Depending on your tastes, the long-standing fusion group Spyro Gyra cemented the "smooth jazz" sound or they diluted the "real" music. For over three decades, the ensemble's principle leaders, saxophonist Jay Beckenstein and keyboardist Tom Schuman, have been the gold standard of the smooth jazz genre. Tracks like "Lowdown" and "Walkin’ Home" bounce with the kind of slick, radio-friendly grooves their fans have come to love. But on "Spyro Time", "The Voodooyoudoo", "Impressions of Madrid," and the title track, Beckenstein and company lay down some surprisingly credible Muscle Shoals-style funk, flamenco stylings, and even a brushed-stroked, acoustic combo selection. With the leader's succinct and stinging sax lines guiding this percolating pack, their appearance on the bandstand of an old, wizened jazz club may garner polite applause instead of dismissive smirks.

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.

Saxophonist and bandleader Jay Beckenstein was a master of the smooth jazz sound before the genre had a name. He hasn't lost his touch on this outing, but it's clear that his bandmates–guitarist Julio Fernandez and bassist Scott Ambush–are also learning the art of crafting a pop instrumental hook.

Spyro Gyra's new release Vinyl Tap, their first album of new material in six years, is sure to excite their worldwide fan base as well as to bring new listeners into the fold. Never content to rest on their prodigious work of the past, they have once again challenged themselves to apply their iconic sound to an idea that makes this release stand out from all of it's predecessors.

This is an excellent sampler of the Heads Up SACDs. It also contains, as a bonus track, a version of “Woke Up This Morning” used in the opening credits of “The Sopranos” TV series not available elsewhere on SACD.

Good to Go-Go is the twenty-ninth album by Spyro Gyra. Many songs on the album have been used on The Weather Channel's Local on the 8s segments. This album has the first appearance of drummer Bonny Bonaparte. Good to Go-Go peaked at No. 9 on the jazz album chart at Billboard magazine.