Eye Contact

Jay Beckenstein

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 18, 2000)
• Original Release Date: April 18, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Windham Hill Records
• ASIN: B00004SBRE
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #154,726 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
With Eye Contact Spyro Gyra saxophonist Jay Beckenstein offers an album that fits cleanly alongside the Spyro catalog but also stretches beyond its usual parameters. He surrounds himself with great veteran talent: Chieli Minucci (Special EFX), Jason Miles (producer of Miles Davis and David Sanborn), Jeff Beal, and Chuck Loeb--along with a roll call of world-class bassists including Mark Egan, Marcus Miller, Will Lee, John Patitucci, and South African player Bakithi Kumalo. Over a pitter-patter percussion groove, Beckenstein's soprano swirls around Minucci's breezy acoustic guitar lines on "Sunrise." On "West Side Cool," Jason Miles surrounds the saxman's confident, strutting alto with moody atmospherics and a rolling bass line. The bluesy, retrosoul-flavored "Northline" finds Loeb's crying guitar line and organ simmering around the alto, while the title track features Beckenstein and Loeb creating pure romantic passion. Loeb's acoustic improvisations ease in and around Beckenstein's alto and tenor and Egan's winding bass lines on the upbeat "The Other Side." After another triumphant Beckenstein-Loeb romance on "Heart and Mind," the saxman pays tribute to his one-time teacher Charles Mingus on the legendary bassist's "Goodbye, Pork Pie Hat" (featuring John Patitucci). --Jonathan Widran

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Unbalanced, April 23, 2000

By	Jay Herbert "JHerbert" (SF CA) - See all my reviews

I found the over-burdened multi-sequencing of the first half of this disc distracting except for track 3 "Northline" which with Will Lee's bass makes this retro groove ala Steely Dan work.For me after Mingus,the best "Goodbye Porkpie Hat" was Jeff Beck's version on the Wired" album.This smooth Jazz version,despite John Patitucci's subdued bass is without much merit.But once you get to Joe Zawinul's "Black Market" with Marcus Miller and Omar Hakim supplying a much needed "soul" to this record I'm there!The next track "Turnaround", also with with Omar on Kit moves the CD with the same spirit,but Jay's gotta be more aggressive.The closing track "Lookin' Up" despite sequencing has a distinct feel thanks to Chieli Minucci who brings a certain "in the house" type groove and yes NO soprano sax ..yeah there you go, do the Tenor.A little less Chuck Loeb (no knock,Chuck's cool,he just over did the sequencing on tracks 1,2,4&8 for my taste)a lot more bass and drum kit.James

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Jay'z Jazz, July 15, 2000

By	Chris Fitzmaurice (Tulsa, OK United States) - See all my reviews

Spyro Gyra frontman and sax ace, Jay Beckenstein comes up with a winner in Eye Contact. This collection has some very cool tracks; Northline, Eye Contact, Monsoon (really nice), and a sweet rendition of Goodbye Porkpie Hat. A noticeably looser, less kinetic sound from the head Spyro Gyrian, but the relaxed pace isn't a handicap. This cd would benefit from a few more melodic hooks and the kid's chorus in Lookin' Up is a distraction, but Eye Contact will undoubtedly make the drive home cooler and easier.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jay Beyond Spyra Gyra., October 22, 2004

By	Dr. Of Style (Saginaw, MI) - See all my reviews

I have been a Spyro Gyra (SG) fan from their inception, and I do own the entire SG catalogue. I have seen them play live several times (Jay- you guys were great at the Detroit Montreaux Jazz Festival, as well as at Ercikson Kiva on the campus of Michigan State University!) While I really do like most (not all) of SG's music, I wasn't quite sure what to expect with Jay's solo release.
Well folks, I can honestly say I WAS FLOORED! From the very first catchy tune ("Sunrise"), the album is just wonderful! Perhaps more jazzy and expansive than most SG titles, it is a terrific statement from one of the best saxophonists around. Being a jazz sax player myself (BeBop mostly), I can really appreciate Jay's talent and his musical lyricism. And while I never doubted Jay's talent, this beautiful album was a total surprise to me.
In Eye Contact, Jay gives us a little bit of everything; from straight ahead jazz, to fusion, some SG-like numbers, and even world-music.
The number to Mingus (Goodbye Pork Pie Hat) is great. Some songs contain vocals, and they, too, are fantastic (especially the children singing on "Turnaround").
But there is one defining, magical moment for me on this recording, and that takes place on the last song, "Lookin' Up." Listen to Jay really belt it out towards the end of the song. This just sends shivers down my spine it is so heartfelt.
I can honestly recommend this album to any jazz fan, but, moreso to fans of SG. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!
And a note to Jay--brother, let's have some more of this fantastic stuff from you! We need your brilliance!
Thanks for reading my review!
Rock on!