature Smooth Jazz stars Spryo Gyra, Chuck Mangione, Marion Meadows, Paul Taylor, Alexander Zonjic, Ken Navarro, and Michael Brock among others. - by Cheryl Philips
Artist lineup for South Bay Jazz Festival 
May 30, 2005 - The 3rd Annual South Bay Jazz Festival has announced it's headliners for this year's concert which will take place on September 3rd, 2005 at Edward Vincent Park in Inglewood, California. This years line up will include Spyro Gyra, Euge Groove, Bob Baldwin, The Braxton Brothers and Jeffrey Osborne. Never short on talent, the festival's inaugural year boasted the Jazz stylings of Norman Brown, Wayman Tisdale, and Everette Harp, and was attended by over 2000 Jazz fans. Last years festival saw Marion Meadows, Joyce Cooling, Bobby Lyles, and Freddie Ravel performing to an ever growing and enthusiastic crowd. For More Info go to http://www.southbayent.com - By Cheryl Philips
Steve Oliver Ads Touches Of Spyro Gyra & Fourplay on New Album
 May 13, 2004 - Steve Oliver has a working title of '3-D' for his next album to be released in August on Koch Records. The guitarist is working at his own home studio in Los Angeles and he's working with Tom Schuman of Spyro Gyra at his studio in Las Vegas. Oliver has added a taste of another supergroup, Fourplay with special guest drummer Harvey Mason. Saxophonist Eric Marienthal is also on the project. As for the sound of his third album Oliver says it will be in the similar vein to his last hit CD 'Positive Energy' which featured the number one Smooth Jazz song of the year for 2003 in Canada, 'High Noon.' So expect a few vocals tracks, a few vocalize tunes and of course the instrumentals. Oliver promises a full tour to follow the release.
Spyro Gyra Goes Off The Deep End
May 4, 2004 - Mark "musical event" under May 25 on your calendar. One of the mainstays in Contemporary Jazz since the seventies Spyro Gyra will release their new album on that date. It's always an event when one of the creative forces in Jazz gives the can another kick. The band is celebrating their 30th anniversary this year with two of the six members dating back to the very beginning, saxophonist Jay Beckenstein and keyboardist Tom Schuman. Keyboardist Jeremy Wall though no longer an official member of Spyro Gyra has a revolving membership. He appeared on their self titled debut album in 1976 and still collaborates with the band. Here's what Beckenstein said about keeping the band close, "The reason the band works so well together is that we each have our circle of musical influences, but they all overlap," adding, "There's a space that we all have in common, which is that we all like music with an emotional undercurrent, and we like music that breathes and has drama and has melody and is not static." The new album 'The Deep End' on the Heads Up label works according to Beckenstein because of the different members and their different take on things. "You have five composers who are involved in the process, and each one of them has a slightly different musical background, a slightly different take on things," Beckenstein explains. "Or maybe each is responding to his particular voice in a particular way. The result is a very eclectic record. The title is a reference to the emotional deep end, and going for things with all you have. It's about taking that leap and letting your emotions lead." Spyro Gyra joined the Heads Up label in 2001. 'The Deep End' is their third album for the label after 'In Modern Times' and 'Original Cinema.'

Spyro Gyra Breaks the Mold
May 23. 2003 - Smooth Jazz as a genre is sometimes to confining for some musicians but with "Original Cinema" Spyro Gyra hopes to break that mold. The album released in February is currently # 5 on Smooth Jazz Now's top 20 but group founder Jay Beckenstein says he wasn't concerned with charts when the group recorded the album. Beckenstein says different forms of Jazz have different rules, "They're the only musical genres I know of where you have rules like, 'In smooth jazz we don't want any improvisation,' or 'In straight-ahead jazz we don't want any electric bass,'" he said. "It's just crazy, and it's left us with too many musicians who are concerned more with emulation than with discovery." Spyro Gyra are on the road until October.

 

 
Review Policy - Smooth Jazz Now.com believes money does not buy a positive review. The music world is filled with magazines and websites that will play you, or positively review you if you buy advertising. That's not what we are about. It's a little thing called credibility. If you want to advertise with us, we welcome you and will do our very best to make sure anyone who visits this site will know your name, but we won't guarantee you a positive review. If you work with a magazine that gives you these guarantees remember it's your reputation that's on the line, they've already sold theirs. - John Beaudin, President, Smooth Jazz Now.com