Spyro Gyra - Morning Dance

Name: Spyro Gyra
Album: Morning Dance
Year: 1979
Style: Jazz Fusion
Similar Bands: Brand X, David Moss, Weather Report, Brecker Brothers
"One-Word" Review: Earthy Jazz Collages
Based Out Of: Buffalo NY
Label: MCA, Transcontinent Record Sales

Cover, Record

Back, Record

Morning Dance (1979)

1. Morning Dance 3:58
2. Jubilee 4:31
3. Rasul 3:56
4. Song for Lorraine 3:59
5. Starburst 4:48 /
6. Heliopolis 5:34
7. It Doesn't Matter 4:27
8. Little Linda 4:21
9. End of Romanticism 5:18

Album Rating (1-10): 6.0
Members & Other Bands:

• Jay Beckenstein - Writer, Producer, Sax, Boobams, Percussion (Orleans, Bob James, Puleo, Joege Dalto, David Broza, Dream Theater, Basia, Rick Rhodes, SMAP, Smappies, Mercedes Hall, Marek Niedzwiecki, Wolfgang Haffner, Jason Miles, Luciano Ladeira, Fusion Syndicate, Calvin Weston, Sandeep Chowta)
• Chet Catallo - Writer, Guitar (T. Lavitz, Glenn Medeiros)
• Jeremy Wall - Writer, Asst Producer, Piano, Synth, Percussion, String Arrangement, String Conducting (David Broza, Yusef lateef, Patti Austin, Fuse One, Ray Barratto, ITS, Sleepy Matsumoto, Pacific Orchestra, Puleo, Richard Stoltzman, Ofra Harnoy)
• Rick Strauss - Writer, Guitar (Jeff Jarvis)
• John Tropea - Guitars (Lalo Schifrin, Hollywood Vampires, T-Bone Walker, Deodato, Ashford & Simpson, Harry Chapin, Peter Allen, Bo Diddley, Janis Ian, Van Morrison, Bonnie Raitt, Aztec Two Step, Dionne Warwick, Sister Sledge, Paul Simon, David Ruffin, Al Stewart, Alice Cooper, Melba Moore, Laura Nyro, Phoebe Snow, Frankie Valli, Ringo Starr, Roberta Flack, Meco, Taj Mahal, Good Rats, Dr John, Tim Curry, Barbara Streisand, Tommy James, Tony Orlando, Randy Vanwarmer, John Mayall, Kurtis Blow, Spinners, Sylvester, Peter Baumann, Chuck Mangione, Gloria Gaynor, Irene Cara, Yoko Ono, Fuse One, Epo, John Lennon, Chaka Khan, Eric Clapton, Liza Minnelli, more)
• Jim Kurzdorfer - Bass (Birthright, Jaman, Rick Strauss, Bobby Millitello, Jeff Jarvis)
• Rubens Bassini - Congas, Percussion, Timbales, Bongos (Love Childs Afro Cuban Blues Band, E Os 11 Magnificos, Sergio Mendes, NY-LA Dream Band, Deodato, Stanley Turrentine, Bette Midler, Laura Nyro, Chuck Mangione, Stan Getz, Don McLean, Judy Collins, Jimmy McGriff, Janis Ian, Nils Lofgren, Garland Jeffreys, Maynard Ferguson, Michael Zager Band, Breakwater, Carly Simon, Average White Band, Herbie Mann, The Force, Orleans, Spinners, Ohio Players, Take Five, Kid Creole & The Coconuts, Yoko Ono, Miami Sound Machine, Gloria Estefan,     more)
• David Samuels - Marimba, Steel Drum, Vibraphone (Caribbean Jazz Project, Double Image, Gallery, Gerry Mulligan, Pat Metheny Group, Paul McCandless, Gary Marks, Frank Zappa, Four Tops, Rare Silk, Maureen McGovern, David Broza, Joe Beck, Edie Brickell, Jon Secada, Howard Shore, Steve Vai, Rita Coolidge, Chet Baker  more)
• Will Lee - Bass (Band Of Other Brothers, BFD, Bob Mintzer, Child is Father to the Men, Eric Doney, Flying Monkey Orch, Gary Burton. Hiram Billock, John Blackwell, Metro, Paul Shaffer, The 24th St Band, Gary Schreiner, Worlds Most Dangerous Band more)
