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Spyro Gyra
“Down the Wire”
www.spyrogyra.com
For more than 3 decades Spyro Gyra have been dominating the fusion/contemporary jazz scene. Frequent readers of my reviews are aware that I get a little picky when it comes to anything “smooth” or “contemporary” but I can honestly say that these guys are killing it here. This being Bass Musician Magazine, I’ll take some liberties and focus on Scott Ambush.
WOW!! Scott sounds amazing here! Scott takes the opening (and title) track “Down the Wire” and just gets downright nasty with it… SO funky and with some beautiful fretless work as well sprinkled throughout the track to compliment his jaw-dropping slap grooves. While some of the compositions are a bit “smooth” for my taste, the grooves and playing are simply undeniable and you’d be doing yourself a disservice as a bass player not to check this out.
Scott and drummer Bonny B really compliment each other nicely. This album gave me a serious itch to check these guys out together live ASAP.. As a touring musician and session player, I can say that in my humble opinion, nobody could have done it better. Absolutely superb playing here!
Damian Erskine has written 160 articles in BMM.
Damian Erskine is not your ordinary bass player. While not touring, Damian hones his chops with some of the best jazz and latin musicians the West coast has to offer. Damian is known for his ability to fit into any musical situation and his extraordinary reading and improvising skills. Damian has played in the studio or on the stage with the likes of • Peter Erskine • Teri-Lynn Carrington • Gino Vannelli • John Ellis • Shawn Pelton • Sveti w/ Marko Djordjevic • Luis Conte • Brandon Ross • Les McCann • Jeff Lorber • Vardan Ovsepian • Charmaine Neville • Jessy J • Luis Perdomo • Tony Furtado • Kate Schutt • Bobby Torres • Alan Jones • Patrick Lamb • Dan Balmer • Klezmocracy and many others as well as being featured on the GospelChops.com "Shed Sessionz Vol. 1" DVD. Whether playing as a sideman or with his own group, he is known for his rock solid bass work, virtuosic solos and thoughtful chordal abilities.
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