I just went to a memorial for the man who was the original bass player for Spryo Gyra. He just died recently, and watching this reminds me of how great a musician he was. R.I.P. Jim.
It's funny listening to him describe the genesis of this song as an almagolmation of the various genres of the time; dare I say the greatest generation of all time. Boy, I wish the 80's so much.
Thank you Jay and your work. I may never have the 80's again, but I will always have the music from there and no one can ever take that away from me.
@daveyboots ciao io avevo conosciuto gli s.g. negli anni ottanta e ricordo che avevo un loro album suonato solo sui tasti neri del pianoforte con dei ritmi assurdi. vorrei tanto riascoltarlo ma avendolo perso non ho idea come si chiami...qualcuno puo' aiutarmi per favore?
This was a great beginning to alot of great music. I "discovered" Spyro Gyra for myself back in 1978. Rochester, NY waiting for a flight back to Laguardia- a small record shop just outside the airport- they had a stack of these albums and the owners said "here take one- they're a great little jazz group from around here". I still have that album!
OMG I grow up with this song, I am a metalhead though ....this was influenced by my uncle's I can't live without them until now.. I think metal can't live with out them (Jazz music) too.. \m/..
Damn, Tom Schuman is burning up the keys there. I don't care what anybody says, the Moog and B3 Hammond produces some of the best sounds ever. Reminds me of Bob James Angela and Worchester lady.
rhashad18 please dont mislead people. the Memorymoog didnt arrive until 1982 so its clearly NOT a Memorymoog if the concert is from 1980. He has a Multi and a Minimoog and a Rhodes + a few other keys. In any case its great music we can all 'warm" up to!!!
All of the analog gear is so nice, I too started out on the minimoog, Never own an micro or a multi but love to one day, Jus have a Mini, Memorymoog, prophet 5 rhodes, clave and wurli. There such wonderful devices and tom is playing the heck out of them.Lovin this vid
Hey great clip thanks! BTW that is a Moog Micro Moog next to the Mini! That was my first synth I ever owned back in 85. Cant believe I still like analog as much theres so much more warmth and character to these machines! BTW Tom Shuman plays a super nice solo on one of the Gamelan cds(fusion band from NY!) very heartfelt soloist!
Hey! Thanks for pointing that out. I've got it here on the shelf but never noticed. The self-titled Gamalon cd. Schuman plays on "The King" and "Souvenirs". 1987. sigh... One of my favorite memories is hearing Gamalon play at my school around then. Ted was one powerful drummer. I hope he's still playing. Fun...
Always been a fan, but back in the early Eighties, when tickets hovered around $10-12 bucks, these guys were asking for $35! I never liked them after that; it made me think they were arrogant.
I bought a ticket to watch Spyro Gyra at the Liverpool empire on the tails of Morning Dance, unfortunately they never showed up. Don't know what the reason was. However I was fortunate to see Man Tran in the same year at the same venue what a performance!
I used to catch Spyro Gyra in small clubs like the Stone Baloon in Newark, Delaware. Jay Beckenstien plays like he was born with an alto in his mouth.
I used to watch these guys on Forest Avenue in Buffalo during the late 70s. It was 2 bucks at the door and Labatts were half a buck. What great days. The sound was so new then. It's been diluted to such a degree over the years, but still sounds so fresh in this clip. What fun to find this.
Two synths balanced and over-hanging on a Rhodes, thats a bit precarious !! Whats the synth on Tom's left (the one he doubles a harmony on at the start of his solo) ??
well...it's hard to say. i have a friend who plays "flat", yet is in the classical discipline. but, "curved" fingers are the way to go. normally, jazz musicians, unless they are classically trained, tend to play "flat". or, maybe that's just what i have experienced first-hand. for me, classical pianists SHOULD have better fingers, though it isn't always the case.
heh...funny you say that. i have a friend, who ironically plays "flat", but has his own little postulations about piano technique, saying "when you practice something do it right, otherwise bad habits form until eventually you cultivate those bad habits into technique". Jordan Rudess' keyboard wizardry might be that case. it is so true though. i have a friend of 35, who is immersed in the gospel keys tradition. he plays his C blues scale prestissimo using only the 1st and 2nd fingers...
Early Spyro Gyra is just great. The tune "city kids" is still my favorite. Beautiful chord changes and GREAT synthesizer work by Tom Schuman. That was a long time ago though.
