Spyro Gyra: Vinyl Tap

Just when you thought accessible jazz was a thing of the past, we’ve gotten two releases from venerable crossover bands, The Yellowjackets with Raising Our Voice, and now Spyro Gyra, which sounds completely rejuvenated. Saxist Jay Beckenstein and company have come up with a great idea in taking hits from his Baby Boomer rock days and swinging them up, and it works. Together with Tom Schuman/key, Julio Fernandez/g Scott Ambus/b and Lionel Cordew/dr, the give a soul CTI groove to The Doobie Brothers’ “What A Fool Believes” and cruise like it’s Friday night in Van Nuys as Beck sits in his 67 Malibu on “The Cisco Kid.” Cordew gives a “Sing Sing Sing” beat to a swinging “Secret Agent Mash” and Ambush gets funky on Cream’s “Sunshine Of Your Love.” Even the folk rock band CSNY gets to boogie with Schuman on the humming Hammond on a smoky “Carry On” and for you jazz policeman, Oliver Nelson’s classic “Stolen Moments” gets funkified, while Beck’s horn on the Beatles’ “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” is a joyful hoot. Who’s got the lava lamp?

www.spyrogyra.com

 

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