Track Listings (13) - Disc #1| All Artists: Spyro Gyra Title: Original Cinema Members Wishing: 0 Total Copies: 0 Label: Heads Up Original Release Date: 1/1/2003 Re-Release Date: 2/25/2003 Album Type: Enhanced Genres: Jazz, Pop Styles: Jazz Fusion, Smooth Jazz Number of Discs: 1 SwapaCD Credits: 1 UPCs: 053361307424, 0053361307424, 053361907464, 005336130742, 053361307424 |
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Search - Spyro Gyra :: Original Cinema
 | Spyro Gyra Original Cinema Genres: Jazz, Pop
Saxophonist and bandleader Jay Beckenstein was a master of the smooth jazz sound before the genre had a name. He hasn't lost his touch on this outing, but it's clear that his bandmates--guitarist Julio Fernandez and bassis... more » |
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Amazon.com Saxophonist and bandleader Jay Beckenstein was a master of the smooth jazz sound before the genre had a name. He hasn't lost his touch on this outing, but it's clear that his bandmates--guitarist Julio Fernandez and bassist Scott Ambush--are also learning the art of crafting a pop instrumental hook. Compositions by the former, "Bump It Up" and "Close-Up," and the latter's "Handheld" highlight this 13-song outing that finds the group firmly back in the smooth jazz pocket after being a bit more adventurous on their last album. Songs from perhaps the band's best writer, Tom Schuman, are conspicuously absent, but he makes up for it with a couple of stunning piano solos, particularly on the not too dark, "Film Noir." The vibraphones of former permanent recording member, David Samuels, used to define the sound of Spyro Gyra, and whenever he makes a guest shot the old '80s Spyro Gyra comes out. But with other voices emerging, Spyro Gyra is becoming a less predictable unit, and they're headed in a good direction, which is important for a group with a quarter century of history behind them. --Mark Ruffin Similarly Requested CDs
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CD ReviewsWhat *jazz* is meant to be! Shorty J | 03/21/2003 (5 out of 5 stars) "I've owned the newest Spyro Gyra CD for about a week now, and it is truly excellent. I knew that a couple of the songs sounded familiar, and they are pretty familiar to any TWC viewer. The Weather Channel (TWC) uses 3 of the album's songs in its local updates! They are 3. "Dream Sequence", 9. "Handheld" (I love this song) and 11. "Getaway". I must admit that I was track-shifting the first couple of days (to the TWC songs, haha!), but when you go through the whole CD, it REALLY grows on you; and fast! The *jazziness* of all the tracks make you want to get up and dance, it's amazing. But that is Spyro Gyra all of the time, isn't it? It's impossible for me to describe each song, but they each have their own flair. All are well-organized with great piano, guitar and drum assitance. Spyro Gyra is truly a band effort, not a single person with some "backups". Everything just meshes well together. I must say, the ending track, abtly entitled, "Flashback" is a sort of retrospective song, nice and slow. Like a cooling-down period! This is DEFINITELY a great buy!! Enjoy!" #26 Is A Keeper! highflyingadore | Washington, DC (area) | 05/17/2003 (5 out of 5 stars) "13 songs and 62:30 worth of contemporary jazz from one of the genre's best! I disagree with Amazon's music editor - there is no way I would call this "smooth".I have to admit that the first couple of times I played through this CD, I wasn't blown away. However, after playing it several more times, and really listening to it, I liked it. In fact, I like it better each time I play it. This is truly a group effort and these guys understand that and know how to work it. I think the individual players do their best solo work on track #2 - "Extrovertical" and track #7 - "Film Noir". Tom Schuman even does a synthesizer solo on track two. There are several other tracks which have become my favorites: #1 - Bump It Up, #5 - Big Dance Number, #8 - Cape Town Love (Andy Narrell's steel drums sound great!), #12 - Calle Ocho (a Spyrogyra CD would not be complete without a latin infused song), and #13 - Flashback (just Tom and Jay). These songs are played so well, and with such passion on CD, that I can hardly wait to hear them performed live." Great CD; possibly Spyro Gyras Best. B. Crawford | Tallahassee, Fl United States | 04/25/2004 (5 out of 5 stars) ""Change is inevitable; Growth is OPTIONAL."Those were the words of my favorite College professor. They immediately came to mind after reading some of the reviews of this CD. All things MUST change. Everything. ESPECIALLY the music industry. The question is, will that change br good or bad? Well, "Original Cinema" by Smooth Jazz super group Spyro Gyra perfectly illustrates positive growth in my opinion. A change for the better. This is in keeping with their trend over the last few studio albums starting with "Got The Magic".Prior to "Got The Magic" each album was an expression of a formula that was getting fairly dated and predictible. Face it; Spyro Gyra had gotton into a rut and their music sounded the same for years. Predictably the same. And while it was still entertaining, it definitely needed new life and a new direction. "Original Cinema" is a continuation of the change that started with "Got The Magic" and "In Modern Times" and each and every song on this new album is a winner.On this CD all of the members of the band contribute to the whole, not only in their performances, but in the composition and arrangements as well. The end result is a collection of songs that still have that Spyro Gyra feel but with a new flavor... one that true Spyro Gyra fans can appreciate and enjoy.This is a REALLY good CD; in my opinion their best. It has quiclky become my favorite from one of my favorite groups and if you listen in with an open mind you'll love it too. It really does represent POSITIVE growth for the band and I only hope they continue down this path for future recordings.P.S: If you liked "Got The Magic" you'll LOVE Chuck Loebs post-DMP recordings with the lone exception of "Memory Lane" his last DMP album, which by the way, was EXCELLENT. He wrote/produced quite a few of the songs on that CD, and his influence helped result in a new and VERY pleasing sound for the band. Check out ALL of his Shanachee CDs for some really GREAT music."
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