Jay Beckenstein began playing piano when he was five years old and took up the saxophone two years later. His mother was an opera singer and his father loved the music of Charlie Parker and Lester Young. Beckenstein, co-founder of the band Spyro Gyra was born in Brooklyn, New York on May 14, 1951.

After receiving a music degree from the University of Buffalo in 1973, Beckenstein and keyboard player Jeremy Wall founded the band Spyro Gyra and began playing gigs around western New York state. The name of the group arose from a misunderstanding between Beckenstein and a club owner, but it stuck. Spyro Gyra released their first album in 1977 to mild success, but their second record, “Morning Dance,” released in 1979 received much wider acclaim.

Jay Beckenstein released a solo album in 200 and has played and recorded with Bob James, Dream Theater, Jason Miles, Orleans, Basia and Freddy Cole during his career.

Here is a link to Spyro Gyra's best-known tune:

"MORNING DANCE"