I agree with Frantic. I love all the SACD's by Spyro Gyra, but this is the best by far. I've noticed a few interesting things about Spyro Gyra.
1. Most of their songs begin with a 30 second intro that in itself could be a great song, but instead leads up to an amazing song.
2. In their prior albums, the sax was the foremost instrument, but not in this album. The guitar is up there with the sax, and each instrument has it's amazing moments throughout the album.
3. If you listen closely, each space is filled with something interesting - tinging sounds from behind you in Eastlake Shuffle, a "meow" sound from the left side of the room in, I believe, Soburg Sam, base drums walking across the floor in Chippewa Street, and, my favorite, what sounds like the keyboard player hitting his hand against the instrument in the beginning of Beyond the Rain creating a slight thumping sound.
4. I have never heard vibes with such clarity. I hear two sounds when the vibes are played (ex. Wiggle Room) - the bar vibrating and the actual tapping of the bar. In other words, it sound REAL.
I have yet to find any album (other than Spyro Gyra's) that even come close to the clarity, vitality, energy, precision and beauty of this album. Mind you, it took 3 listenings before I started to really fall in love with this album. IF YOU OWN THIS ALBUM, THEN LISTEN TO IT A FEW MORE TIMES. IF YOU DO NOT OWN IT, THEN BUY IT. This is what SACD is all about.
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