Tag Archives: Dave Samuels

Spyro Gyro: Catching the Sun

In February 1980, “MCA” label released “Catching the Sun”, the third Spyro Gyra studio album. It was recorded in 1979, at “Secret Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Jay Beckenstein and Richard Calandra.

Personnel:

  • Jay Beckenstein – soprano, alto and tenor saxophone, Fender Rhodes, percussion
  • Tom Schuman – acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, synthesizers programming, effects
  • Jeremy Wall – synthesizers, synthesizer programming, percussion, effects, horn arrangements, assistant producer
  • Hiram Bullock – acoustic and electric guitars
  • Chet Catallo – electric guitar
  • John Tropea – acoustic and electric rhythm guitar
  • Will Lee – bass
  • Jim Kurzdorfer – bass guitar
  • Eli Konikoff – drums
  • Gerardo Velez – percussion, bongos
  • Richard Calandra – tambourine, percussion
  • Dave Samuels – marimba, vibraphone, steel drums
  • Rubens Bassini – congas, percussion
  • Randy Brecker – trumpet
  • Barry Rogers – trombone
  • Tom Malone – trombone
  • Bob Malache – tenor saxophone
  • Steve Nathan – clavinet, synthesizer programming
  • Jeremy Wall – string arrangements, conductor
  • Harry Lookofsky – concertmaster
  • Charles McCracken, Jesse Levy, Alan Shulman – cello
  • Peter Dimitriades, Lewis Eley, Harold Kohon, Charles Libove, Harry Lookofsky, David Nadien, Matthew Raimondim Richard Sortomme – violin
  • Michael Barry – engineer
  • Jack Malken – engineer
  • Jason Corsaro – assistant engineer
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Peter Corriston – art direction, design
  • David Heffernan – illustration

Track listing:

  1. Catching the Sun – Jay Beckenstein
  2. Cockatoo – Jay Beckenstein, Tom Schuman, Jeremy Wall, Chet Catallo, Jim Kurzdorfer, Eli Konikoff
  3. Autumn of Our Love – Jeremy Wall
  4. Laser Material – Tom Schuman
  5. Percolator – Jay Beckenstein
  6. Philly – Jim Kurzdorfer
  7. Lovin’ You/Lovin’ You (for Christine) – Chet Catallo
  8. Here Again – Jay Beckenstein
  9. Safari – Jeremy Wall

Spyro Gyra: Carnaval

On September 29, 1980, “MCA” label released “Carnaval”, the fourth Spyro Gyra album. It was recorded in 1980, at “Secret Sound Studio” in New York City, and was produced by Jay Beckenstein and Richard Calandra.

Personnel:

  • Jay Beckenstein – saxophones, piano
  • Tom Schuman, Jeremy Wall – keyboards
  • Dave Samuels – marimba, vibraphone
  • Chet Catallo, Hiram Bullock, Rick Strauss, John Tropea – guitar
  • Jim Kurzdorfer – bass
  • Will Lee – bass guitar
  • Eli Konikoff – drums
  • Steve Jordan – drums
  • Gerardo Velez – percussion
  • Errol “Crusher” Bennett – percussion, congas
  • Steve Kroon, Richard Calandra – percussion
  • Rob Mounsey – synthesizer
  • Randy Brecker – trumpet
  • Tom Malone – trombone, trumpet
  • Michael Brecker – flute
  • David Darling – cello
  • Jeremy Wall – horn and string arrangements, conductor
  • Tom Schuman – horn and string arrangements, conductor
  • Neil Dorfsman, Jack Malken – engineer
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering

Track listing:

  1. Cafe Amore – Chet Catallo
  2. Dizzy – Tom Schuman, Eli Konikoff
  3. Awakening – Jeremy Wall
  4. Cachaca – Jay Beckenstein
  5. Fox Trot – Jay Beckenstein
  6. Sweet ‘n’ Savvy – Tom Schuman
  7. Bittersweet – Jay Beckenstein
  8. Carnaval – Jeremy Wall

Michael Franks: Barefoot on the Beach

On June 1, 1999, “Windham Hill” label released “Barefoot on the Beach”, the fourteenth Michael Franks studio album. It was recorded in 1999, and was produced by Chuck Loeb and Jimmy Haslip.

Personnel:

  • Michael Franks, Valerie Simpson – vocals
  • Chuck Loeb, Jay Azzolina, Jeff Mironov, Steve Khan – guitar
  • Bob James – piano
  • Charles Blenzig, Jimmy Haslip, Chris Palmaro, Mike Ricchiuti – keyboards
  • Jimmy Haslip, Will Lee – bass
  • John Patitucci – double bass
  • Brian Dunne, Shawn Pelton, Steve Gadd, Wolfgang Haffner – drums
  • Bashiri Johnson, David Charles, Wolfgang Haffner – percussion
  • Dave Samuels – vibraphone
  • Chris Hunter, Andy Snitzer, Bob Mintzer, Michael Brecker – saxophone
  • Larry Lunetta, Randy Brecker – trumpet
  • Birch Johnson – trombone
  • James Hynes – flugelhorn
  • David Mann, Chris Hunter – flute
  • Jim Beard – strings
  • Carmen Cuesta, Lani Groves, Tawatha Agee – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Michael Franks, except where noted.

  1. Barefoot on the Beach – Charles Blenzig, Michael Franks
  2. Heart Like an Open Book
  3. Now Love Has No End
  4. The Fountain of Youth
  5. When You Smiled at Me
  6. Double Talk
  7. Every Time She Whispers
  8. Why Spring Ain’t Here
  9. A Walk in the Rain
  10. Smooth
  11. Like Moon Behind a Cloud

Spyro Gyra: Freetime

In July 1981, “MCA” label released “Freetime”, the fifth Spyro Gyra album. It was recorded in 1981, and was produced by Jay Beckenstein and Richard Calandra.

Personnel:

  • Jay Beckenstein– saxophones, clay flute, percussion
  • Tom Schuman– keyboards
  • Jeremy Wall– keyboards
  • Chet Catallo– guitar
  • John Tropea– guitar
  • Dave Samuels– vibraphone, marimba
  • Eli Konikoff – drums
  • Gerardo Velez– percussion
  • Randy Brecker– trumpet
  • Rob Mounsey– synthesizer, backing vocals
  • Richard Tee– keyboards
  • Steve Khan– guitar
  • Will Lee– bass, backing vocals
  • David Darling– cello
  • Errol “Crusher” Bennett – percussion
  • Valerie Simpson, Casey Cysick– backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Freetime – Tom Schuman, Eli Konikoff
  2. Telluride – Jay Beckenstein
  3. Summer Strut – Jeremy Wall
  4. Elegy for Trane – Jeremy Wall
  5. Pacific Sunrise – Tom Schuman
  6. Amber Dream – Jay Beckenstein
  7. String Soup – Jim Kurzdorfer