Jay BEckenstein, jazz or pop jazz like Kenny G?

[puresaxman]

I've been listening to alot of Spyro Gyra lately and was just wondering some of your opinions on Jay Beckenstein.
Do you think he's in the Jazz groove, or has he pursued the pop realm like Kenny G and others like him.
I really like alot of his playing and some of their albums are pretty diverse, share your thoughts would like to know your opinions. 8)

[Media Lint]

I have always found Spyro Gyra to be pop. I could see talent but I couldn't endure sitting through it for no good reason when I wasn't enjoying it. I haven't listened to any newer stuff lately.

[Media Lint]

Well, ok, I admit I'm out of the loop on it but I have Fast Forward handy. Is that a comparatively good or not so good album? Track one is definitely elevator music with a lot of percussion. Track two has a nice latin thing going on, but I dunno ... this is what I did the last time I dusted this disc off. Great chops, nice and tight, and it does not a thing for me. Track three ... more of the same with synthesizer pads in the funk groove realm ... as I skip through it nothing grabs me.

[soulsax]

Nice group. They are at the top when bands are rated by the pay check. Have been for years too. Jay can blow. Jazz or not.

[knighttrain]

IMHO, Spyro Gyra is highly orchestrated, but so were the great Jazz Bands of the past. That does not diminish them. Styles are different, but it's clear the credentials are there. These guys can play, and they are hardly one dimensional. BTW, Fast Forward is my favorite SG disc. (I have more than a few.) I only wish I knew Jazz as well as Jay.

[Mikie F.]

This is a tough question. Well I think they are in between jazz and pop. jazz. Leaning more to the jazz side. It's a different kind of jazz (which personally I like), but without a doubt, Jay can play a horn. Any objections? ;)

[kevvieg]

When I was 16 I loved Spyro Gyra but, then again, I didn't like anything more chromatic than Phil Woods. I still love Phil Woods, but I can "hear" guys like Gary Bartz, Bergonzi, and Vinny Golia. I now find as an improvising musician that I prefer my jazz a lot less diatonic than Spyro Gyra. I do believe that Beckenstein is a good saxophone player, and IMHO displays a lot more taste, soul, and restraint than Miss G. I used to work at a record store and a lot of my customers who had heard me play would want my opinion on Gorelick's latest travesty. I'd tell them it was very popular with his fans. That wasn't what they wanted. They had heard me play jazz and R&B and wanted my opinion. That's when I would put on a Grover Washington CD and asked if they liked it. Gorelick is the Michael Bolton of the saxophone, but Grover was the Stevie Wonder of the sax. I guess Beckenstein would be the Kenny Loggins of the sax LOL

[puresaxman]

kevvieg- I agree that Kenny's stuff is an acquired taste. I don't think he's the Michael Bolton of the saxophone I would have to give that title to Richard Elliott. :)

[amalfitano_hamilton]

Jay is exactly what he claimed and was acclaimed for in the 70's, a fusion player. There's no comparison, talent wise, between Jay and Kenny G (whiz). I really think the "G" stands for Gotnochops!

[colibri]

I really think the "G" stands for Gotnochops!

G-man got chops. He just chose to play pentatonic licks and diatonic stuff to please the normal Joes who don't play the saxophone, don't find bebop licks attractive, and don't understand what exactly "jazz" is. That's understandable.

Now, back to the original topic.

[saxmanjack]

I enjoyed listening to Spyro Gyra back in the late '70's, but whenever I happen to hear a newer track on the radio, sounds like Jay is still playing the same tired old licks...

And, please, I don't want to see KG mentioned on this board ever again.

[amalfitano_hamilton]

And, please, I don't want to see KG mentioned on this board ever again.

It's really kind of surprising that the moderator allows that kind of language (Kenny G) on this board! And I agree, there seems to be little change over the years in Jay's playing. Even David Sanborn changed a bit in the 90's!

[tenorman canada]

I saw Jay playing in a club band in Buffalo in the early 70's. He can play, write and arrange. He's also got a nice tone. I wouldn't have the courage to knock his playing.

[silverghost]

Jay is exactly what he claimed and was acclaimed for in the 70's, a fusion player.

EXACTLY!!! Spyro Gyra has and will hopefully always be fusion. They created it, and Beckenstien voiced it. I really think he's a good player, it's just a different style. Although those songs are a lot easier to transcribe than I thought they would be. Anyway. . .

...whenever I happen to hear a newer track on the radio...

Ooh what station, i never hear SG here in PA. . .

SilverGhost

[super20dan]

some good stuff here. any one who compares jay beckinstiens playing with kenny g is an idiot! richard elliot is the michel bolten of the sax....i like that!

[Carl H.]

Elegy for Trane is one of my favorite soprano tunes to listen to, JB has great control of his instruments tonal color.

[synchro]

I don't think Spyro Gyra is quite smooth jazz, but it is definately sugary in my opinion. It's been "sweetened" up a bit for general consumption. Not quite my cup of tea, but I don't mind a spot of it once and awhile. :wink:

[RS]

Spyro Gyra is a little commercial for my taste but for something I'm more likely to hear than jazz in a commercial format I actually like them fairly well. Jay Beckenstein is a decent sax player.

[kevvieg]

Spyro Gyra is decent fusion of it's time and Jay can play the sax. However, Spyro Gyra did NOT invent fusion. I would give that distinction to either Miles or Weather Report.

[phathorn]

Beat me to the punch Kev....Miles and Zawinul were the real pioneers...

[Tenorsaxer]

I like to listen to some of Spyro Gyra's stuff. Ya know, the stuff that isn't frikken department store/elevator music. I like the latin influence in their music, gives a nice edge.

[silverghost]

Spyro Gyra is decent fusion of it's time and Jay can play the sax. However, Spyro Gyra did NOT invent fusion. I would give that distinction to either Miles or Weather Report.

Sorry, didn't mean to say create. I meant that they pretty much made it popular. Oh well, it was late that night i wrote that.

SG