Spyro Gyra

Spyro Gyra via last.fm

 

 

Spyro Gyra became a famous jazz fusion group during the late 1970's, with a unique, instrumental sound that combines smooth jazz with elements of R&B, funk, and pop music.  Their cheerful blend of percussion, piano, saxophone, and guitar immediatly caught my own ear, as I remember listening constantly during my college years....and bying their first three albums! My favorite was "Morning Dance" which played on every popular radio station back then, as its hit single helped propel them to national, and international fame. Spyro Gyra went on to release 25 albums, selling over 10-million copies.... which made them one of the most prolific, commercially successful groups on the jazz scene. The band was originally formed by alto saxophonist and song writer Jay Beckenstein, who met keyboardist Jeremy Wall in highschool, where the two began playing outdoor, summer concerts in their hometown of Buffalo, New York. They performed instrumental covers of mostly R&B songs before finally hitting the Buffalo club scene in their college years, adding bassist Jim Kurzdorfer and drummer Tom Walsh to the group, as well as asking guest players to join their early jam sessions.  "Buffalo was like a mini Chicago back then", says bandleader Beckenstein--"with smokin blues, jazz, soul, and even rockabilly scene, of all things"..  After a few years, the 'Spyro Gyra' sound evolved into what pianist Wall called a "gutbucket of rhythmic tradition....an oddball mix of simple music, and esoteric stuff that became our own groove". Sharing that groove were other artists, many becoming  intermittant and short term band members over the years....including Umbopa Latimer, Tom Schumann, Alfred Rapillo, Rick Strauss, Tom Walsh, Tom Duffy, Dave Samuels, Rubens Bassini, Ted Reinhardt, Gerardo Valez, Mark Quinonez, Scott Ambush, and Chet Catallo. As Spyro Gyra's popularity sky-rocketed, they began playing everywhere, not just New York, but around the country, and the world....averaging over 100 touring dates a year-- a pace that continues to this day! Over the past 30-years the majority of thier 25 albums and 3 compilation box-sets have cracked 'Billboard's' top 20 list, along with 12 "Grammy Award" nominations! With the exception on founder Beckenstein and keyboardist Tom Schulmann, Spyro Gyra's personnel has changed somewhat over time, however, thier touring stamina has not!  They're playing in Washington, D.C. right now, and then off to Jacksonville, Atlanta, Temecula, California, and Mexico...before heading up to Canada, back east through July....and on to Norway by mid-August.  Let's just hope they never change that name!  I've often wondered how they ever came up with "Spyro Gyra"?  I finally found out while writing this blog!  "Spirogyra" is actually a sickly-green colored algae that Beckenstein wrote a paper on in college biology class.  One night in Buffalo, a club owner forced him to name his band (immediatly) for some promotional sign! Beckenstein quickly blurted out the name of that algae, and the club owner miss-spelled it SPYRO GYRA. The name, and the band, stuck..around-- to entertain jazz audiences for three decades, and for many more decades to come! Thanks, and tune into the JAZZ CAFE on Streetwise Radio! Sincerely, PeteCam4

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Marcus Williams

It is not often that a new icon of music emerges, Marcus Williams is sure to be one of the next jazz icons to hit the music scene in years. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Marcus was born and raised in a musical family. His father was a highly trained jazz drummer and educator; while his sister studied classical piano. Marcus musical foundation is based on the jazz, and R&B style. Later on in years, he was awarded a scholarship to attend the world renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston Mass. After school, Marcus took his time working with a number of top-notch media companies; composing and producing music for many projects. He has produced music for media giants such as Virgin Entertainment, Columbia Tri Star Pictures, Discovery Channel, 20th Century Fox Entertainment and many more.

