Morning Dance is the title of the second studio album by Spyro Gyra, released in 1979. The album cover shows an intricate and detailed colour illustration of a woodland scene with dancing fairies and other insects, being spied upon by a young woman.
Morning Dance is Spyro Gyra’s most commercially successful album. The title cut became a major radio hit (Billboard #24 pop, #1 adult contemporary.)
Spyro Gyra is an American jazz fusion band that was originally formed in the mid-1970s in Buffalo, New York, USA. With over 25 albums released and 10 million copies sold, they are among the most prolific as well as commercially successful groups of the scene. Among their most successful hit singles are “Shaker Song” and “Morning Dance”, which received significant play on popular music radio stations, and are still frequently heard nearly 30 years later on jazz and easy listening stations.
Their music, which has been influential in the development of smooth jazz, combines jazz with elements of R&B, funk and pop music. Although generally considered to be more “jazz” than “smooth”, Spyro Gyra have been praised as skilled instrumentalists and for their live performances, which average nearly 100 per year.
With the exception of alto saxophonist, songwriter & founding bandleader Jay Beckenstein and keyboardist Tom Schuman the personnel has changed somewhat over time as well as between the studio and the live stage.
Morning Dance Spyro Gyra
Track listing and personnel
1. “Morning Dance” (Jay Beckenstein) – 4:11
- Jay Beckenstein: Alto Saxophone
- Jeremy Wall: Electric Piano
- John Tropea: Electric and Acoustic Guitar
- Jim Kurzforder: Bass
- Ted Reinhardt: Drums
- Rubens Bassini: Congas and Percussion
- Dave Samuels: Marimba and Steel Drum
2. “Jubilee” (Jeremy Wall) – 4:31
- Jay Beckenstein: Alto Saxophone
- Jeremy Wall: Electric Piano & Synthesizers
- John Tropea: Electric Guitar
- Will Lee: Bass
- Steve Jordan: Drums
- Rubens Bassini: Congas & Percussion
- Randy Brecker: Trumpet Solo
- Dave Samuels : Marimba
3. “Rasul” (Jeremy Wall) – 3:57
- Jay Beckenstein: Soprano and Tenor Saxophone
- Jeremy Wall: Acoustic and Electric Piano
- Rick Strauss: Guitar
- Jim Kurzdorfer: Bass
- Ted Reinhardt: Drums
- John Clark: French Horn
4. “Song for Lorraine” (Jay Beckenstein) – 3:59
- Jay Beckenstein: Soprano Saxophones
- Tom Schuman: Electric and Acoustic Pianos
- Chet Catallo: Guitar
- Jim Kurzdorfer: Bass
- Eli Konikoff: Drums
- Gerardo Velez: Congas, Bongos, and Percussion
- Suzanne Ciani: Synthesizers
- Lani Groves, Diva Grey, Gordon Grody: Vocalists
5. “Starburst” (Jeremy Wall) – 4:50
- Jay Beckenstein: Tenor Saxophone (Intro)
- Jeremy Wall: Electric Piano & Synthesizers
- John Tropea: Guitar
- Will Lee: Bass
- Steve Jordan: Drums
- Rubens Bassini: Congas, Timbales & Percussion
- Michael Brecker: Tenor Saxophone Solo
6. “Heliopolis” (Jay Beckenstein) – 5:34
- Jay Beckenstein: Tenor Saxophone (Intro)
- Jeremy Wall: Electric Piano & Synthesizers
- John Tropea: Guitar
- Will Lee: Bass
- Steve Jordan: Drums
- Rubens Bassini: Congas, Timbales & Percussion
- Dave Samuels: Marimba
- Tom Schuman: Rhodes solo
7. “It Doesn’t Matter” (Chet Catallo) – 4:27
- Jay Beckenstein: Soprano Saxophones
- Tom Schuman: Electric and Acoustic Pianos
- Chet Catallo: Guitar
- Jim Kurzdorfer: Bass
- Eli Konikoff: Drums
- Suzanne Ciani: Synthesizer
- Jeremy Wall: Synthesizer
- Gerardo Velez: Congas
- Lani Groves, Diva Grey, Gordon Grody: Vocalists
8. “Little Linda” (Jeremy Wall) – (4:27)
- Jay Beckenstein: Alto Saxophone
- Jeremy Wall: Electric Piano, Acoustic Piano and Percussion
- Rick Strauss: Guitar
- Jim Kurzdorfer: Bass
- Ted Reinhardt: Drums
- Rubens Bassini: Bongos and Percussion
- Dave Samuels: Vibraphone
9. “End of Romanticism” (Rick Strauss) – 5:00
- Jay Beckenstein: Soprano Saxophone
- Jeremy Wall: Electric Piano
- Rick Strauss: Electric & 12-String Guitar
- Jim Kurzdorfer: Bass
- Ted Reinhardt: Drums
- David Samuels: Marimba
- Tom Schuman: Synthesizers Solos
- John Clark: French Horn
batteur/percussionniste Bonny Bonaparte. Avec plus de 25 albums au compteur et 10 millions de copies vendues, ils forment l’un des groupes de jazz fusion les plus vendeurs aux États-Unis. Leur musique combinant jazz et éléments de funk, R&B ou pop (avec quelques influences caribéennes notables), ils sont de ce fait considérés comme l’un des groupes ayant forgé le son du smooth jazz, ce qui leur vaudra parfois les critiques de puristes qui leur reprocheront leur approche trop mélodique et donc leur manque d’improvisation, cas classique de tous les artistes ou groupes appartenant à ce genre. Toutefois, ils sont reconnus comme des musiciens de talent, notamment pour leurs prestations live et accumulent les récompenses aux Grammy Awards, aussi bien dans les catégories Jazz fusion, Pop instrumentale que R&B instrumental.
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