In Modern Times

This is a different kind of release for Spyro Gyra. Jay Beckenstein seems to be searching for a new sound for the organization he has led for nearly 25 years, though that observation is not detectable on the three very radio-friendly tracks that lead off this CD. From there on, the contributions from the other members are more pronounced and a bit more progressive than the usual smooth-jazz fare from this former Buffalo bar band. From bassist Scott Ambush's lead role on the melody to "The River Between" to guitarist Julio Fernandez's long flowing featured line on "Open Door" to drummer Joel Rosenblatt's very Crusaders-like "Planet J," featuring guest trombonist Andrew Lippman, it's obvious that musically, Spyro is becoming less of Beckenstein's saxophone band, and more of a democratic group. But the most surprising tunes, from a compositional standpoint, were written by the leader, including the Santana-inspired "Florida Straits," and "East River Blue," which has traces of the crime-jazz music Duke Ellington and Henry Mancini pioneered in the early '60s. --Mark Ruffin