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Jay Azzolina (born December 23, 1952) is an American jazz-fusion guitarist known for his work with the Grammy Award-winning group Spyro Gyra. He has also performed and recorded with Carly Simon, Donna Summer, The Manhattan Transfer, Herbie Mann, Rickie Lee Jones, and Chuck Mangione.
Azzolina began his musical life playing trumpet and piano. At the age of eleven, he chose a guitar from his father's music store, and that became his primary interest. He spent a year studying classical guitar before attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied under Pat Metheny. [1] He released his first album, Never Too Late, in 1989.
In 1995, Azzolina received his M.F.A. degree from the Conservatory of Music at Purchase, New York. He soon began teaching there as well.
In 1997, he became a member of the John Patitucci Band and appeared on the albums, Past Tense (Double-Time, 2000), Live at One Station Plaza (2002), and The Rolling Stones Project (2005).
Azzolina released the solo album Local Dialect (2007) on Garagista Music. [2]
Charles Frank Mangione is an American flugelhorn player, trumpeter and composer.
Spyro Gyra is an American jazz fusion band that was formed in Buffalo, New York, in 1974. The band's music combines jazz, R&B, funk, and pop music. The band's name comes from Spirogyra, a genus of green algae which founder Jay Beckenstein had learned about in college.
David Alan Samuels was an American vibraphone and marimba player who spent many years with the contemporary jazz group Spyro Gyra. His recordings and live performances during that period also reflect his prowess on the steelpan, a tuned percussion instrument of Trinidadian origin.
Jay Barnet Beckenstein is an American saxophonist, composer, producer, and the co-founder of the band Spyro Gyra. He owned BearTracks Studios in Suffern, New York.
Rubens Bassini was a Brazilian percussionist, who played bongos and congas above all. He played together with the band Os Ipanemas: Astor Silva; (trombone), Marinho (bass), Wilson das Neves (drums) and Neco (guitar).
Charles Blenzig is an American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, producer, and educator.
Manolo Badrena is a percussionist most noted for his work with Weather Report from 1976 to 1977. He has made contributions to over 100 recordings that span jazz, world music, pop, and Latin music. Badrena has played with The Zawinul Syndicate, the Rolling Stones, Mezzoforte, Joni Mitchell, Spyro Gyra, Art Blakey, Bill Evans, Steve Khan, Carla Bley, Talking Heads, Blondie, Michael Franks, Ahmad Jamal, Hugo Fattoruso, and others.
In Modern Times is an album by the American jazz group Spyro Gyra, released in 2001 by Heads Up International. This album reached No. 2 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz chart.
Spyro Gyra is the debut album by the jazz fusion group Spyro Gyra, released in 1978. The album was self-released on the label Crosseyed Bear Productions before the band signed with Amherst Records and re-released it with a different cover.
Morning Dance is the second album by the jazz fusion group Spyro Gyra. The album was released in March 9, 1979 and was certified gold by the RIAA on September 19, 1979, and was certified platinum on June 1, 1987.
Breakout is the tenth album by Spyro Gyra, released in 1986. It was the last album co-produced by Richard Calandra, who died of cancer later that October.
Alternating Currents is the ninth album by jazz fusion group Spyro Gyra, released in 1985. At Billboard magazine, it reached No. 66 on the Top 200 Albums chart, No. 41 on the R&B Albums chart, and No. 3 on the Jazz Albums chart.
Good to Go-Go is the 29th album by Spyro Gyra, released on June 12, 2007. This album has the first appearance by the drummer Bonny Bonaparte.
Point of View is the thirteenth album by the American jazz group Spyro Gyra, released in June 1989 by MCA Records. At Billboard magazine, the album peaked at No. 120 on the Top 200 Albums chart.
Heads Up International is a jazz record label that was formed in Cleveland, Ohio. It was bought by the Concord Music Group in 2005.
Fast Forward is the fourteenth album by the American jazz group Spyro Gyra, released in 1990 by GRP Records. On this album only, the band was billed on the album cover as "Spyro Gyra featuring Jay Beckenstein". At Billboard magazine, the album peaked at No. 117 on the Top 200 Albums chart.
Got the Magic is the 21st studio album by the American jazz group Spyro Gyra. It was released in 1999 by Windham Hill Records.
The Deep End is the twenty-seventh album by Spyro Gyra, released on May 25, 2004. The album peaked at No. 3 on the jazz album chart at Billboard magazine.
Wrapped in a Dream is the twenty-eighth album by Spyro Gyra, recorded and released in 2006. The album peaked at No. 11 on the jazz album chart at Billboard magazine.
Barefoot on the Beach is a smooth jazz album by American singer-songwriter Michael Franks, released in 1999 by Windham Hill Records.
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