• Steve Jordan - Drums (John Mayer, Keith Richards & the X-Pensive Winos, 24th St Band, Blues Brothers band, LaVettes, The Steves, Masura Imada, Neil Young, Little Steven, Feargal Sharkey, Don Henley Bernie Worrell, Neville Bros, Johnnie Johnstone, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Southside Johnny & Asbury Jukes, David Sanborn, Booket T & MGs, Robert Cray, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Buddy Guy, Rod Stewart, Solomon Burke, Boz Scaggs, Verbs, Patti Austin, Taj Mahal, Spinozza, Melanie, Herbie Mann, Ashford & Simpson, Cat Stevens, Imperials, Randy Vanwarmer, Donald Fagen, George Benson, John Mayall, Mark Knopfler, Bonnie Tyler, Stevie Nicks, Arcadia, Aretha Franklin, Rolling Stones, Pretencers, Fats Domino, Brian Setzer, Toto, Steve Khan, Chuck berry, Aztec Camera, Bob Dylan, Ivan Neville, Steely Dan more)
• Randy Brecker - Trumpet (Andy LaVerne, Art Blakey, Black Light Orch, Blood Sweat & Tears, Bob Mintzer, Child is Father to the Men, Chroma, CTI All Stars, Dalia Faitelson, Das Pferd, Dizzy Gillespie, Don Groinick, Duke Pearson, Farberius, GRP All Stars, Hal Galper, Harlem River Drive, Jaco Pastorius, Kerry Strayer, Loren Schoenberg, Man Doki Soulmates, Marc Copland, Mike Mainieri, Milky Way, Mingus Big Band, Mingus Dynasty, NY All Stars, Pond Life, Renolds Jazz Orch, Roif Kuhn, Ron McClure, Brecker BrosDavid Liebman, Domenic Troiano, Eleventh House, Fisher Fidelity Standard Rock Band, George Gruntz, Horace Silver,  Jack Wilkins, Jamie Baum, Jazz Composers Orch, White Elephant, Woody Witt so much more)
• Michael Brecker - Tenor Sax (Black Light Orch, Bob Mintzer, Buddy Love, Don Grolnick, Dreams, Flying Monkey Orch, Hal Galper, Harris Simons, Harvie S & Eye Contact, Herbie Hancock, Man Doki Soulmates, Mke Mainieri, Mike Nock, People, Rainbow, Sax Summit, Stardrive, Steps Ahead, Brecker Brothers, NY All Stars, Players Assoc., SNL Band, White Elephant, Wolfgang Schalk Bandett, Ringo Starr, Roger Voudouris, Mongo Santamaria much more)
• Ted Reinhardt - Drums (Dave Constantino, Dick Bauerle, Gamalon, Puleo, Norm Paolini, Melanie, Gloria Loring, Pete Howard, John Valby, Ernie Watts)
• John Clark - French Horn (Bob Mintzer, Franz Koglmann, George Russell, Gil Evans, Grachan Moncur III, Jimmy Knepper, Manhattan Jazz Orch, Marty Ehrlich, McCoy Tyner, Michael Legrand, Opera House Ensemble, Paul Winter, Earth Band, Carla Bley, George Gruntz, Mike Gibbs, Winter Consort, Tilt Brass Band, David Sanborn, Chuck Mangione, Meco, David Spinozza, Breakwater, Chaka Khan, Musique, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Ashford & Simpson, TS Monk, Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Frank Sinatra, Quincy Jones, Sheena Easton, Joe Jackson, Miles Davis, Expose, David Byrne, Sinead O'Connor, Sting, Jill Evans, Pat Metheny, LL Cool J, Barbara Streisand, Bonnie Raitt, John Secada, Trans-Siberian Orch more)