After recording and producing music professionally for 15 years Marcus took back to his first instrument and love the trumpet. He started to focus on his first solo cd titled Unspoken Words, released under his private record label MYWPMUSIC Records. He has since recorded his first commercial success cd titled Secrets.’Marcus’ style is ever changing as this multi talented producer/composer records out of his private studio located in Bali Indonesia. Marcus records exclusively on his record label and production company MYWPMUSIC Media Group USA. Be sure to hear the man, the music, and sound of Marcus Williams ~ Jenny Mcbride ~ Jazz Globla Media

Where to Buy: Amazon.com,  Mywpmusic.com

Streetwise Radio Welcomes Al Capone

Al/Capone is a high-energy six-piece smooth jazz band based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Al/Capone’s music, a mixture of jazz, R&B, funk, fusion and Latin, is contemporary and melody driven while always remaining true to its jazz roots.

Al/Capone’s latest project, an eleven song album entitled “Mr. Smooth,” features an all star lineup showcasing the talents of Alex Ligertwood (Santana, Billy Cobham, and Average White Band), Dean Brown, (David Sanborn, Brecker Brothers), Steven Wolf (Steely Dan, Grover Washington, Jr., Gil Evans Orchestra) and producer/keyboardist Jason Miles (Miles Davis, Sting, Luther Vandross).

At the heart of the group are Al/Capone founding members Jeep Capone (drums, percussion, keyboards, vocals) and Allen Young (trumpet, flugelhorn, valve trombone, EVI, keyboards, vocals). Rounding out the ensemble is a group of exceptionally talented players from the Minneapolis area including Jason Craft, keyboards, Peter Vircks, saxophone and flute, Vincent Rose, guitar, Chris Lomheim, keyboards, Mark Hoyt, background vocals and Graydon Peterson, bass.

Al/Capone is on the CC Entertainment label out of Minneapolis. Radio play promotion for “Mr. Smooth” is being handled by All That Jazz, Inc. of Las Vegas. Al/Capone is already receiving airplay on a number of stations. In fact, Al/Capone has been one of the top three smooth jazz bands in the United States in additions to radio station play lists since All That Jazz, Inc. began its push of “Mr. Smooth” two weeks ago. The first week “Mr. Smooth” came in second, missing the number one spot by one addition. During week two, Al/Capone came in third. We are very excited about this strong showing, and will have more news in the weeks and months to come.

With powerful writing and a superstar lineup, Al/Capone and its album “Mr. Smooth” is a jazz force which must be experienced.

Please feel free to call or email us with any comments or questions you may have, and we sincerely hope you enjoy our music.

Welcome to the Family!

Jeep Capone

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Stanley Jordan

Stanley Jordan via last.fm

Stanley Jordan is a 50-year old American jazz guitarist from Chicago, Illinois, who is one of the most educated, deep-thinking musicians of his time!  He started studying and playing the piano at age six, before shifting focus to the guitar when he was eleven.

Jordan soon began playing in rock and soul bands, before winning his first award at the 'Reno Jazz Festival' in 1976, however, even more amazing was his rise to educational heights.  In 1981, Jordan received a BA degree in digital music composition from Princeton University, and another degree from Harvard by the end of that same year...while at the same time playing guitar with Benny Carter and Dizzy Guillespie.

It was during this time that Jordan also developed a now-famous "tapping" technique with his guitar by hammering the string against the fret board with your finger, where-by you can produce a note with one hand.

"You don't need to pluck or strum, because the impact of the string hitting the fret causes the string to vibrate", assures Jordan.  "You can use either hand or both, tapping simultaneously and performing independant parts, which easily produces a level of musical and orchestral complexity found only on keyboard instruments".

"I've used the technique on Fender Stratocasters, Gibson Les Pauls and ES-175's, Travis Beans, and others.  Chances are you can apply the technique to your own guitar with a few minor adjustments".

Jordan credits 1950's guitarist Jimmy Webster as the first to use this approach, and claims this "touch" technique(now used world-wide) provides limitless possibilities for musical exploration on the guitar.

During the 1980's, Jordan toured the jazz festival circuit playing at the 'Kool and Montreaux International' festivals, and the 'Concord Jazz Festival' in California....while also jamming with Quincy Jones, Michael Urbaniak, and Richie Cole.

