One of the most popular jazz/pop groups of the 70’s and 80’s called Spyro Gyra was started by Jay Beckenstein in 1974. The lineup included Beckenstein (alt), David Wolford (bass), Chet Catallo (electric guitar), Jeremy Wall (keyboards), Gerardo Velez and Eli Konikoff (both: drums). They released their first album on the Amherst label in 1976.
In 1979 Spyro Gyra issued its second full-length entitled Morning Dance on Infinity Records. The "Morning Dance" track sent the record to the top of American charts and made it platinum. After Morning Dance releasing new keyboardist Schuman entered the band, and Wall became a music writer and assistant producer.
In the 90’s Spyro Gyra recorded and released only two full-length albums: Fast Forward (1991), and Got the Magic (1999). At the end of the 90’s the group’s lineup consisted of Beckenstein, Scott Ambush, Julios Fernandez, Schuman, and Joel Rosenblatt. In the 2000’s Spyro Gyra issued on the Heads Up label Modern Times (2001), Original Cinema (2003), Deep End (2004).