Saw them at blossom music center in akron ohio in the early eighties.We were blown away by Gerardo Velez and the sweet guitar sounds of Chet Catallo and marimba work of Dave Samuels and of course Jay on the sax and Tom Schuman on the keys.I would love to see them do a reunion concert cd or dvd.Cool video post!
Wow! Nice to see these guys in their younger years! Great stuff! Im a huge Spyro Gyra fan since I was in high school up to now. Hope to see them perform live again here in my country. Thanks for the video man...
Vintage Spyro Gyra! Where did you find this? Oh man! And wow, Tom Schuman sure looked a lot different then! (I have a similar pic of him in an album jacket) - also nice to see Jim Kurzdorfer and Gerardo Velez.
Chet Catallo was the best guitarist that they had & he was the original the guy they got now { Julio } he's ok he's a bit Santana-ish but Chet was a pure Jazz guitarists.
f*ckin awesome!
I was introduced to Spyro Gyra's music in my teens by a childhood buddy's older brother in the 80's...
one of the best instrumental pop jazz band ever
ferdzrines954 1 day ago
BOOOOOOOOM. FANTASTIC. THE MUSIC OF MY 20 YEARS
coccodel 3 weeks ago
R.I.P. Jim Kurzdorfer (Bass). He will be greatly missed.
MikeStone05 6 months ago
Saw them in 1982. Awesome. Percussionist came into the crowd!
Hyperlink4321 8 months ago
actually this song came out in the 70s, i think '77
StuWeissman 9 months ago
I just went to a memorial for the man who was the original bass player for Spryo Gyra. He just died recently, and watching this reminds me of how great a musician he was. R.I.P. Jim.
335Titan 9 months ago
The best !!! Love the band since '79 !!
Hanzi63 11 months ago
o yea. eargasm. ahhhh.
irfuzizmar 1 year ago 3
Jay, Tom, and Co. They used to play in little hole in the walls like the Stone Baloon in Newark, Delaware to a crowd of about 300 tops.
swedefinn101 1 year ago
It's funny listening to him describe the genesis of this song as an almagolmation of the various genres of the time; dare I say the greatest generation of all time. Boy, I wish the 80's so much.
Thank you Jay and your work. I may never have the 80's again, but I will always have the music from there and no one can ever take that away from me.
supercooled 1 year ago
Loooong time fan. Since 1987.
Jupita1 1 year ago
Boy!! That is wonderful. Amazing musicianship. I had heard that they were good live. Now I can see for myself. *****
daveyboots 1 year ago
@daveyboots ciao io avevo conosciuto gli s.g. negli anni ottanta e ricordo che avevo un loro album suonato solo sui tasti neri del pianoforte con dei ritmi assurdi. vorrei tanto riascoltarlo ma avendolo perso non ho idea come si chiami...qualcuno puo' aiutarmi per favore?
principeugenio1 1 year ago
This was a great beginning to alot of great music. I "discovered" Spyro Gyra for myself back in 1978. Rochester, NY waiting for a flight back to Laguardia- a small record shop just outside the airport- they had a stack of these albums and the owners said "here take one- they're a great little jazz group from around here". I still have that album!
TheJonBoy72 1 year ago
Only one Jay Beckenstein!!!...Great Post!
SuperXavier30 1 year ago
I love this song !!! Great tune from a fantastic, internationally acclaimed band that started in Buffalo, NY !
DONGOE 1 year ago
I love this song !!! Great tune from a fantastic, internationally acclaimed band that started in Buffalo, NY !
DONGOE 1 year ago
Jim Kurzdofer holdin it down on the bass!!
bakedovenfresh716 1 year ago
OMG I grow up with this song, I am a metalhead though ....this was influenced by my uncle's I can't live without them until now.. I think metal can't live with out them (Jazz music) too.. \m/..
kertzey 1 year ago
I love this song.
RawBiznasProductions 1 year ago
Damn, Tom Schuman is burning up the keys there. I don't care what anybody says, the Moog and B3 Hammond produces some of the best sounds ever. Reminds me of Bob James Angela and Worchester lady.
supercooled 2 years ago
This will sound strange but the original players (ex. Jay Beckenstein and Tom Schuman) had afro-like hair back in the days. Can you believe that!
rhashad18 2 years ago 2
I would not be ashamed of wearing my hair like that.
btw, who's the percussionist?
supercooled 2 years ago
The percussionist was Gerardo Velez; also known as the "dancing percussionist".
rhashad18 2 years ago
this is vintagE!!! i love that~
fredfred1996 2 years ago
Top-of-the-line synth strings at the beginning for 1980. Nice.
grexample 2 years ago
This Group is just amazing due to they talented !!!
this group was the best jazz- fussion group ever!