However, since working at 'Birdland Jazz Club' in New York through 1990, Jordan has kept a low profile after becoming upset with several music factions who wanted to claim the "Jordan" sound as their own...thus placing market constraints and demands on him and his music.

But, through it all Jordan has managed to put out thirteen albums, the most notable and recent called "State of Nature".  It is a series of guitar instrumentals that reflect on the relationship between humankind and the natural world.

Through music, Jordan tries to address Man's inharmony toward self, other, and nature....using music to illuminate answers to questions like: "How can we be so knowingly destructive to the enviornment and yet not change our ways, and how might we develop ourselves on the inside to become more harmonious with nature"? Pretty deep for a jazz guitarist!

Jordan's hit single on the album 'Steppin Out', was one of two in his career nominated for Grammy's for Best Pop Instrumental.  Following a brief marriage, Jordan had a 26-year old daughter named Julia,  a singer/song writer living Los Angeles,California who recently released an album called 'Urban Legacy'... which won positive reviews in 2007.

As for Stanley Jordan, he currently lives in Sedona, Arizona and is entrenched in the deep study of music therapy, after becoming a spokesperson for the the American Music Therapy Association.  Not surprisingly, he also attends Arizona State University and is working on a Masters degree in, what else...music therapy!  

Thanks, and keep listening to Streetwise Radio!

PeteaCam4

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George Duke

Image by Haags Uitburo via Flickr

George Duke was born on January 12, 1946 in San Rafael California. George Duke went to Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley, he earned a bachelor’s degree in music from San Francisco Conservatory in 1967. George Duke was raised in Marin City. When he was four years old his mother took him to a Duke Ellington concert, he said his mother told him he went crazy. George said his mother said he ran around saying ’Get me a piano, get me a piano!’ He started studying the piano at the age seven, absorbing his black roots in his local Baptist Church, he said “That’s when I started playing funky”. George Duke teamed up with a young singer named Al Jarreau they formed a group which be became the house band at Half Note Club in San Francisco. George later received a Masters Degree in composition from San Francisco University and taught a course on Jazz And American Culture at Merrit Junior College in Oakland. George Duke heard on a local jazz station that violinist Jean-Luc Ponty was coming to California to record, he sent a tape and a note to Dick Bock at World Pacific Records saying “There is no other pianist for this guy but me”, I guess when your George Duke you have that kind of clout. George made a name for himself with the album The Jean-Luc Ponty Experience with the George Duke Trio. The first time I saw George Duke was at ‘Soul on the Green’ concert at the Oakland Stadium in the summer of 1979. When he came out playing “Dukey Stick” the crowd went wild, that was truly one of my highlights that summer. In the mid 1970s George appeared on a number of Frank Zappa’s albums, Chunga’s Revenge, 200 Motel, Waka/Jawaka, The Grand Wazoo, Apostrophe, Over-Nite Sensation, One Size Fits All, Bongo Fury and Roxy & Elsewhere. George Duke became a solo artist in 1976 with his fusion oriented LP’s ‘From Me To You‘ and in 1978 his funk flavored album ‘Reach For It’ this made George reach high on the charts from small clubs to large arenas George Duke other collaboration include Stanley Clark, Billy Cobham, Cannonball Adderley, his cousin Dianne Reeves, Deniece Williams Jeffrey Osborne, George Clinton, Anita Baker, Regina Belle, Rachelle Ferrell, Marilyn Scott and Mike Mainieri’s fusion group Step Ahead. George Duke was also producer and composer on two of Miles Davis tracks “Backyard Ritual” and “Cobra”.