• Tom Schuman - Piano, Rhodes, Synth (Blair, Birthright, Yusef Lateef, Gamalon, Marek Niedzwiecki, Steve Oliver, Chuck Loeb, Roberto Vally, Sandeep Chowta, Jeff Kashiwa)
• Eli Konikoff - Drums (Dick Bauerle, Stan & the Ravens, Jeff Jarvis)
• Gerardo Velez - Congas, Bongos, Percussion (We Are Family Collective, Claude Dubois, Orleans, Puleo, John Philip, The Shakes, Kenny Rankin, Andrea Dante Marchesini, Martha Velez, Jill Sobule, Toshinobu Kubota. Chic, David Bowie, Neal Black, Joe Lynne Turner, Patty Smyth, Santana, Marek Niedzwiecki, Nile Rodgers)
• Suzanne Ciani - Synth (NeoTantrik, Starland Vocal Band, Elliot Randall, Meco, Philippe Wynne. Yusef Lateef, Cindy & Ron, Alien, Art Farmer, Fuse One, Ray Barretto, Steve Kindler, Meco, Patti Austin, Jane Weaver, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith)
• Lani Groves - Vox  (Stevie Wonder, Rick Derringer, Johnny Hammond, Michael Stanley, Johnny Winter, Kenny Rankin, Carly Simon, Bill Cosby, Michael Bolotin, Ben E. King, Bob James, Roberta Flack, Budy Rich, Albert King, Blood Sweat & Tears, Lee Oskar, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Mayard Ferguson, Joe Cocker, Pee Wee Ellis, Candi Station, Buddy Rich, Patti Austin, Burt Bacharach, Harry Belafonte, David Sanborn, Frankie Valli, Nils Logfren, 38 Special, Kenny Loggins, Billy Joel, Meco, Tony Orlando, Lemon, Quincy Jones, Golden Earring, Gotham, Steely Dan, Paul Simon, Blondie, George Benson, Leonard Cohen, Talking Heads, Stevie Wonder, Jude Cole, Ronnie Spector, Aztec Camera, Carly Simon, Diana Ross, Peter Wolf, David Bowie, Billy Ocean, James Taylor, LaToya Jackson, Phoebe Snow, Eric Clapton, Grace Jones, Dionne Warwick, Bad Company, Foreigner, Dr. John, Bette Midler,  many)
• Diva Gray - Vox (Change, Chic, Lemon, Harlettes, Roy Buchanan, Love Symphony Orch, Teresa Wiater, T.Life, David Spinozza, Major Harris, Phyllis Hyman, Joe Thomas, Meco, James Montgomery, Ray Barretto, Atlantic Family, Jimmy Ponder, Garland Jeffreys, Sambu Soul, Gregg Diamond, Norma Jean, Richard T. Bear, Kiss, Ramona brooks, Duke Jupiter, Euclid Beach Band, Felix Cavaliere, Samantha Sand, Kikio, Roundtree, NYC band, Spyro Gyrsa, B.Baker Chocolate Co, Gotham, Markena Shaw, Toru Oki Blues Band, Herbie Mann, Paul Evans, Bette Midler, Wilbert Longmire, Sister Sledge, John Tropea, Ray Gomez, Cousin Ice, Rhetta Hughes, Wilbert Longmire, George Benson, Marshall Tucker Band, Steely Dan, Leon Bryant, David Sanborn, Silence, High Fashion, Roberta Flack, Weather Girls, Junior, Marcus Miller, Damaris, Peabo Bryson, Talking Heads, Paul Habara, Brian Setzer, David Bowie, Steps Ahead, Ann Anello, Ronnie Spector, Cindy Valentine, Toshiki Kadomatsu, Scritti Politti, Myleka, Jorn Hoel, Linda Eder, Andreas Vollenweider, Charlie Sexton, Grace Jones, Natasha's Brother, Julien Clerc, Maggie's Dream, Hen-Gee & Evil-E, Debbie Gibson, Judy Collins, Marc Cohn, Tony Verderosa, Dr, John, John Tropea, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Spin Doctors, BB King, Patricia Kiss, Luther Vandross, Celine Dion, Horii Katsumi, Elton John, Jewel, Natalie Cole, Herbie Mann, Janis Siegel, Marilyn, R,. Kelly, Elaine Elias, Kiss, Joe Lynn Turner, Surtek Collective, Jennifer Rush)
