On this first day of Spring — Thursday, March 20, 2025 — jazz lovers interested in catching the sun make their way inside the glittery Vogel performance space in Red Bank, NJ for a sold-out concert by the jazz fusion band, Spyro Gyra.
The crowd cheers as saxophonist Jay Beckenstein, guitarist Julio Fernandez, keyboardist Chris Fischer, bassist Scott Ambush, and drummer Lionel Cordew take the stage. Opening with “Capetown Love,” Jay Beckenstein moves to the groove as he plays his alto sax with style and technique on this tune with an island feel.
The band follows up with “50/50,” a song co-written by keyboardist Chris Fischer and bassist Scott Ambush in honor of the group’s 50th anniversary. Beckenstein and guitarist Julio Fernandez start this funky tune which features guitar and keyboard solos as lights stream over the stage.
Beckenstein welcomes tonight’s crowd and introduces the group’s next number, revealing that guitarist Julio Fernandez emigrated from Cuba to the United States at age six and that the song “commemorates his journey to America.” On “The Crossing,” Fernandez vocalizes on an arrangement which also features Beckenstein rendering the melody of this upbeat and jazzy ballad on soprano sax before Fernandez intensifies his guitar solo playing out the story of his journey with feeling.
Following his solo, Fernandez invites the audience to echo sing with him on a call and response which takes the song to another level before the arrangement slowly winds down to avid cheers and applause.
Accompanied by Fischer’s keyboard, Beckenstein’s soprano sax calls out the sweet and poignant melody of “The Unknown Soldier” where concertgoers are stilled by the simplicity and intricacy of his performance.
As the piece takes on a march-like feel, Cordew, Ambush, and Fernandez join in on the musical parade that captivates listeners before the performance ends in a crescendoing flurry of notes.
After confessing, “I really get swept up in that song,” Beckenstein introduces a number written by keyboardist Chris Fischer in honor of the late Spyro Gyra marimba player, Dave Samuels. Despite the fact that Samuels never enjoyed flying, the piece is entitled “Frequent Flyer,” which, as Fischer explains, is a tune which reminds listeners “to face your fears.”
Beckenstein’s alto sax soars on this high energy number filled with dissonance and harmony. After Fischer plays a keyboard solo, the band exits the stage leaving drummer Lionel Cordew to execute a percussion solo where he plays with speed and precision, eliciting cheers and applause from the crowd.
Beckenstein introduces a medley of classic Spyro Gyra songs, joking, “We’re going to go back to the ’80s to some tunes which sound a little bit tropical because I wrote them in Buffalo, NY.” Here, the band sails into the happy and upbeat “Old San Juan,” where Beckenstein’s alto sax leads the swaying dance that entrances music lovers with its melody and magic.
Fernandez uses two hands on his guitar’s neck at times, bending strings and dancing while he plays before getting the crowd clapping along as the medley segues into “Heliopolis.” On this upbeat and catchy tune, Chris Fischer contributes a lightning fast keyboard solo that evokes hoots and hollers from the audience.
Beckenstein explains, “Julio Fernandez grew up in Hoboken, NJ, where he learned about R&B, the blues, jazz, rock and roll, and other kinds of music, but this next song goes back to Cuba.” On “De La Luz,” Fernandez starts off fingerpicking his electric guitar as he sings in Spanish in his soulful tenor voice. As the arrangement picks up in speed and intensity, Beckenstein enters on soprano sax on this lively Latin tune before Fernandez cries, “New Jersey’s got the rhythm/You’ve got the rhythm in your heart!” and audience members clap along while swaying to the music.
The crowd hoots and hollers and the group shimmies into “Wiggle Room,” a Scott Ambush composition where Ambush steps out in front for a funky bass solo where he plays his instrument like a banjo.
Tapping his bass as his thumb strums and plucks the strings while his left hand plays up and down the neck, both the audience and Scott’s bandmates watch with enthusiasm before erupting in cheers.
Beckenstein introduces another medley, joking, “These next three songs are classics written in the ’70s when I was in my 20s. Now it’s the ’20s and I’m in my 70s!” Opening with an updated arrangement of “Shaker Song,” Beckenstein plays the familiar melody on alto sax before he and the band segue into “Catching the Sun” where Fernandez gets the crowd clapping along to the tune’s radiant, tropical groove.
Played on synthesizer, the classic marimba intro to “Morning Dance” entices music lovers to clap along to this feel-good tune where Fischer plays a keyboard solo, Fernandez is featured on guitar, and Beckenstein’s sax brings cheers from the crowd.
Concertgoers stand as the musicians exit the stage but soon return for an encore. Ambush gets the crowd clapping along to “Daddy’s Got a New Girl Now,” where Fernandez, Ambush, and the crew jam on this infectious tune while concertgoers stand and dance.
Hoots, hollers, cheers, and applause ensue as the musicians take a final bow and exit the stage.
As concertgoers make their way out of the theater, several comment on tonight’s performance by Spyro Gyra. Declares Pat from Ocean Township, “They were great! It was sort of nostalgic in a way — I go back to the ’70s and the ’80s with them — and even after all these years, they still sound fabulous. Plus, Jay Beckenstein is phenomenal on sax!”
Don from Ocean Township agrees, adding, “I’ve been listening to Spyro Gyra since the ’70s and they sound fantastic!” before insisting, “Individually they’re all great, but together they’re even better.”
Remarks Floree from Eatontown, “I love Spyro Gyra! Every time I’ve seen them — and I go way back with them — they’ve been great; they have so much energy! I’ve been a fan since the ’70s and I came out to see them again tonight because these guys really know how to put on a show.”
Gary from Hazlet concurs, recalling, “I’ve been following them for years but I only saw them live one time, years ago, in Greenwich Village and they’re still spot on the money.”
Whereas Rob from Lincroft insists, “It was a tremendous show by great musicians — each one is a virtuoso,” Suzanne from Lincroft maintains, “They’re so smooth! I didn’t want the night to end!”
Oghenero from Brooklyn, NY exclaims, “They were absolutely incredible — it’s crazy to me that people could sound this good live!” prior to recalling, “My mom used to play in a steel drum band and they did a lot of Spyro Gyra covers so I grew up with them in my ears. To hear the music played exactly as I remember it was an incredible experience.”
Oghenero’s sister, Ejiro, agrees, noting, “I absolutely loved this show! Spyro Gyra’ music is very nostalgic for us — years ago, my late uncle introduced us to it so it’s been a part of our family for a very long time and, even today, I still listen to it,” to which brother Oghenero exclaims, “Of course! They can play so many different flavors of everything!”
To learn more about Spyro Gyra, please go to spyrogyra.com. For info on great upcoming concerts at The Vogel — including Al Di Meola on April 1, Duane Betts and Palmetto Hotel on April 16, and Rodney Crowell on April 24 — please click on thebasie.org.
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