Customer Reviews

Alternating Currents

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In this CD, Spyro Gyra has a new guitarist--Julio Fernandez replaces Chet Catallo. I cannot honestly say that I prefer one over the other, they just have a different style. The album starts off upbeat with the catchy and upbeat "Shakedown" and then proceeds into a somewhat raucous but still melodic title cut "Alternating Currents". We then slow down into "Taking the Plunge". Honestly, I could do without the scatterbrained "Binky's Dream No. 6" as this is nothing more than mildly amusing. And on no other piece is Julio Fernandez's talent more apparent than on the awesome guitar solo on "PG". Then we move back to the past a bit in "Heartbeat". And nobody can forget the ever hummable "Mardi Gras" after which we slow down into "I Believe in You", just to pick up the pace and end with the mood lifting "Sunflurry".

The group's style has changed somewhat here, but they're just as talented as ever at making good music!!

This album is a real classic! From the period in the eighties when Spyro Gyra was at their height. After their big success, Morning Dance, Spyro Gyra prooved they could make more great music in the relm of great fusion jazz music. 1985, the group had been around, making records, for about seven years. Since their first album, Spyro Gyra, they have grown, and the music got better and better, but they were pretty well machured when they did come out, just at this time, they were even better. This album, starts off with the classic, Shakedown. A unique, shuffle, based swing. Great saxophone Jay Beckenstein! Alternating Currents, is a great piece. It is hardly a , "normal", song. Richie Morales, drums, delivers some nice grooves! Some other great songs, are PG, and Binky's Dream #5. If you like other classic Spyro Gyra from the 1980's, you'll absolutely love this compact disk!

Alternating Currents is a fantastic Spyro Gyra cd. It was released in 1985. Right in the center of the climax of Spyro Gyra's career. Alternating Currents is part of my music collection, and I'm glad that I have it. This particular album would rank in my top 8 favorite Spyro Gyra cd's of all time.

Alternating Currents has an overall jazz rock/fusion sound to it. My top 3 favorite songs off of this cd would have to be tracks 1,2, and 9. Shakedown is an amazingly well done and put together song. It is, in my opinion, one of their best songs of all time. It has a very cool beat to it and I have listened to it countless times. Alternating Currents is a good song with fantastic guitar parts in it. Sunflurry is a nice, relaxing song. Tom Schuman does a great job on keyboards. All 9 songs on this album are great Spyro Gyra.

Overall, this is a terrific cd. It is well worth it to purchase it. This is classic Spyro Gyra. The cover art is even of a real hurricane! Thank you for taking the time and generosity to read my review.

Music's pre-eminent fusionists score again with this sparkling work. Crisp, clean, jazz driven melodies and harmonies pour from one's speakers in a bright cascade of sound, with saxophonist Jay Beckenstein's distinctive, fluid wail soaring through and above the accompaniment. I can't imagine driving home from work without having some Spyro Gyra on the stereo to speed me on my way.

This is a super duper release by spy, every song is great.It is the only spyro gyra album that comes even near to Breakout.

If this album could have a more fitting title I wouldn't know it. Not only were two major hurricanes in Gloria and Elena creating havock across America during the year this came out but music was in an interesting state as well. Nevermind the acoustic side and the young lions:even the old FUSION bands were in a mess and this was one of them. It wasn't that they didn't have the chops to jam hard and compose great melodies. Things were just getting so poppy out there few knew what to do. So the title of this album expressess perhaps that meaning,for one they lost original members Eli Konikoff and Chet Catallo just prior to this. It didn't matter though because Ritche Morales on drums and Julio Fernandez on electric guitar have great sounds and represents the fact that this album rejuvinated the bands approch as they entered midway into their first full decade as recording artists.

Overall this is one of the finest and funkiest albums Spyro Gyra ever released,containing some adventurous instrumental grooves,grooves and harmonic variations that showed this was no mere "late 70's brunch style jazz-pop fluke" kind of band. "Shakedown" puts them to the test and succeeds with that retro R&B shuffle that gives it the flavor of a more obviously upbeat Steely Dan sound. The title song and in particular the uniquely chorded "Binky's Dream No.6" are both furious,energetic funk tunes that build up in energy level and never stop until the song does,especially the parts where the bass is carrying the tunes. Jay Beckenstein's "Taking The Plunge","PG" and in particular the Dave Samuels "Mardis Gras" are the only real throwbacks to the "old" late 70's sound of the band most people remember. The album concludes with two Tom Schuman numbers-the slow and jazzy "I Believe In You" and the slickly grooving "Sunflurry",showcasing how Schuman knows his way around the fusion synthesizer in much the same manner Jeff Lorber does.

Excellent and hard grooving music overall this album presents just about everything that Spyro Gyra represented musically. It had a lot of melody,a lot of jazz and a LOT of funk. Sometimes overlooked these days as a transitional album while the band were breaking in new members this actually represented a rebound for them as opposed to an awkward moment. With it's heavy synthesized keyboard,bass/guitar style style this albums different and more contemporary production suits the more groove centered nature of the material extremely well. Wikipedia makes the point well-if Spyro Gyra were smooth jazz forebears they should have no guilt especially since their music always laid towards the "jazz" and fusion end as opposed to being "smooth". And even when this album is soft it isn't exactly smooth. Sensual yes. Moody yes. But smooth and soft?Not exactly. So the forcast for their immediate future was looking very good. And why not? Time would show they'd have every reason to be celebratory.

Este cd es realmente excelente. Jay Beckenstein con su insuperable saxofón nos entrega junto a su equipo una selección de temas perfectamente ensamblados y con mucho sabor. Tom Schuman en los teclados es excelente!!!
Destacan los temas "Shakedown", todo un clásico y el tema "Sunflurry" donde el grupo despliega virtuosismo y multiritmos alucinantes.
A disfrutar!!!

Soprano saxophone and electric guitar on this album are exquisite. The tunes really flow well with an apparent swing, rhythm, and momentum that climaxes well. Leaves you with a good jazzed up feeling. Usually Beckenstein plays alto but on a couple of songs here he sounds better than Kenny G on soprano. His improvisation abilities are second to none!!

I have a somewhat biased opinion of this album as it was one of my first spyro gyra recordings. The first two tracks can be considered smooth jazz staples, this band really defined this genre of music. Jay Beckenstein is a master of the sax and his style is one of the most distinctive and copied sounds in smooth jazz today. He is the godfather of smooth jazz and having met him personally after a performance, I can say he is a true gentleman as well. Definitely worth a listen. This band has so much great material, you could listen for a few days without repetition. TRUE SMOOTH JAZZ. Highly recommended!