Sunshine, Wine and Spyro Gyra

It was a beautiful day, overlooking Seneca Lake, a record setting crowd, 82 degrees, locally produced NYS wine and Spyro Gyra - in other words, a perfect July day in Central New York's Finger Lakes Region. The set wasn't as long as the one I attended last month, but the arrangements were just as tasty and the crowd was crazy (maybe it was all that wine). My son, attending his first SG concert, and admitting it wasn't what he's used to listening to (15 years old!!), asked me how many times I've seen these guys; I honestly couldn't answer him - it's been so many times, at least 15 - wow, I guess we're all getting old!

Pacific Fire on the Pacific

I was living in LaJolla, CA in 1985, sunshine, heat, shiny cars, tanned bodies - all the time. The Tower Records on Sports Arena Blvd was a regular stop, I came across this George Benson release, Pacific Fire that Summer; the pressing wasn't very good, the vinyl was pretty dirty, but it was a fairly difficult CTI release to come by. I held on to this LP until this past year, when I gave it to my friend Smooth, who's done a great job cleaning it up; the internet has both added and enhanced The Soundtrack Of My Life - to be able to listen to this gem once again, like the commercial says - priceless!

Listen to 'Em' and 'Pacific Fire'

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Fast Forward

June 1990 I was in Savannah, GA, I knew that GRP was about to release a number of CD's that month, one of which was the new Spyro Gyra release Fast Forward, their first on the newly merged Jazz divisions of MCA and GRP; so I was twice as excited as usual, my favorite band was coming out with a new release on my favorite label, known for their impeccable production. This was the second release of SG with Jay Azzolina on guitar, who would leave the band after his short stint to be replaced by previous and still current guitarist Julio Fernandez. I remember reading the liner notes over and over while I was in Savannah, since I didn't have a CD player while I was down there on vacation, the anticipation of listening to the disc when I got back home was killing me! Look very closely at the tour schedule on the bottom of the ad for Fast Forward, that mid July 1990 date at the Albright Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, NY - I was there. Fast Forward 18 years, I'll be lounging outside next Sunday (hopefully in the sun) listening to Spyro Gyra perform at Glenora Vineyards overlooking beautiful Seneca Lake, and 3 weeks after that, I'll be back in Savannah - The Soundtrack Of My Life; the more things change, the more they stay the same!

Listen to 'Bright Lights', 'Speak Easy', 'Escape Hatch' and 'Tower of Babel'

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The Sound Of Summer

It was the Summer of 1993, my son had just been born in June, I was on top of the world - any problem or concern that I may have had melted away, at least for a few months. I remember strapping him into the car seat in the back of the J30, my wife and I deciding to take a ride (he always fell asleep in the car), maybe stop for a bite to eat; of course, I had an ulterior motive - the habit still needed to be fed! We stopped by my favorite record store that gorgeous sunny afternoon, I had a few minutes to run in and find my fix - The Soundtrack Of My Life doesn't wait for anyone, as my son has learned over the last 15 years! I picked up two CD's that day, one of which will remain a mystery until a later time; Paul Hardcastle's first release under The Jazzmasters moniker was an instant Smooth Jazz classic - sensuous sax and flute, breezy vocals and a beat that made you want to move. I can't put this disc on without thinking back to that sunny, warm relaxing day - things would certainly change quickly for me, but for awhile at least, I had no worries.

Listen to 'Northern Lights' and 'Lost Summer'

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Brothers

August of 1988, I had the itch to upgrade my stereo system - after all, I hadn't made any major upgrades in components since my college days. I decided to make the plunge, besides, I had pretty much purged the old out of my life so far that year, what was another $3000 or $4000 on equipment? (actually a lot in '88!). I went out and got a set of Polk Speakers and all Adcom components plus a Bang & Oulfson turntable; smoked the American Express Card that day! Because of those glorious ads that GRP used to place, like the one in the previous post, I had been on the lookout for the new Dave Grusin CD, which included his brother Don; just the two of them, using what was cutting edge technology for the time - which still sounds fresh today, 20 years later. I was happy, living life that late Summer, and The Soundtrack Of My Life never sounded better!
Listen to 'Birds With Long Legs' and 'River Song'
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The Glory Days Of GRP

Remember how great of a label GRP was? The music, the artists, the level of production, the art work, the overall look and sound? Remember what it was like before the internet; when information wasn't instantaneous, when you didn't necessarily know what new releases where to come your way? About the only advance notice we got about upcoming releases were those incredible GRP ads. I thought that I'd start going through my back issue jazz magazines and scan some of the ads of releases that I've already talked about or plan to very shortly. This ad is from a September 1988 publication; I've already written about Kevin Eubanks' 'Shadow Prophets' and Special EFX's 'Double Feature', Chick Corea, David Benoit and Dave & Don Grusin will be coming. I guess that it would be asking too much for the HUGE conglomerates who now control the record business to put that sort of commitment and passion back into Jazz that GRP showed in the late eighties and early nineties - but I guess that's what dreams are all about!

