Tom Schuman, Spyro Gyra - Keyboard Chronicles Episode 70
Вставка
- Опубліковано 9 вер 2024
- We’re joined this episode by Tom Schuman, keyboard player for iconic jazz fusion outfit Spyro Gyra. Tom talks on his career in and outside of that band, and we shoot the breeze on the music industry more broadly and Tom’s recent retirement from Spyro Gyra.
Discussion topics covered during the show:
Wally Schuman playing bass with the Dick Fadale Quartet - • The Dick Fadale Quarte...
Tom speaks on his reasons for retirement from Spyro Gyra after 49 years amd handing over the reins to Chris Fischer
Spyro Gyra - Morning Dance - • Spyro Gyra - Morning D...
Spyro Gyra - Catching the Sun (live) - • Spyro Gyra - "Catching...
On evolving as a keyboard player
On mind-altering substances and music
The Rhinebeck Sessions - Wishful Thinking - • Wishful Thinking
The Rhineback Sessions - Who Knew - • Who Knew!
Jay Beckenstein - • Jay Beckenstein Gives ...
Tom's picks for new Spyro Gyra listeners:
Stolen Moments - • Spyro Gyra - Stolen Mo...
What a Fool Believes - • Spyro Gyra - What a Fo...
Patterns in the Rain - • Patterns In The Rain
Funkyard Dog - • Funkyard Dog
Conversations - • Spyro Gyra - Conversat...
Birks Law - • Birks Law
The Tippin' Point - • The Tippin' Point
Bob Goes to the Store - • Spyro Gyra - Bob Goes ...
Tom's solo work and the working relationship with the iconic Slide Funkshin and Schu Thomas
Tom's go-to keyboards
Sandeep Chowta
Antelope Orion 32
Breakfast with Count Basie
Tag a keyboard player: Chris Fischer
Desert Island Discs: Heavy Weather - Weather Report, My Funny Valentine - Miles Davis, The Trio - Oscar Peterson, Light as a Feather - Return to Forever / Chick Corea, Sunday at the Village Vanguard - Bill Evans.
Thanks to our supporters for this episode: Brother Paul Brown , Musicplayer.com forums, Tammy Katchur's Musical Stew and Radio Grande
Watch more episodes on @TheKeyboardChronicles or over at: www.keyboardch...
Buy keyboard-related merchandise at: keyboardchroni...
Support us at: / keyboardchronicles
Keep in touch with us on:
Facebook - / keyboardchronicles
Twitter - / thekeyboardchr1
Instagram: / thekeyboardchronicles
LinkedIn: / the-keyboard-chronicles
You rule Schu.Thank you for everything. Peace brother.🤘
Great interview. Tom's playing has been an inspiration to me for almost 50 years. I'm also happy to hear Tom have the balls to decry this country's obsession with guns and violence.
Thanks for listening Clay and agree!
Just saw Spyro tonight in Fort Lauderdale with Chris, who was great. Must admit, I was in shock with no Tom, seeing him with Spyro since around 1979. Saw Tom with the band in Pompano Beach a few weeks ago and we got to chat a bit. Little did I know ... best of luck in your retirement. Whatever you do, I will follow as best as I can. You are one of the best! As we talked last month, remember Oscar, Ray & Herb at The Blue Note/NYC circa 1990. Hope to see you soon. My idol for over 40 years!
-Doug
Such a lovely comment Doug and a testament to the dedicated following Spyro Gyra have!
My wife and I just saw Spyro Gyra at the Blue Note in Napa, CA on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023 and WOW were they awesome! Unbeknownst to me, I was expecting the usual lineup and I was shocked at not seeing Tom Schuman on stage! But when they started to play, I was absolutely blown away by the keyboard player and when Jay Beckenstein introduced the band, it was Chris Fischer and he was absolutely phenomenal! I got to meet him after the show and I complemented his playing and he was so humble and so flattered. What an incredibly nice person he was and I am thankful that he took a couple of moments to listen to me. I also got to talk to Julio Fernandez, Scott Ambush and of course, Jay Beckenstein. This was the 3rd time that I've been blessed to catch them live as well as talk to them for a bit. I was cruising the internet trying to find out Tom's plans and why he left Spyro Gyra when I found this UA-cam video that answered my questions. Well done! I also agree with Tom Schuman. Get Chris Fischer on the show! I've done some reading about him and he has an incredibly diverse background and a fantastic cadre of musicians that he works with. It should be an interesting interview!
Thanks so much for the thoughtful comment William and noted re: Chris. Thanks for watching!
I LOVE Tom Schuman, what a fabulous talent. Sad to see him leave the band and sad it is because of uncontrollable gun violence in this country. Very sad. Best to him and his wife!
Seen these guys 9 times...... and even seen Dave Samuels one time when he went on his own. Awesome interview !
Theres very little that brings nostalgia and the past to the senses more than music. I've been married for 45 years and I (we) have been listening to spyro gyra since then. They always accompanied the family on our caravan trips to France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy and listening to them always takes me back there but its not just that. The music stands on its own. I always mourned the moving on of the various players over the years but that was always quickly forgotten by the always talented replacement members. However, when a founding member moves on after all these years it makes that longing for the past just that little bit greater. I always loved Tom's playing and I'm the sort of person who would repeat his parts over and over and over again because they captured my soul. A really talented musician. Sadly, in all those years, being from the UK, I i never got to see them. My one regret. Just to add that patterns in the rain was one of those tracks I used to play on those trips and the one I would say that my kids who are now grown up still remember from those days. It's a really memorable song. Thanks for that interview. I really found every minute really interesting. Tom's a really lovely guy.
