Biography
Over four decades, the Yellowjackets have achieved a formidable reputation for their live performances and critical and commercial success with their recordings of electric pop jazz. The members of the band are accomplished musicians in their own right and perhaps this accounts for the Yellowjackets' two Grammys and six nominations. The formative line-up was assembled in 1977 by Robben Ford (Born Robben Lee Ford, 16 December 1951, Woodlake, California, USA; guitar) to help record his The Inside Story. Joining Ford in the embryonic Yellowjackets were Russell Ferrante (keyboards), Ricky Lawson (drums) and Jimmy Haslip (Born James Robert Haslip, 31 December 1951, New York City, New York, USA; bass).
The Yellowjackets self-titled 1981 debut featured Ferrante, Haslip, Lawson and Ford, with musical assistance from Bobby Lyle (piano) and Lenny Castro (percussion) among others. By the time of 1983's Mirage A Trois, Ford's presence was declining. Saxophonist Marc Russo featured prominently on Samurai Samba (1985) and Shades in 1986 rewarded the band's steady touring with a Grammy and six-figure sales. Drummer William Kennedy was the next addition to the line-up and this prompted the band to explore some new territory on Four Corners. The relaxed Politics (1988) was another Grammy winner and hinted at the Yellowjackets' future direction. Their next project, The Spin was recorded in Oslo, Norway with well-known engineer, Jan Erik Kongshaug, and was a more acoustic, resolutely jazz album.
The Yellowjackets' debut for GRP Records, Greenhouse, featured saxophonist Bob Mintzer (Born 27 January 1953, New Rochelle, Westchester, New York, USA), replacing Russo who had departed to work with Kenny Loggins. Live Wires, their 1992 release, successfully demonstrated the multifaceted approach the Yellowjackets like to adopt. Indeed, the simplicity of the band's sound belies the diversity of their influences: "We spend hours experimenting, studying and listening to music from all over the world. You can't be afraid to take chances. That's what it takes to continue to grow!'. The Ferrante/Haslip/Kennedy/ Mintzer line-up continued with GRP throughout the decade, releasing a series of well-received and musically adventurous albums. Club Nocturne was something of a departure from their traditional sound, featuring vocal contributions from Kurt Elling, Brenda Russell and Jonathan Butler. Kennedy departed in 1999 to become more involved in gospel music. He was briefly replaced by Peter Erskine. Ferrante, Haslip and Mintzer were joined by new drummer Marcus Baylor on 2001"s Mint Jam.
Discography:
Yellowjackets (Warners 1981)***, Mirage A Trois (Warners 1983)***, Samurai Samba (Warners 1985)***, Shades (MCA 1986)****, Four Corners (MCA 1987)***, Politics (MCA 1988)****, The Spin (MCA 1989)***, Greenhouse (GRP 1991)***, Live Wires (GRP 1992)***, Like A River (GRP 1993)***, Run For Your Life (GRP 1994)***, Dreamland (Warners 1995)***, Blue Hats (Warners 1997)***, Club Nocturne (Warners 1998)**, Mint Jam (Yellowjackets Enterprise 2001)***, Time Squared (Heads Up 2003)***.
Compilations:
Collection (GRP 1995)****, Priceless Jazz (Universal 1998)***, The Best Of Yellowjackets (Warners 1999)****.
Music Albums
Collection
GRP Records
03/14/1995
Dreamland
Warner Bros. Records
08/15/1995
Blue Hats
Warner Bros. Records
02/11/1997
Priceless Jazz Collection
GRP Records
02/10/1998
Club Nocturne
Warner Bros. Records
09/22/1998
The Best Of Yellowjackets
Warner Bros. Records
12/14/1999
Mint Jam
Yellowjackets Enterprises
n/a
Time Squared [ECD]
Heads Up Records
05/27/2003
Time Squared [ECD] [SACD Hybrid]
Heads Up Records
06/24/2003
Peace Round [Digipak] *
Heads Up Records
09/28/2004
Four Corners
MCA Jazz
02/25/1997
Green House
GRP Records
02/19/1991
Like A River
GRP Records
01/19/1993
Live Wires
GRP Records
03/17/1992
Mirage A Trois
Warner Bros. Records
01/10/1989
Politics
MCA Jazz
1988
Run For Your Life
GRP Records
02/15/1994
Samurai Samba
Warner Bros. Records
n/a
Shades
MCA Jazz
1986
The Spin
MCA Jazz
07/25/1989
Yellowjackets [Remaster]
Rhino Records
02/03/2004
Source: Encyclopedia of Popular Music
