"Life is being on the wire, everything else is just waiting." - Karl Wallenda
The patriarch of the famous aerialist family certainly knew what he was talking about after a lifetime of thrilling, edge-of-the-seat performances for his audiences. While the stakes might not be as high for a jazz band improvising in a recording studio or in front of a live audience, Spyro Gyra's leader and saxophonist Jay Beckenstein understands the passion that drives a person and makes "life on the wire" so appealing.
"This music is what I've done for most of my life. I very much define who I am by the music I make." He allows, "Traveling to the shows is definitely about waiting. But even when I'm home, I have the same kinds of concerns as everyone else. My life becomes about my family, my home, just the basic everyday navigating and problem solving that we all do. But when I'm making music with the band and things are going well, I leave the anxiety behind. I escape that part of me that's just trying to survive in the world and I'm able to get in touch with that part of me that has nothing to do with practicality. It's something that's kind of divine, and I don't normally think in those terms, but it's as close as I can get to that ideal. I really do get swept away in it and it's a marvelous, spiritual, therapeutic thing."
For more than three decades, they have maintained a position at the forefront of modern jazz by successfully managing not just one, but several feats of creative dexterity. "That's what has kept this band going," says Beckenstein. "There are always balances to be found - between the individual player and the group, between the songwriter and the player. It's about both satisfying yourself and satisfying your audience. And when you're improvising in front of a crowd, you're really walking down that wire. There are always surprises that way, but our openness to those surprises is what makes this band what it is. We just happen to be walking on a slightly more forgiving tightrope."
So what place does the listener have in this group's balancing act? "My hope is that it has the same effect on the audience that it does on me. I've always felt that music, and particularly instrumental music, has this non-literal quality that lets people travel to a place where there are no words. Whether it's touching their emotions or connecting them to something that reminds them of something much bigger than themselves, there's this beauty in music that's not connected to sentences. It's very transportive. I would hope that when people hear our music or come to see us, they're able to share that with us. That's the truly glorious part of being a musician."
Asked where Down the Wire belongs in Spyro Gyra's substantial legacy, Beckenstein is quick to reply. "You know, everybody up on the wire knows one thing for sure," Beckenstein laughs. "The real trouble comes if you start looking behind you. The future's in front of you."
HELLO GYUS.FORTUNATE TO HAVE FOUND YOU IN MY SPACE.FOR MANY YEARS YOU KEPT ME COMPANY WHEN I WAS LIVING ALONE IN NYC.NOW ITS TIME TO CAUTCH UP WITH YOU GYUS.YOUR MUSIC ALLWAYS INSPIRITED ME.LOVE AND PEACEJANOS FROM THM.
Thank' for the add. You compose a great music that I'm listening to since I was a teenager! Best4U all the time!!! www.myspace.com/cristianrosemary Cristian Rosemary, from Montreal.
Here to invite you to listen to a new stuff called "The Monk's Vibes" which is a dreamy dub track. Hope it gonna take you high. Thank's for your listenin'
To all of you that make up the the fantastic band of Spyro Gyra; and to you especially Mr. Jay Beckenstein for being the magic behind it all for such along period; I offer my sincere thanks for all the years of great music and inspiration to the rest of us musicians out here who love your work and your committment to producing timeless,inspirational,unbelieveable, danceable,thougtht provoking,complex,challenging,uplifting soothing,and yes sometimes love making music. You have been my all time favorite group of musicians for over thirty years and I think its fair to say that you will continue to hold that spot forever.
Have a very good wind and, please, if you can, help us to do something right for our planet,
Cheers from France
Very friendly,
JLB for adding me as a new friend. Good job! I reallly love your sounds and music of freedom. call me when you will come in France Have a very good wind, and please, if you can, help us to make something right for the Planet...... very friendly JL for adding me as a new friend. Good job! I reallly love your sounds and music of freedom. call me when you will come in France Have a very good wind, and please, if you can, help us to make something right for the Planet...... very friendly JL
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