George latest project is George Duke ‘Dukey Treats’, I like “Every Day Hero’ it is funky. Today is George Dukes birthday, Happy Birthday George God Bless and Keep Bringing The Funk .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Duke

http://www.georgeduke.com/biography.html

LM

RONNIE LAWS

RONNIE LAWS

Ronald Wayne “Ronnie” Laws born October 3, 1950 in Houston Texas. I was listening to Ronnie Laws in the 70s, he was one of my parents favorite musicians. Ronnie was the fifth on eight children, he followed in his older brother Hubert Laws flautist footsteps and played the saxophone & flute. Ronnie joined Earth Wind & Fire in 1972, he played on their album Last Days and Time. Ronnie left Earth Wind & Fire soon afterwards, long before they became famous. In 1976 Pressure Sensitive album was the start of Ronnie’s solo career, on this album was his most famous instrumental song “Always There” this song became a instant jazz-funk classic and is covered by many artists. Ronnie released his second album Flame, he released a 12” single called “All for you”. this album had a strong vocal presence. From previous albums two additional singles were released “Let’s Keep it Together” and “Nothing’ ‘bout nothing”. Ronnie’s 12” single was first issued in the UK and the US, this format paved the way for other artist to promote themselves without putting out a full album. Ronnie Laws is not only a terrific saxophone player he is also a vocalist. Some of his notable vocal songs are “Every Generation” my all time favorite, also “Stay Awake” and “Mr. Nice Guy”. Ronnie Laws recorded with many artist such as Arthur Adams, Howard Hewitt, Ramsey Lewis, Jeff Lobber, Hugh Masekela, Alfonse Mouton, David Sea and Sister Sledge. In 1999 at the Montréal Jazz festival a group of musicians which included Boney James, Rick Braun, Kirk Whilom and Larry Carlton did a tribute to Ronnie Laws’ “Always There”. Ronnie Laws one of my favorite saxophone players, I grew up listening to his music. No matter if he’s playing solo or with other artist his music is enjoyed by everyone.


LM

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Herbie Hancock

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Born Herbert Jeffrey “Herbie” Hancock April 12, 1940 is an American jazz
pianist and composer. Herbie is regarded as one of the greatest living
jazz musicians and one of the most influential in the 20th century.
Herbie’s music is a taste of funk and soul while adopting freer stylistic elements from jazz. Herbie was a part of Miles Davis’s “second great quintet”. Herbie helped redefine the role jazz rhythm section and is one of the first jazz musicians to embrace the synthesizers and funk.“Cantaloupe Island”. “Watermelon Man”, Maiden Voyage”, “Chameleon”, “I
Thought It Was You” and “Rockit” were his best known solos; he won a Grammy for Rockit in 1988. Herbie’s 2007 tribute album “River: The Joni Letters” won the 2008 Grammy Award For Album of the Year, only the second album to win the award, the first in 1965 Getz/Gilberto. Head Hunters
album was released in 1973 this album was a major hit and crossed over to the pop audiences even though jazz fans called him a “sell out” the “Head Hunters album is still fresh and vital after three decades. I was introduced to Herbie Hancock in 1973 by my Aunt Bliss, she was watching us
kids while my parents were gone on a weekend trip. She just bought The Head Hunters album, and played it all weekend, that’s when I started liking jazz. The following year Head Hunters second album “Thrust” was released.
Herbie’s other jazz funk album were Man-Child in 1975 and Secrets in1976. The Headhunters original band Herbie put together consist of Bennie Maupin multireedist, Paul Jackson bassist. Bill Summers percussionist and Harvey Mason drummer. Head Hunters album had a influence on jazz, as well as funk, soul, and hip hop. Herbie composed sound tracks for films. In 1973 The Spook Who Sat By The Door, in 1974 Death Wish. Herbie’s three albums Future Shock(1983), Sound System(1984) and Perfect Machine(1988) were criticized by critics they said it should have been labeled “Bill Laswell featuring Herbie Hancock.“ In 2005 half of Herbie’s Columbia recordings have been remastered, Sextant, Headhunters and Thrust as well
as Future Shock, Sound System, the sound track Round Midnight and Perfect Machine. Herbie performed and acted in the film Round Midnight. Herbie wrote the score and soundtrack for Round Midnight and won an Academy Award
for Original Music Score. Herbie. Herbie Hancock has truly changed jazz music and will always be one of my favorites.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbie_Hancock

LM

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