• Gordon Grody - Vox (Silence, Zinc, Lemon, David Spinozza, Kiss, Vicki Sue Robinson, Meco, Janis Ian, Steely Dan, Debbie Harry, Garland Jefferies, Judy Collions, Irene Cara, Donald Fagan, Yoko Ono, John Lennon, Melissa Manchester, Fatback, Carly Simon, Peabo Bryson, Patti Austin, George benson, Talking Heads, Belouis Some, Ben E King, Aztec Camera, David Bowie, Cyndi Lauper, Bonham, Frankie Valli, Change, Jennifer Rush)
• Tom Malone - Trombone (Black Light Orch. Blood Sweat & Tears, Child is Father to Man, Gil Evans, Orquesta palenque, Ten Wheel Drive, Blues Brothers Band, Brass Attack horns, Monday Night Orch, RCO All-Stars, SNL band, Tom Bones Malone, World's Most Dangerous Band, Woody Herman, North Texas Lab Band, Janis Ian, Mongo Santamaria, David Sanborn, Aztec Two-Step, Chuck Mangione, Buddy Rich, Jimmy McGriff, Meco, The Band, Levon Helm, Frank Zappa, Average White band, Michael Zager band, Carly Simon, Instant Funk, BB King, Meat Loaf, J. eils Band, Malo, Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Tyler, Lou Reed, Chaka Khan, Steve Windwood, Joe Jacksom, David Byrne, Paul Shaffer, Bruce Willis, Miles Davis, Quincy Jones, Willy DeVille, james Brown, Rick Derringer, Mandrill, Culture Club, BJ Thomas, Joss Stone, Tom Jones, Tori Amos, more)
• Lew Del Gatto - Flute (Tony Bennet, Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, John Lennon, Bette Midler, Caj Tjader, Quincy Jones, Stanley Turrentine, Buddy Guy, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, NY Neophonic Orch, Liza Minnelli, Johnny Winter, Gloria Gaynor, Frankie Valli, Manhattan Transfer, Jimmy McGriff, Ringo Starr, Meco, J. Geils Band, Average White Band, Ben E King, Trini Lopez, Levon Helm, Aerosmith, Carly Simon, Tina Turner, Ian Hunter, Amy Grant, Chaka Khan, Blues Brothers, Meat Loaf, George Benson, Steve Winwood, Laurie Anderson, Mariah Carey, David Byrne, Yoko Ono  more)
• Harry Lookofsky - Violin (Al Cohn, Gil Evans, NBC Symph Orch, Ahmad Jamal, Quincy Jones, Cal Tjader, Wes Montgomery, Connie Francis, Blood Sweat & Tears, Roberta Flack, Louis Armstrong, Mongo Santamaria, Grover Washington Jr, Deodato, Roy Ayers, Don McLean, David Ruffin, Janis Ian, Bette Midler, Patti Austin, Peter Allen, Bionic Boogie  many)
• Matthew Raimondi - Violin (Central Park Strings, New Music String Quart, Pond Life, Composers Quartet, Love Symph orch, James Brown, Louis Armstrong, Don McLean, Grover Washington Jr, Herbie Mann, Blood Sweat & Tears, Patti Austin, Bette Midler, Bob James, Peter Allen, Chet Baker, Maynard Ferguson, David Spinozza, Sesame Street, Carly Simon, Meco, Chaka Khan, Stevie Nicks, Joe Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Lenny Kravits, O'jays, Chic, Sinead O'Connor, Bananarama, Cuba Gooding, LL Cool J, Tony Bennett, Gloria Estefan, Philip Bailey, PM Dawn, Backstreet Boys, Maxwell, Ricky Martin, John Lennon more)
