Eye Contact

Eye Contact

Eye Contact

ASIN: B00004SBRE

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
With Eye Contact Spyro Gyra saxophonist Jay Beckenstein offers an album that fits cleanly alongside the Spyro catalog but also stretches beyond its usual parameters. He surrounds himself with great veteran talent: Chieli Minucci (Special EFX), Jason Miles (producer of Miles Davis and David Sanborn), Jeff Beal, and Chuck Loeb--along with a roll call of world-class bassists including Mark Egan, Marcus Miller, Will Lee, John Patitucci, and South African player Bakithi Kumalo. Over a pitter-patter percussion groove, Beckenstein's soprano swirls around Minucci's breezy acoustic guitar lines on "Sunrise." On "West Side Cool," Jason Miles surrounds the saxman's confident, strutting alto with moody atmospherics and a rolling bass line. The bluesy, retrosoul-flavored "Northline" finds Loeb's crying guitar line and organ simmering around the alto, while the title track features Beckenstein and Loeb creating pure romantic passion. Loeb's acoustic improvisations ease in and around Beckenstein's alto and tenor and Egan's winding bass lines on the upbeat "The Other Side." After another triumphant Beckenstein-Loeb romance on "Heart and Mind," the saxman pays tribute to his one-time teacher Charles Mingus on the legendary bassist's "Goodbye, Pork Pie Hat" (featuring John Patitucci). --Jonathan Widran

Eye Contact,Jay Beckenstein,Windham Hill Records,Crossover Jazz,Fusion,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop,Smooth Jazz
Eye Contact
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Jay Beyond Spyra Gyra.
  • Two stars went to the profession of Mr.Beckenstein
  • "I contact" you about Jay's new disk
  • Jay'z Jazz
  • Unbalanced
 Eye Contact
Jay Beckenstein
Manufacturer: Windham Hill Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
Jazz FusionJazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music
Smooth JazzSmooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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ASIN: B00004SBRE
Release Date: 2000-04-18

Tracks:

  1. Sunrise
  2. The Other Side
  3. Northline
  4. Eye Contact
  5. West Side Cool
  6. Heart And Mind
  7. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
  8. Monsoon
  9. Black Market
  10. Turnaround
  11. Lookin' Up

Amazon.com

With Eye Contact Spyro Gyra saxophonist Jay Beckenstein offers an album that fits cleanly alongside the Spyro catalog but also stretches beyond its usual parameters. He surrounds himself with great veteran talent: Chieli Minucci (Special EFX), Jason Miles (producer of Miles Davis and David Sanborn), Jeff Beal, and Chuck Loeb--along with a roll call of world-class bassists including Mark Egan, Marcus Miller, Will Lee, John Patitucci, and South African player Bakithi Kumalo. Over a pitter-patter percussion groove, Beckenstein's soprano swirls around Minucci's breezy acoustic guitar lines on "Sunrise." On "West Side Cool," Jason Miles surrounds the saxman's confident, strutting alto with moody atmospherics and a rolling bass line. The bluesy, retrosoul-flavored "Northline" finds Loeb's crying guitar line and organ simmering around the alto, while the title track features Beckenstein and Loeb creating pure romantic passion. Loeb's acoustic improvisations ease in and around Beckenstein's alto and tenor and Egan's winding bass lines on the upbeat "The Other Side." After another triumphant Beckenstein-Loeb romance on "Heart and Mind," the saxman pays tribute to his one-time teacher Charles Mingus on the legendary bassist's "Goodbye, Pork Pie Hat" (featuring John Patitucci). --Jonathan Widran

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Jay Beyond Spyra Gyra........2004-10-23

