Note: this release was originally purchased as an LP, later replaced by a CD.
For this, Spyro Gyra's eighth studio album, the band featured a new guitarist (Julio Fernández replaced Chet Catallo) but the band doesn't miss a beat. The group was at its peak in the decade ca. 1978-87 and this falls squarely within that timeline. In the '80s, I pretty much bought every SG album as soon as possible after it was released and I'm sure this was no exception. Like all SG albums from this time, the core members and composers in the band, saxophonist Jay Beckenstein and keyboardist Tom Schuman, are on top of their game producing Latin-flavored smooth jazz that borders on instrumental pop music. Guitarist Fernández is a fantastic soloist and a welcome addition. Definitely in the top half of the 23 Spyro Gyra CDs I own. ;-) Seriously, it easily makes the top 5. (Since this is the final review of SG CDs currently in my collection, I briefly considered ranking the albums 1-23, but figured my head might explode during such an attempt, so I'd like to avoid that if I could.)
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| Billboard, June 29, 1985, p. 66 |
Album chart peaks:
- US Billboard Top 200: #66
- Billboard Pop CD: #21
- Billboard Jazz: #3
- Billboard R&B: #41
- CashBox: #79
- CashBox Jazz: #4
- CashBox CD: #29
- Radio & Records Jazz Radio National Airplay: #4
Tracks: The opener, Shakedown, is a solid tune followed by my favorite cut on the album, the title track. Love the pulsating marimba underneath the syncopated staccato melody. The slower songs, Taking The Plunge (For Jennifer) and the beautiful jazz waltz I Believe In You, are also good and a return to the late '70s sound of the group. The only track to skip is the weak funk fusion jam, Binky's Dream No. 6.
Personal Memory Associated with this CD: The summer of 1985 was one of my best summers ever and this was part of the soundtrack.
Previously revisited for the blog:
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