SPYRO GYRA AT 50: FRIDAY NIGHT FUSION NIGHT
EVERY FRIDAY EVENING IN DECEMBER AT 21:00
In 1974, an obscure genus of green algae became familiar to millions of forward-looking music fans after saxophonist Jay Beckenstein baptized his groundbreaking new ensemble ‘Spyro Gyra’. Today, Beckenstein still helms Spyro Gyra, celebrating 50 years in the thick of jazz fusion. Stingray DJAZZ jumps at the chance to turn your Friday night into fusion night, championing legendary groups that play a mercurial blend of jazz, rock, funk, and psychedelia. Naturally, Spyro Gyra kicks off this series on December 6, in a steaming 1982 concert recording from the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague. A week later, English guitarist John McLaughlin brings the third incarnation of his Mahavishnu Orchestra to the North Sea Jazz Festival 1986 in The Hague to treat the audience to a synthesizer-heavy set. On December 20, keyboardist Joe Sample and saxist Wilton Felder present their veteran fusion ensemble The Crusaders at the 2003 Montreux Jazz Festival, in a highly enjoyable concert featuring the charismatic vocalist Randy Crawford. On December 27, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Carlos Santana, Joni Mitchell and Dave Liebman shed light on cool jazz musician Miles Davis’s surprising move to jazz fusion in the late 1960s, when Davis “threw the rules of jazz out of the window and made it again in his own image”, in the documentary ‘Miles Electric: A Different Kind of Blue’. Friday night is fusion night on Stingray DJAZZ!
Spyro Gyra - North Sea Jazz
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6 AT 21:00
The North Sea Jazz Festival is the largest indoor music festival in the world, known globally as the event where the past, present and future of jazz are featured within three days. Next to a firm base of jazz as the festival’s staple music genre, many others, such as blues, soul, funk, or hip hop, pass by. In 1982, the American jazz fusion band Spyro Gyra took the stage at the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague. Having struck gold with their album "Morning Dance" just a few years prior, they played a slick set with exuberant energy.
Mahavishnu Orchestra - North Sea Jazz
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13 AT 21:00
The North Sea Jazz Festival is the largest indoor music festival in the world, known globally as the event where the past, present and future of jazz are featured within three days. Next to a firm base of jazz as the festival’s staple music genre, many others, such as blues, soul, funk, or hip hop, pass by. In 1986, the acclaimed jazz fusion group Mahavishnu Orchestra led by guitarist John McLaughlin took the stage at the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague. This third incarnation of the group featured an outstanding lineup, with Jim Beard on keyboards, Jonas Hellborg on bass, Danny Gottlieb on drums, and Bill Evans on saxophone.
The Crusaders - Live at Montreux 2003
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20 AT 21:00
The Crusaders were one of the pioneers of jazz-funk music in the 1970s and have made a number of visits to Montreux over the years. This broadcast focuses on their performance from 2003 when the band were touring in support of their album 'Rural Renewal'. Founder members Joe Sample and Wilton Felder were joined in the line-up by Ray Parker Jr on guitar and the inimitable Randy Crawford on vocals. They delivered a set that spanned their career from early days up to their latest album capped with a stunning nine minute plus performance of their classic 'Street Life' and finished off with a fun rendition of Ray Parker Jr’s 'Ghostbusters'.
Miles Electric: A Different Kind of Blue
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27 AT 21:00
When he released "Bitches Brew" in 1970, Miles Davis opened up a new angle to jazz which stirred up emotions like no other record before. Some critics accused Davis of selling out, while the public bought it like crazy. It is one of the most examined albums of all time, even garnering a box set of the sessions. To date, "Bitches Brew" is one of the top selling jazz albums of all time. "Miles Electric: A Different Kind of Blue" examines the next step in the creative process…performing these songs live. The 1970 Isle of Wight featured an array of performers from The Who to Jethro Tull to Joni Mitchell. With improvisation playing a big role in the performance, the band (Jack DeJohnette, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Gary Bartz and Dave Holland) had to be "on", yet ready to change on the fly. Directed by award-winning producer Murray Lerner, "Miles Electric" sits down with several of the performers who played with Miles, interspersed with his 1970 Isle of Wight performance, as well as artists such as Carlos Santana and Joni Mitchell, who describe the impact Miles Davis had towards music.
