Spyro Gyra

Formed in Buffalo, New York, by saxophonist Jay Beckenstein in 1974, Spyro Gyra has remained one of the most popular, commercially savvy, and prolific American jazz-fusion bands for decades. Originally named Spirogyra, the scientific term for a type of green algae, the band embraced the alternate spelling after a club owner mistakenly advertised them as such. Nearly 20 musicians have done stints in the band over the years—including vibraphonist Dave Samuels, guitarist Jay Azzolina, and percussionist Marc Quiñones—but Beckenstein has maintained leadership through countless stylistic shifts, helping to pave the way for the smooth jazz movement. From the start, the group chiseled its instrumentals to their essence, with each concise, indelibly melodic solo meticulously placed within bubbly arrangements. Spyro Gyra’s second album, 1979’s Morning Dance—which initiated a string of hit albums for MCA— landed on international pop charts, and set in motion a revolving door of band members and stylistic shifts incorporating funk grooves, rock-style guitar, pop concision, and seductive melodies. Despite the changing personnel, the group has been a model of jazz-pop consistency, releasing more than two dozen albums.