Spyro Gyra make their magic on the road in 2000 It has been over 20 years since jazz legend Spyro Gyra first appeared on the scene with their Top 40 hit "Morning Dance." After twenty-two best selling, critically acclaimed albums to their credit, Spyro Gyra continue to bring forth their unique blend of soul, jazz, pop and world beat music. Their latest release on Windham Hill, "Got the Magic," proves that they certainly do. Touring has always been an essential element in Spyro Gyra's popularity. Their spontaneous live show and connection with the audience has only solidified their status as one of contemporary music's premiere live acts. Spyro Gyra will be playing several select dates throughout the U.S. and beyond. Jay Beckenstein, founder and saxophone player, is also set to release his very first solo album on Windham Hill. "Eye Contact" is scheduled for release on April 18, 2000.

Spyro Gyra's blend of soul, jazz, pop and world beat has been a winning combination for decades. While they have been a self-contained unit for much of that time, every so often the core band brings in some new creativity. The core members of Jay Beckenstein, Tom Shuman (keyboards), Julio Fernandez (guitars), Scott Ambush (bass) and Joel Rosenblatt (drum) bring together the soul of Spyro Gyra.

The band began in the early 70's in Buffalo, NY, when saxophonist Beckenstein started a rotating group of musicians who bounced around the local club scene. The group name came from, "siprigira," a term he heard in a college biology course. The misspelling of this strange scientific name to Spyro Gyra would later come to be identifed with Contemporary Jazz.

The title track of "Morning Dance" launched them to pop stardom in 1979. Their tours became a focal point of the groups success. By the mid-80's, Spyro Gyra's brand of music became widely known as "smooth jazz."

"One of the things that separates us from many of the other contemporary jazz groups is that we have always been an ensemble," says Beckenstein, "We're not just a bunch of guys put together this year to sell some albums and tickets. I'm happy to say that we've grown even tighter over the years. Each year, I look at the contemporary jazz charts, and it's exciting to be blessed with such fantastic support which keeps us in the upper reaches. The confidence that we have as a band is very real and we feed off our interaction to get it. As we completed sessions for this new album, we were high fiving each other."

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