TheDemonFusion7 2 years ago
This song was the first song that Jay Beckenstein wrote in the smooth jazz, Spyro Gyra. This is also one of my favorite songs by the group
rhashad18 2 years ago
rhashad18 please dont mislead people. the Memorymoog didnt arrive until 1982 so its clearly NOT a Memorymoog if the concert is from 1980. He has a Multi and a Minimoog and a Rhodes + a few other keys. In any case its great music we can all 'warm" up to!!!
alphawav2 2 years ago
I'm Sorry! I thought it was a MemoryMoog.
rhashad18 2 years ago
The synth sounds like Weather Report
Jhabarism01 2 years ago
whats the beckenstein s mouthpiece?? please answer me....
gabribrecker1 2 years ago
Hmm. the mouthpiece the jay beckenstein played was probably a Yamaha alto saxophone.
rhashad18 2 years ago
Is this a mono sound, when he played on the piano?
Daaaninho 2 years ago
A me piacciono un sacco
paperone1971 2 years ago
Thanx for the post my friend!!!
Mr. Chip's
bostonchip2006 2 years ago
One of my favorite songs in the whole world (Die Ganzen Weld) from the states to Turkey to Great Britain,to Kuwait to Spain,to Paris and beyond.
Mr. Chip's in South Carolina
bostonchip2006 2 years ago
All of the analog gear is so nice, I too started out on the minimoog, Never own an micro or a multi but love to one day, Jus have a Mini, Memorymoog, prophet 5 rhodes, clave and wurli. There such wonderful devices and tom is playing the heck out of them.Lovin this vid
dhampex 2 years ago
Hey great clip thanks! BTW that is a Moog Micro Moog next to the Mini! That was my first synth I ever owned back in 85. Cant believe I still like analog as much theres so much more warmth and character to these machines! BTW Tom Shuman plays a super nice solo on one of the Gamelan cds(fusion band from NY!) very heartfelt soloist!
alphawav2 3 years ago
I think its a Multimoog next to the mini.(big brother to the Micromoog)
fystasjoppheng 3 years ago
I stand corrected it IS a Multimoog. The two synths look very very similar. And this video ain't the clearest either.
alphawav2 3 years ago
The Moog keyboard Tom was actually playing was MemoryMoog (not a Multimoog),
rhashad18 2 years ago
Hey! Thanks for pointing that out. I've got it here on the shelf but never noticed. The self-titled Gamalon cd. Schuman plays on "The King" and "Souvenirs". 1987. sigh... One of my favorite memories is hearing Gamalon play at my school around then. Ted was one powerful drummer. I hope he's still playing. Fun...
grexample 2 years ago
Always been a fan, but back in the early Eighties, when tickets hovered around $10-12 bucks, these guys were asking for $35! I never liked them after that; it made me think they were arrogant.
hartistry1957 3 years ago
I bought a ticket to watch Spyro Gyra at the Liverpool empire on the tails of Morning Dance, unfortunately they never showed up. Don't know what the reason was. However I was fortunate to see Man Tran in the same year at the same venue what a performance!
filsgreen 3 years ago
I used to catch Spyro Gyra in small clubs like the Stone Baloon in Newark, Delaware. Jay Beckenstien plays like he was born with an alto in his mouth.
swedefinn101 3 years ago
Synths are Minimoog and Moog Prodigy or Source (?) on top of the Rhodes, Oberheim 4-voice n the right of the Rhodes
GoodSneakers 3 years ago 2
Not a Prodigy nor a Source it's a Multimoog
HammondB200 3 years ago
I used to watch these guys on Forest Avenue in Buffalo during the late 70s. It was 2 bucks at the door and Labatts were half a buck. What great days. The sound was so new then. It's been diluted to such a degree over the years, but still sounds so fresh in this clip. What fun to find this.
DylanJackDad 3 years ago
Two synths balanced and over-hanging on a Rhodes, thats a bit precarious !! Whats the synth on Tom's left (the one he doubles a harmony on at the start of his solo) ??
monsterjazzlicks 3 years ago
Great line up!!
