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Jazz Icon Spyro Gyra to Perform at Eastern

Concert to Benefit Local Scholarships

Willimantic, CT (04/27/2017) — Legendary jazz quintet Spyro Gyra will perform at Eastern Connecticut State University on May 20 in Eastern's Fine Arts Center. The show opens at 8 p.m. and is the fourth and last in this year's "Jazzin' It Up at Eastern" concert series at Eastern.

From their humble beginnings in Buffalo, NY, Spyro Gyra have earned an international audience over their 40-year career, selling more than 10 million albums and playing more than 5,000 shows on five continents in that time.

During their 40th anniversary year in 2014, Spyro Gyra showcased their breakthrough album "Morning Dance" from 1979. In June 2016, they released "The Best of The Heads Up Years," a compilation of tunes from 2001-09. In addition to the classic "Morning Dance," other notable Spyro Gyra tunes include "Havana Moonlight," "Shaker Song" and "Catching the Sun." A live performance of "Morning Dance" can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVDZ5UY_oDw

"My hope is that our music has the same effect on the audience that it does on me," says group leader Jay Beckenstein. "I've always felt that music, and particularly instrumental music, has this non-literal quality that lets people travel to a place where there are no words. Whether it's touching their emotions or connecting them to something that reminds them of something much bigger than themselves, there's this beauty in music that's not connected to sentences. It's very transportive. I would hope that when people hear our music or come to see us, they're able to share that with us."

Seating is limited, so attendees should purchase their seats now. Advance ticket purchasers are eligible to win a concert poster or Spyro Gyra CD - autographed by the band. For tickets for Spyro Gyra's May 20 performance, visit https://easternct.showare.com, call (860) 465-4979, or email concerts@easternct.edu.

Sponsored by local philanthropist David Foster, "Jazzin' it Up at Eastern" has also featured Foster and the Mohegan Sun All-Stars; Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Arturo Sandoval and renowned jazz guitarist Pat Metheny. All proceeds support scholarships for Windham High School graduates attending Eastern.

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Jazz Legends Spyro Gyra

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