Such a brilliant story Paul thanks so much for sharing!
TOM …. TREMENDOUS ARRANGER & COMPOSER as well as PLAYER 🙏🏽
I came here after only today hearing about Tom's shock move from Spyro Gyra. My all time favorite keyboardist, I'm a proud owner of all his solo-cd's too. Even spoke to him a couple of times after shows and got his autograph on Extremities. Sensationally good interview this. I wish all the best for Tom and looking forward to hearing his music in the future. A suggestion for SG: please start to update your website - the colossal news of Tom departing cannot be ignored on there!
Thanks for watching CeeKay and agree, it's huge news.
I've seen Spyro Gyra probably 20 times over the past 35 years. I have never seen a bad show by them. Tom Schuman was an essential part of SG, and we'll miss him, especially his technique and compositions. I understand why he moved, and to some extent why SG stopped composing new music. But it's missed. I wish him well.
Man, you are so fortunate. I've been married 45 years and I was listening to them before 8 got married. Been listening to them ever since as I have all but 1 one of their albums. I'm in the UK and never got to see them at all.
Happy wife, happy life mate ♥️👍🏻
excellent interview really liked what Tom had to say.
So glad you enjoyed it!
I've been to Barcelona Spain too back in 2010. Beautiful city! Tom, have a great retirement with your wife!!
I will miss you performing in Minneapolis but Barcelona Spain is awesome too!
Wow, Spyrogyra has been around for so long, it doesn't seem like it will be the same Spyrogyra without Tom Schuman.
Well, all good things comes to end it can't last forever. I have been a Spyrogyra fan for so long, I will miss hearing Tom play.
I wish him well in his retirement in Spain.
I had the chance to meet and chat with mr Schuman at Jazz in Marciac and he is really a very friendly and very available person. I saw him several times with Spyro Gyra and I was always very impressed with his game and especially his swing. He is a very great musician and a great composer. 👏👏👏
Agreed Herve!
One of the best live players out there. I've seen that band 4 times in Austin and always walked away thinking that I need to practice more :)
I can imagine Jamie - unfortunately I haven't had the privilege of seeing Spyro Gyra but would love to. Hope your time in Oz is going well, we may be tracking you down sometime, would love to have a chat :)
@@TheKeyboardChronicles anytime
“So what are we gonna play for an encore ? (JAY” .. hahaha 😂
Thanks so much for the post. Quite an amazing endurance for he and Beckenstien.
Couldn't agree more Marie, what a partnership!
Thank you guys for this. Always good to see my hero and bro🙏🏾.
Very welcome, glad you enjoyed it!
Great interview!!!
Spyro Gyra is my favorite band of all times, have all their records and play along drums to have fun!!! ❤️
Massive Spyro fan here since the very beginning. Saw them perform many times over the years. Great interview!!! Enjoyed the stories and personal thoughts. What a ride Tom. A tough decision but a very noble one. Thanks for insane numbers of years, body of work and musicianship. Very best wishes in your next chapter. Sounds like a ton of musical fun to come. Lots of health, happiness and good times to you. Life is short. Good for you. You deserve it! 🎹
Thanks for such a thoughtful comment Tom, hopefully Tom S sees it!
In high school, my friends and I would go down to Ontario place (in TO) in the summers to see/hear them play at the Forum. Some of the absolutely best times of my life. Those experiences led me to become a music teacher for 31 years. The single best decision of my life.
@@SamIAm-kz4hg That is one inspiring story, thanks so much for sharing!
What a great interview and what a nice cat and great musician Tom is.
He sure is!
Wow, that was an incredible interview. Tom was so generous in sharing many wonderful stories and also many personal details about some of the challenges that have come with a career as a musician. He has had so much success for multiple decades and yet he is still very frugal with his keyboards and equipment. A Nord would be nice, but he has more important uses for $5k. On the positive side, this shows how great you can sound without the need for a huge investment. It also shows some of the challenging financial realities for professional musicians, even top-tier ones like Tom. Barcelona is getting a great new resident!
Thanks so much for listening Jamie and Spain is indeed lucky to have Tom!
Another great show guys. Great tidbits of information and sage wisdom from over the decades. I also agree it’s not necessarily the equipment that makes the musician, it’s the musician that makes the equipment! You can put a $10,000 guitar in the hands of diff people and it will all sound different. Yet I’ve seen the likes of Zakk Wylde crank it out on a children’s “Hello Kitty” plastic guitar and make it sound AMAZINGLY COOL!! But in other instances, yes ideally top quality instruments produce quality results in the hands of a maestro ! As always, much love from here in Canada at “Tammy’s Musical Stew” 😊💜🇨🇦
Well put and agree, thanks Tammy!
Tom told me once: "Play with what you have and make it work" 🙏🏾.
Barcelona is certainly lovely. A bit dodgy regarding pickpockets and muggers in the wrong place/time, but nothing like Trumpland 💥 Enjoy your retirement dude 👍🏻🎹
Did Tom play the Paula/paw prints solo on the first Spyro Gyra album?
Its so good.
He sure did. One take rumor has it. I actually got to meet THE aforementioned Paula at our last show. Was like meeting “Jessie’s girl” or something lol 😂
Typical liberal statements. I'll still love your playing though.