I have been a Spyro Gyra (SG) fan from their inception, and I do own the entire SG catalogue. I have seen them play live several times (Jay- you guys were great at the Detroit Montreaux Jazz Festival, as well as at Ercikson Kiva on the campus of Michigan State University!) While I really do like most (not all) of SG's music, I wasn't quite sure what to expect with Jay's solo release.
Well folks, I can honestly say I WAS FLOORED! From the very first catchy tune ("Sunrise"), the album is just wonderful! Perhaps more jazzy and expansive than most SG titles, it is a terrific statement from one of the best saxophonists around. Being a jazz sax player myself (BeBop mostly), I can really appreciate Jay's talent and his musical lyricism. And while I never doubted Jay's talent, this beautiful album was a total surprise to me.
In Eye Contact, Jay gives us a little bit of everything; from straight ahead jazz, to fusion, some SG-like numbers, and even world-music.
The number to Mingus (Goodbye Pork Pie Hat) is great. Some songs contain vocals, and they, too, are fantastic (especially the children singing on "Turnaround").
But there is one defining, magical moment for me on this recording, and that takes place on the last song, "Lookin' Up." Listen to Jay really belt it out towards the end of the song. This just sends shivers down my spine it is so heartfelt.
I can honestly recommend this album to any jazz fan, but, moreso to fans of SG. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!
And a note to Jay--brother, let's have some more of this fantastic stuff from you! We need your brilliance!
Thanks for reading my review!
Rock on!

2 out of 5 stars Two stars went to the profession of Mr.Beckenstein.......2002-02-19

I've been listening spyro gyra for a long time,and I always enjoyed to listen the soprano sax of Jay Beckenstein.I bought an"Eye Contact" from England.I paid lots of money to this album.It includes 11 songs but some of the songs seems like completed in hurry.Yes there is a masterful effort of the musicians but I wish It was spyro gyra's the three wishes album.I will not suggest this album to anyone who hopes nice moody music pieces,it seems like a compilation of various sax players.I should buy peter gabriel instead of this.

4 out of 5 stars "I contact" you about Jay's new disk.......2000-10-04

When I heard that Jay Beckenstein was going to release a solo project, I really didn't know what to expect. I had read somewhere that he didn't want it to sound like a Spyro Gyra record. And it doesn't. Jay journeys beyond the realm of Spyro and in doing so, recruits a host of guest musicians, many of them guitarists and bassists. Hear guitar wizard Chieli Minucci on "Sunrise" (a typical Minucci-sounding track), look for Chuck Loeb's solo in "Monsoon" (he's on a couple of other tracks besides), and Spyro's own Julio Fernandez gives a brief solo to "Turnaround", which I feel is the best track. This one and the previous track, "Black Market" have an African flavour, and compliment each other well. Also enjoyable are the upbeat "Northline" and "West Side Cool". The skip button comes in handy for me on the slow "Heart & Mind"; however you may enjoy it. But nevertheless, a great effort and if you are a big fan of Spyro Gyra, you have to have this one as well.

4 out of 5 stars Jay'z Jazz.......2000-07-15

Spyro Gyra frontman and sax ace, Jay Beckenstein comes up with a winner in Eye Contact. This collection has some very cool tracks; Northline, Eye Contact, Monsoon (really nice), and a sweet rendition of Goodbye Porkpie Hat. A noticeably looser, less kinetic sound from the head Spyro Gyrian, but the relaxed pace isn't a handicap. This cd would benefit from a few more melodic hooks and the kid's chorus in Lookin' Up is a distraction, but Eye Contact will undoubtedly make the drive home cooler and easier.

3 out of 5 stars Unbalanced.......2000-04-24

I found the over-burdened multi-sequencing of the first half of this disc distracting except for track 3 "Northline" which with Will Lee's bass makes this retro groove ala Steely Dan work.For me after Mingus,the best "Goodbye Porkpie Hat" was Jeff Beck's version on the Wired" album.This smooth Jazz version,despite John Patitucci's subdued bass is without much merit.But once you get to Joe Zawinul's "Black Market" with Marcus Miller and Omar Hakim supplying a much needed "soul" to this record I'm there!The next track "Turnaround", also with with Omar on Kit moves the CD with the same spirit,but Jay's gotta be more aggressive.The closing track "Lookin' Up" despite sequencing has a distinct feel thanks to Chieli Minucci who brings a certain "in the house" type groove and yes NO soprano sax ..yeah there you go, do the Tenor.A little less Chuck Loeb (no knock,Chuck's cool,he just over did the sequencing on tracks 1,2,4&8 for my taste)a lot more bass and drum kit.James
New Beginning
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		New Beginning
    Harvie S. & Eye Contact
    Manufacturer: RVS Records
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
    Avant Garde & Free JazzAvant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
    Bebop GeneralBebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
    Modern PostbebopModern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
    ASIN: B00005YWFB
    Release Date: 2002-02-05

