artist info

"When I saw that Spyro had done an album of covers, I cringed. Then I was terrified to begin listening. Then I listened. Now I can't stop listening. Jay and the guys have pulled off an incredible feat. An entire album of incredible 'covering' of great songs instrumentally. And the more times you listen, the better they get. Everyone's taking off on their different instrument solos is captivating. Drum solos aren't 'drum solos' here. Bass solos aren't just 'bass solos' here. Because of Spyro's SO distinctive players, what normally would be just those bass and drum solos with Spyro just further define these incredible classic rock songs. This album is positively fabulous.” - Art Good, Jazztrax Radio

As Spyro Gyra looks forward to 2020 and beyond, they show no sign of slowing down. Over the last 40+ years, they have performed over five thousand shows, released thirty-one albums (not counting “Best Of…” compilations) selling over ten million albums while also achieving one platinum and two gold albums. Although few acts have accomplished this type of record, they have done it by constantly challenging themselves as is evidenced by their last studio release “The Rhinebeck Sessions” which was written and recorded over three days in the studio.

Spyro Gyra, whose odd name has since become world famous, was first known simply as “Tuesday Night Jazz Jams,” a forum wherein Beckenstein and Wall were joined by a rotating cast of characters. Tuesday just happened to be the night when most musicians weren’t playing other gigs to pay their bills. The group’s increasing popularity – combined with the purchase of a new sign for the club – prompted the owner to insist that Beckenstein come up with a name for his band: “It began as a joke. I said ‘spirogyra,’ he misspelled it, and here we are thirty years later. In retrospect, it’s okay. In a way, it sounds like what we do. It sounds like motion and energy.”