Eli Konikoff and Chet Catallo...
ackerlaw2004 3 years ago 4
This comment has received too many negative votes show
this totally sucks, but it's fun to watch!
dcramer76 3 years ago
Tom Schuman was really good at mini-moog solos. I agree, the analog synths are more expressive and musical.
stretch54 3 years ago 2
Wow - great band! Maybe I'm a bit biased, but just listen to to the Prophet and moog keyboards sing man. Ahh Jaz and analogue synths :)
Leviathan121 3 years ago
there's no prophet
HammondB200 3 years ago
Look at all of the buttons on Tom's keyboard
mrrogers555 3 years ago
Good song for relax after work.
gonzalesmilla 3 years ago
the bassist is james kurzdorfer and he's my jazz ensemble teacher....he's sick on the double bass and keyboard
jazzysinger07 3 years ago
wow...tom shuman has fingers like a classical pianist.
tdavis2797 4 years ago
do non-classical players have less better fingers?
HammondB200 4 years ago
well...it's hard to say. i have a friend who plays "flat", yet is in the classical discipline. but, "curved" fingers are the way to go. normally, jazz musicians, unless they are classically trained, tend to play "flat". or, maybe that's just what i have experienced first-hand. for me, classical pianists SHOULD have better fingers, though it isn't always the case.
tdavis2797 4 years ago
Yeah I was always taught wrists up! Check out Jordan Rudess - Keyboard Wizardry his wrists are below the keys! yet he's amazingly fast! =:-O
SaxyPianoMan 3 years ago
heh...funny you say that. i have a friend, who ironically plays "flat", but has his own little postulations about piano technique, saying "when you practice something do it right, otherwise bad habits form until eventually you cultivate those bad habits into technique". Jordan Rudess' keyboard wizardry might be that case. it is so true though. i have a friend of 35, who is immersed in the gospel keys tradition. he plays his C blues scale prestissimo using only the 1st and 2nd fingers...
tdavis2797 3 years ago
This is still my favorite song by Spyro Gyra
peppersax 4 years ago
One of mine too. Have you heard Manhatten Transfer's version? Not a bad piece of work.
knightflyte 3 years ago
I've got that one in my archives. Great remake of a classic! Good call.
peppersax 3 years ago
exciting to see some old spyro gyra on youtube!
mmffxx 4 years ago
Their early years are far and away their best years. They'll always be one of my favorite jazz groups.
noleit 4 years ago
Early Spyro Gyra is just great. The tune "city kids" is still my favorite. Beautiful chord changes and GREAT synthesizer work by Tom Schuman. That was a long time ago though.
stretch54 4 years ago
I hear you!!!
City Kids was my very first Spyro Gyra album. A real masterpiece, and still my favourite.
The tune "City Kids" is for sure one of the real, but underrated hits by Spyro.
ATB
Daniel
doeni2 4 years ago
Nothing short of an exceptional performance! Thanks for posting something truly great!
Classic63EType 4 years ago
love this song so much, i love spyr gyra, got alot of their songs on my ipod, like tellride, teardrops, freefall, love it
rc1984 4 years ago
Saw them at blossom music center in akron ohio in the early eighties.We were blown away by Gerardo Velez and the sweet guitar sounds of Chet Catallo and marimba work of Dave Samuels and of course Jay on the sax and Tom Schuman on the keys.I would love to see them do a reunion concert cd or dvd.Cool video post!
gnolt 4 years ago
Chet { in my mind} was the best guitarist they had he was pure jazz remember Lovin you on Catching the Sun ?
radmason 4 years ago
You are right about Chet.He seemd to have more of a classic jazz sound.Lovin you is right up their with morning dance as on of my favorites too.
gnolt 4 years ago
Also my friend this particular video of this tune { Shaker Song } i have the entire concert & Lovin You is on the concert tape
radmason 4 years ago
cool!!!
rockerbanger 4 years ago
This is my song!
mscatwallace 4 years ago
excellent!
hayawatta 4 years ago
Wow! Nice to see these guys in their younger years! Great stuff! Im a huge Spyro Gyra fan since I was in high school up to now. Hope to see them perform live again here in my country. Thanks for the video man...
gelopot 5 years ago
Great song, great band!
acidicjazzhead 5 years ago
Vintage Spyro Gyra! Where did you find this? Oh man! And wow, Tom Schuman sure looked a lot different then! (I have a similar pic of him in an album jacket) - also nice to see Jim Kurzdorfer and Gerardo Velez.
sethtriggs 5 years ago
Chet Catallo was the best guitarist that they had & he was the original the guy they got now { Julio } he's ok he's a bit Santana-ish but Chet was a pure Jazz guitarists.
radmason 4 years ago