    Tracks:

    1. New Beginning
    2. En La Batalla
    3. Chump Change
    4. Luna romantica
    5. African Heartbeat
    6. A Bright Moment
    7. From the Ashes
    8. Tres Mundos
    9. Mothership

    Album Description

    The Music of Eye Contact has the sophistification of Jazz and the rhythmic artistry of Afro-Cuban music combined with World Beat, Funk.
    Eye Contact
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		Eye Contact
      Jay Beckenstein
      Manufacturer: Bmg Japan
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
      Jazz FusionJazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music
      Smooth JazzSmooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
      JazzJazz | Imports | Stores | Music
      ASIN: B00004TZ72
      Release Date: 2000-05-24

      Tracks:

      1. Sunrise
      2. Other Side
      3. Northline
      4. Eye Contact
      5. West Side Cool
      6. Heart & Mind
      7. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
      8. Monsoon
      9. Black Market
      10. Turnaround
      11. Lookin Up
      12. I've Been Waiting for a Girl Like You
      13. Waiting for a Girl Like You

      Album Details

      Japanese Version featuring a Bonus Track: Waiting for a Girl Like You.
      Havana Manana
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        		Havana Manana
        Harvie Swartz & Eye Contact
        Manufacturer: Bembe Records
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

        CubaCuba | Caribbean & Cuba | International | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | International | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Latin Music | Styles | Music
        Latin PopLatin Pop | Latin Music | Styles | Music
        Bebop GeneralBebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
        Latin JazzLatin Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
        Modern PostbebopModern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
        Bebop & Post-BopBebop & Post-Bop | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music
        Brazilian & Latin JazzBrazilian & Latin Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
        International JazzInternational Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
        ASIN: B000023VTC
        Release Date: 1999-11-02

        Tracks:

        1. Cubalypso
        2. Harvito's Tune
        3. Bass Guajira
        4. Mi Soncito
        5. Nuyorican Nights
        6. First Light Of Spring
        7. Descarga Y2K
        8. Internet Mambo
        9. Havana Manana Suite: Quiet Revolution
        10. Havana Manana Suite: Ghost Of Havana
        11. Havana Manana Suite: Havana Manana
        Blicke -Eye Contact-
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          		Blicke -Eye Contact-
          Gregor Muhr
          Manufacturer: 3d
          ProductGroup: Music
          Binding: Audio CD

          GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
          JazzJazz | Imports | Stores | Music
          ASIN: B0002VL78Q
          Release Date: 2005-01-04

          Album Description

          Japanese pressing of 2004 album has earliest release. Details TBA. Koala.
          New Beginning
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            		New Beginning
            Harvie S. & Eye Contact
            Manufacturer: 3d
            ProductGroup: Music
            Binding: Audio CD

            Bebop GeneralBebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
            GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
            Modern PostbebopModern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
            ASIN: B00005RGRF
            Release Date: 2001-12-19

            Tracks:

            1. New Beginning
            2. En la Batalla
            3. Chump Change
            4. Luna Romantica
            5. African Heartbeat
            6. Bright Moment
            7. From the Ashes
            8. Tres Mundos
            9. Mothership

            Jazz Music:

            1. Fat Time [Import]
            2. Forecast: Sonny & Red/Partners
            3. Four for Trane [Original recording remastered]
            4. Free for All
            5. Full Steam Ahead and Loaded Up!
            6. Genius of [Import] [Original recording remastered]
            7. Global Groovilization
            8. Gospel for Jaco Pastorious [Import]
            9. Grateful Guitar
            10. Hot Sounds From the Arctic [Live]

            Jazz Music

            Jazz Music