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SPYRO GYRA derived its name from a one-cell-
ed algae found in an old biology text book of Jay
Beckenstein’s, founding member and leader of the

group.

After teasingly telling the
other band members that was
what he would name the
group if no one could come
up with something better, he
rearranged the letters to ar-
rive at the current name.

“*He was kind of kidding
at first,’? says keyboardist
Tom Schuman, ‘‘but it
stuck.”’

The jazz group opened
Monday night to a full house
at Plazazz, and will be play-
ing there through Sept. 1.
This is the second time at
Plazazz for Spyro Gyra, and
they mark their return with
the release of a new double
album entitled Access All
Areas.

Recorded in concert, the
band plays tunes from their
early days as well as some of
their newest material, which
provides something of a
chronological perspective.

When the band was first
formed, they couldn't find
anyone to record them, so
they formed Cross Eyed
Bear records and did the
whole album themselves.
**The production company,
the music and everything
was ours,’’ Schuman says.

Things are certainly different
now, with the release of their
seventh album by MCA re-
cords.

The group was formed in

New York in 1975 by sax-
aphonist Jay Beckenstein
and Jeremy Wall. The group
grew to four and then six
members, with Schuman
joining the band in its early
days.

Their music has been
referred to as Fusion Jazz,
but group members do not

particularly like that
classification.
*‘Jazz is jazz,”” says

Schuman. “‘1l guess they call
it fusion because it’s clectric,
but just because it’s electric
doesn’t mean it’s not jazz
anymore. I consider our
music Spyro Gyra music.””
Most of the compositions
are written by Beckensicin,
Schuman and Wall, with
Wall acting as collaborator
now instead of active group

#e,
KIT r CAPUTO
Daily Pub Specials Mon. - 1 ajurs.

member. The songs are in-
strumentals, incorporating
influences from blues, rock
and Latin.

All group members take
turns in the limelight. Julio
Fernandez plays guitar while
Gerardo Velez dances about
the stage like a wildman
while playing percussion in-

“at's 's the most democratic
band I’ve ever been in,”’ says
Schuman. ‘‘Everybody has a
say as to what happens to
the music.”’

Everybody has the
freedom to work on solo
Projects, he added. The
group is on the road about
six months a year now, and
they recently returned from
a tou? of Europe and Japan.

““There’s no real language
barrier for us because we’re
instrumeutal,’’ Schuman cx-
plaims. Beckenstcin speaks
Japanese, French and Gcr-

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man and they have an Italian
percussionist, so they can
communicate with a wide
variety of audiences.

Spyro Gyra started out on
tours with a recreational
vehicle and a truck, and
everybody Pitched i in and did

Schuman says. ‘‘All I have
to do is play.”’

BD - Wedaceday, August 29, 1984 - North Shore News

» Sept. 1, as they have a one-week
From left to right, Julio Fernandez
on guitar, Kim Stone on base and Jay Beckenstein
on

for 1

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Valid anytime. Offer extended to Sept. 30, 1984.

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