Spyro Gyra’s silver anniversary

Young Chang

It’s really quite astounding to Jay Beckenstein that fans can last a

quarter of a century.

The founder and bandleader of jazz instrumental group Spyro Gyra

credits loyal listeners for why the once pop-chart-topping ‘80s legend

continues making music today.

“And beyond that, the people involved really appreciate what a good

musical situation this is,” said Beckenstein, who celebrated his 51st

birthday this week. “We get to play the music we want. We have a good,

creative outlet and then we have this big fan base that seems to like

it.”

Spyro Gyro, whose album “Morning Dance’ went platinum in the late ‘70s

and whose 23rd album “In Modern Times” was released last year, will

perform on Sunday at the Hyatt Newporter’s very first three-day Jazz

Festival.

The hotel, which hosted the Newport Beach Jazz Festival for seven

years prior to last year, decided to host its own jazz weekend after the

Newport Beach group moved its venue to Irvine.

“We felt that there was overwhelming demand for the return of jazz,

and the venue we provide is almost a natural amphitheater for that type

of event,” said Joe Alegre, director of sales and marketing for the Hyatt

Newporter.

The hotel has also hosted a Summer Jazz Series for 10 years, which is

always held entirely in its amphitheater. This weekend’s event starts

today at the theater with jazz artist Peter White performing and

continues Saturday and Sunday on the hotel’s golf course and festival

grounds.

Performers throughout the weekend, sponsored also by The Wave and

Lexus, number about 20 and include Randy Crawford, Michael Lington,

Acoustic Alchemy and Poncho Sanchez.

“We looked for top quality talent and name recognition,” Alegre said.

The story of Spyro Gyra’s name involves a small mistake made long,

long ago.

The group had formed in 1975 and a club owner during the early years

was giving Beckenstein a hard time, demanding the then-nameless band give

him something to put on the concert bill. Recalling, for some reason, a

school paper he had once written on a type of algae called spiro gira,

Beckenstein flippantly spat out “Spiro Gira.”

The club owner misspelled the words, using two y’s instead of i’s, and

Spyro Gyra stuck.

Band members are Beckenstein (saxophone), Tom Schuman (keyboards),

Julio Fernandez (guitars), Scott Ambush (bass) and Joel Rosenblatt

(drums.)

Schuman and Beckenstein go way back to when the group first formed.

Fernandez got involved in the early ‘80s and the newest additions --

Rosenblatt and Ambush -- are ripe 11-year members.

“It’s sort of the band’s ethic that everybody gets to bring to the

table what they want to do,” Beckenstein said. “It’s five people that

have somewhat diverse backgrounds. Everyone pushes what they like to do,

it just keeps it interesting.”

Which explains why the veteran jazz group has a style not even they

can describe. Jazz it is, because almost all the tunes have an

improvisational element. But Beckenstein is at a loss for a more specific

description as the group performs “in about a half a dozen styles.”

“Sometimes we’re playing music that’s much more Caribbean than

American jazz, sometimes it’s more R&B; than jazz,” he said. “I can’t

describe the style and I think that’s the beauty of it.”

“In Modern Times,” offers even hints of a fun, pop-music beat along

with traces of everything from big band gestures to lounge sounds.

Beckenstein said Spyro Gyra’s goal is to keep making music “worth

listening to.”

“I think eventually this band is really going to be recognized for

what it’s done and for its longevity, but maybe in 15 years,” the

saxophonist said. “Only now are people turning around, saying ‘my

goodness, these guys are still around.”’

FYI

* WHAT: Hyatt Newporter’s Jazz Festival

* WHEN: Festival begins with a Peter White concert, 7:30 to 10 p.m.

Friday. Festival hours are 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 11:30 a.m.

to 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Spyro Gyra plays at about 1 p.m. Sunday

* WHERE: Hyatt Newporter, 1107 Jamboree Road, Newport Beach

* COST: $35 or $40 for Friday, $45 or $50 for Saturday or Sunday.

* CALL: (949) 729-6400