Guitarist Julio Fernandez, raised in Hoboken, top center, with the other members of Spyro Gyra, appearing Oct. 24 in the Bell Theater’s Fall Jazz Series.
COURTESY DAVID WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY
New Jersey-raised guitarist Julio Fernandez says Oct. 24 show is like a homecoming
By Alex Biese
When jazz fusion icons Spyro Gyra take the stage at the Bell Theater in Holmdel for a pair of engagements Oct. 24, the performances will mark more than just another date. For guitarist Julio Fernandez, returning to Monmouth County feels like coming home.
“We’re looking forward to it,” Fernandez said during a recent interview with The Two River Times. “I’ve heard wonderful things about the theater. It’s always fun to play in the state of New Jersey,” he added, calling it “home for me.”
The band’s appearance, featuring performances at 5 and 8 p.m., serves as the headlining centerpiece of the Bell Theater’s Fall Jazz Series, programmed by the Axelrod Performing Arts Center at the Bell Works complex in Holmdel.
MUSICAL SPARK
Fernandez was born in Cuba and moved to Hoboken as a child, spending his formative years steeped in the rich cultural and musical landscape of the tri-state area. Living in the shadow of New York City provided immediate access to an extraordinary array of sounds.
“As a kid growing up in Hoboken, you’re right next to New York,” Fernandez recalled. “So music came into the city all the time, new music. My first concert was going to see Jimi Hendrix when I was 14 years old.”
Inspiration struck when Fernandez watched The Beatles perform on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” While his neighborhood peers gathered outside to play sports, Fernandez locked himself in his room, determined to master six strings. His father played guitar, but young Julio taught himself by ear using a uniquely resourceful technique with a four-speed Grundig record player his aunt gave him.
“When I was trying to learn, because I learned a lot by ear, I would slow those LPs down so I could pick out the notes, and I’d just sit in my room and drive them crazy be- cause here I am plugged into my amp.”
That dedicated practice paid off. Influenced by everything on local radio, from WNEW rock to Latin beats and jazz, Fernandez developed a versatile style that eventually led him to Spyro Gyra in 1984.
FIVE DECADES OF JAZZ FUSION
Spyro Gyra originated in Buffalo, New York, in 1974. Over more than 50 years, the ensemble has logged more than 10,000 performances across six continents, released 30 albums, and earned multiple gold and platinum records.
Fernandez has anchored the guitar position for 40 years. He attributes the group’s enduring bond with audiences to both musical variety and internal family chemistry.
“I scratch my head sometimes, too, because the band’s been around for over 50 years,” Fernandez said. “We do have a cult following; people have grown up with us. And of course, it’s the variety of music: We go from R&B, rock to straight-ahead jazz to Latin. I think that’s something that has kept people interested all these years.”
He added that the band’s camaraderie still feels tangible to the audience. “We genuinely have fun playing. We’re like a family, and I think people see that.”
NEW LIVE ALBUM
That dynamic live chemistry is captured on the group’s recent release, “Live in Leverkusen 2022,” recorded during a European tour. The album and accompanying concert video highlight the balance between coordinated ensemble playing and individual showcase solos.
“We play tight as an ensemble, but when it comes to the improvisation part, that’s different every night and we all get to have our moment,” Fernandez said. “The fact that we do have our time to shine within this ensemble and then come together and play tightly is a beautiful thing.”
Reflecting on the band’s current era, Fernandez sees a period of deep artistic maturity. “When I joined the band, I was 29 years old. I just turned 72. We’re constantly learning, and I think it’s a special time that we’re still doing what we love.”
The band shows no signs of slowing down. An upcoming documentary titled “Spyro Gyra: Access All Areas” is currently in production and scheduled for release next year.
For the Oct. 24 Holmdel shows, Fernandez looks forward to connecting directly with Monmouth County jazz lovers inside the intimate Bell Theater at Bell Works. “Intimate is great because you can see the expressions on people’s faces, and it’s a little looser for us,” Fernandez said. “It’s always great to play in Jersey.”
The Fall Jazz Series at Bell Theater, 101 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, includes the following performances:
• Oct. 18: Art Topilow: “You’re the Top.” Pianist Topilow leads a celebration honoring Cole Porter and the Great American Songbook.
• Oct. 24: Spyro Gyra: Contemporary smooth jazz and fusion pioneers make their Bell Theater debut with two shows, at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• Nov. 21: “Rick Braun Plays Chuck Mangione.” Grammy-nominated trumpeter Braun performs live in a special tribute to the jazz icon.
Tickets and schedule information for the Fall Jazz Series are available at axelrodartscenter.org.
This article originally appeared in the October 8-14, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
