Customer Reviews

Eye Contact

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

 

 

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!

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.

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

This is a good CD. It is good for listen to alone and with a company.

When I heard that Jay Beckenstein was going to release a solo project, I really didn't know what to expect. I had read somewhere that he didn't want it to sound like a Spyro Gyra record. And it doesn't. Jay journeys beyond the realm of Spyro and in doing so, recruits a host of guest musicians, many of them guitarists and bassists. Hear guitar wizard Chieli Minucci on "Sunrise" (a typical Minucci-sounding track), look for Chuck Loeb's solo in "Monsoon" (he's on a couple of other tracks besides), and Spyro's own Julio Fernandez gives a brief solo to "Turnaround", which I feel is the best track. This one and the previous track, "Black Market" have an African flavour, and compliment each other well. Also enjoyable are the upbeat "Northline" and "West Side Cool". The skip button comes in handy for me on the slow "Heart & Mind"; however you may enjoy it. But nevertheless, a great effort and if you are a big fan of Spyro Gyra, you have to have this one as well.

I've been listening spyro gyra for a long time,and I always enjoyed to listen the soprano sax of Jay Beckenstein.I bought an"Eye Contact" from England.I paid lots of money to this album.It includes 11 songs but some of the songs seems like completed in hurry.Yes there is a masterful effort of the musicians but I wish It was spyro gyra's the three wishes album.I will not suggest this album to anyone who hopes nice moody music pieces,it seems like a compilation of various sax players.I should buy peter gabriel instead of this.