• Harry Cykman - Violin (Shirley Scott, Freddie hubbard, Billie Holiday, Grover Washington, Judy Collins, Rupert Holmes, Deodato, Don mcLean, Milt Jackson, Stanley Turrentine, Janis Ian, Hubert Laws, Joe Beck, Frankie Valli, Bob James, Blood Sweat & Tears, Peter Allen, Tymes, Maynard Ferguson, Roundtree, Meco, Stevie Nicks more)
• Charles Libove - Violin (Beaux Arts String Quartet, Centrsal park Strings, Columbia Symph Prch, Paganini Quartet, Marlboro Trio, Philharmonic Trio, Sarah Vaughn, Herbie Mann, Wes Montgomery, James Brown, Grover Washington Jr,  more)
• Alfred Brown - Viola (Hip String Quartet, Soa, Tony Bennett, Quincy Jones, Herbie Mann, Nat Adderley, Roberta Flack, Louis Armstrong, Mongo Santamaria, Edgar Winter, Shirley Bassey, Grover Washington Jr, Roy Ayers, Deodato, Don McLean, Janis Ian, Sister Sledge, Peter Allen, Tyme more)
• Charles McCracken - Cello (Hugo Montenegro, Oliver Nelson, Quincy Jones, Wes Montgomery Herbie Mann, Nat Adderley, Connie Francis, Electric Flag, Blood Sweat & Tears, Roberta Flack, Louis Armstrong, T-Bone Walker, Roy Ayers, Gabor Szabo, Deodato, Stanley Clarke, Don McLean, Milt Jackson  more)
• Larry Fast - Synth Programming (Synergy, Fire INC., Tony Levin Band, Deodato, Sylvia, Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, Stephen Dees, Martha Velez, Nektar, Intergalactic Touring Band, Peter Gabriel, Stormin' Norman & Suzy, Odyssey, American Standard Band, Tommy James, Hall & Oats, Kate Bush, Boz Scaggs, Meatloaf, Foreigner, Air Supply, John Denver, Bonnie Tyler, Joan Armatrading, Barbara Streisand, Rick Springfield, Serge Gainsbourg  more)
• Richard Calandra - Producer
• David Heffernan - Cover & Back Artwork
• Jack Malken - Recording, Mixing Engineer
• Michael Barry - Recording, Mixing Engineer
• Candice Munson - Asst Engineer
• Darroll Gustamachio  - Asst Engineer
• Jason Corsaro - Asst Engineer
• Lawrence Swist - Recording Engineer
• Mick Guzauski - Recording Engineer
• Charlie Conrad - Recording Engineer
• Rick Rowe - Editing

Unknown-ness: I've heard the name Spyro Gyra before but never in any genre context. I guess i always assumed they were like Procol Harum or 10cc (not sure why those two bands, as they are not really alike), perhaps because they have similar artwork sometimes, and were from the same general time frame. But really, i don't know what SG sounds like at all. 

Album Review: Definitely a Jazz Fusion band, with its name coming from a green algae spelled Spirogyra. This album is certified Platinum as of 1987, and has strong charting success as does the single "Morning Dance," which has a nice blend of Caribbean elements with dance-able jazz.  The revolving door of musicians makes sense for a band as large and complex as Spyro Gyra, but the core has always been Beckenstein and Schuman. "Jubilee" incorporates some nice funk and jammy roots rock to a baseline of smooth sax jazz.

Stand Out Track: Jubilee

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