Flying (low) Over The Horizon

It was 1984, Fall, I was on a road-trip to watch a college football game, Syracuse vs Nebraska at the Dome. Earlier that year in the Spring, I had bought myself a Saab 900 Turbo for my 23rd birthday; it was a beauty, black with red interior, 5-speed stick, sunroof - everything, including a top of the line radar detector (mistake!) - not bad for being 1 year removed from college; I was feeling pretty good about myself that sunny Fall day - too good. As I made the 150 mile trip in a little over an hour an a half (!!), I had Azymuth pumping through the stereo (remember cassettes?) - Jazz Carnival, all that crazy rhythm, the organ and synths, the electronic percussion; there's a reason these 3 incredible musicians from Brazil call their music Crazy Samba - because it made me crazy that day - doing 110 mph down the Thruway! Unfortunately I wasn't able to use the music as an excuse when the Troopers pulled me over, 5 miles before my exit; at least they got me as I was slowing down - 95 in a 55, needless to say, my spirits weren't quite as high the rest of the day! As far as the game, I have no recollection, my only memory is of The Soundtrack Of My Life!
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Listen to 'Jazz Carnival', 'Partido Alto', and 'Fly Over The Horizon'

Jam

Because of the likes of Soulive and Karl Denson, and because I felt 'free' and 'home' again, willing to break out of 'my box', I found myself on a very hot Saturday afternoon in August of 2001, barreling down the Thruway, looking forward to spending the rest of the weekend at my new/old hometown. I had a party to attend later that day, and was excited about meeting new people, making new acquaintances. As I drove, with the windows open in the heat, I was listening to Schleigho - Live At Ho-Down 2000; this girl that I knew, who was considerably younger than I, had recommended that I give them a listen - I'm glad I did. I heard influences of Weather Report, Miles, and a whole host of other great Jazz musicians. 2001 was certainly shaping up to be a great year for The Soundtrack Of My Life.

Listen to 'Go Children Slow'

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Did I Miss Lesson #1?

OK, so maybe was I was working too hard and I was out of the loop! I can rationalize, at least to myself, for not knowing about Soulive, but how could I have missed Karl Denson - out on the same label no less? Again, It was early spring 2001, it was obvious to me, that I was all work and no play..........I would soon rectify that! I truly had no idea who Denson was, all I knew was that the monkey was rearing it's head and it needed to be fed, The Soundtrack Lived! Sometimes, when we least expect it, someone or something enters our lives.....for the better; leaving the drama aside, if I were to consider the last 7 1/2 years as a whole, as the latest chapter in The Soundtrack Of My Life, then Dance Lesson #2 is the door that I walked through, on my way there. For me, it's a seminal recording, one which helped me understand a whole new generation of up and coming young artists; just an absolute killer CD.

Listen to 'Flute Down', 'A Shorter Path #2', 'I Want The Funk' and 'Who Are You?'

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Back 'Home' doin' something

Looking back, 2001 was a very significant year for me; moving back to the place I've come to realize was 'home' all along, developing what have become and always will be 'lifetime relationships', ending the old & beginning the new, falling in love, and being the best father I possibly could - from 150 miles away. And all through the year, The Soundtrack Of My Life grew; one of the first CD's that I picked up, after discovering the local independent music store, was Soulive's Blue Note debut, 'doin' something'. I remember feeling kind of dumb, looking at the display in this eclectic and very cool CD store, like I should have known who this group was - but I didn't have a clue. I bought the CD, they gave me a VHS video and an EP of one of the group's earlier releases; I was like, wow, did I miss something? Well, by now, I'm sure if you're a reader of this blog, you've probably heard of Soulive and their connection to both the Jazz and Jam crowds; if not, you're in for a treat!

Listen to 'Bridge To 'Bama' and 'Roll The Tape'

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