Yellowjackets

In 1977, Robben Ford assembled a group of veteran session musicians to record his album The Inside Story. The trio of musicians, which included keyboardist Russell Ferrante, bassist Jimmy Haslip and drummer Ricky Lawson, soon discovered a certain "chemistry" and musical affinity that led to their formation of Yellowjackets. The Inside Story being mainly instrumental, Robben Ford's record label wanted him to record another album that was more pop and vocal oriented. The group, known as the Robben Ford Group, preferred to pursue the instrumental route, and a "band within a band" was formed. This same group with Robben Ford on guitar recorded digital demos that were eventually accepted by Warner Brothers, and Yellowjackets was born. While Robben's contributions would diminish over the years to being a guest artist, the group known as Yellowjackets would flourish.

Their debut album Yellowjackets made serious waves in jazz radio, garnering public and critical acclaim. Mirage A Trois followed in its footsteps. While they went on a brief hiatus to pursue other projects, they reassembled in time for the 1984 Playboy Jazz Festival, adding percussionist Paulinho Da Costa and their new lead voice, sax man Marc Russo. This landmark concert paved the way for their eventual success both on the Billboard Jazz charts and concert venues around the world, and resulted in the third spicy Yellowjackets album Samurai Samba. 1986 saw the group moving over to MCA Records to record Shades, the title track being written by Donald Fagen (of Steely Dan fame) as a tribute to the many "shades" he heard in the group's music.

With their album Four Corners, Ricky Lawson departed to join Lionel Richie's touring band and was replaced by the versatile William Kennedy. This rock-solid lineup took the Yellowjackets into new territory, exploring world beats and densely-populated soundscapes that reflected a growing maturity in their music. CloudjacketsPolitics, the follow-up to Four Corners, mellows out, and the group sheds some of the electronic elements and starts exploring acoustic sounds. Marc Russo's final recording with Yellowjackets, The Spin, was recorded in Oslo, Norway by noted engineer Jan Erik Kongshaug (well known for his work on the ECM label), and the Jackets proved that they could belt out acoustic jazz with the best!

Greenhouse ushered in a new era. With Marc gone, the Yellowjackets trio would record one of their most adventurous albums to date, featuring ace big band arranger and saxophonist Bob Mintzer on many of the tracks, and string accompaniments on a handful of others. Shortly thereafter, Bob Mintzer became a bona fide member of Yellowjackets. The Jackets also recorded on one of Bob Mintzer's dmp Records projects, One Music. Live Wires captures the group in concert with Mintzer at the helm. The two albums that followed, Like A River and Run For Your Life, reflected a growing interest in straight-ahead acoustic jazz.

With 1995's Dreamland, Yellowjackets returned to their first record label, Warner Brothers, producing their most relaxed, and relaxing, recording to date. Blue Hats is more spontaneous than its predecessors, musically rich and particularly revealing in showing how Yellowjackets have evolved since that landmark first album. Club Nocturne, their latest studio recording, achieves great crossover appeal with the guest vocalists Kurt Elling, Jonathan Butler and Brenda Russell. And while the Yellowjackets of today sound little like the original Yellowjackets from fifteen-plus years ago at first listen, the unmistakable talents of the individuals involved still have the unique signatures that shine through regardless of their musical setting, whether it be blistering-hot fusion or full-blown acoustic jazz. In other words, their music has evolved and matured considerably, but there's no mistaking that it is Yellowjackets you are hearing.

At the beginning of 1999, William Kennedy departed Yellowjackets to pursue other interests, and Peter Erskine joined the group for the balance of the year. Peter had played with Bob Mintzer on some of his big-band and small group recordings, so it was a natural that he would become one of the Yellowjackets. Unfortunately, Erskine's busy schedule would conflict with the band's, and he would depart by year's end without ever having recorded an album with the group.

In early 2000, the Yellowjackets were once again a trio, with Russell, Jimmy and Bob using different drummers as they continue touring throughout the year. Two of the fine drummers they've hooked up with were Marcus Baylor and Terri Lynn Carrington. For 2000, the band also saw a change in management, and Jimmy's long-awaited (and long-delayed) solo recording, Red Heat, was released later in the summer.

In 2001, the band self-released the pivotal live "Mint Jam" recording, with Marcus Baylor now essentially the band's full-time drummer. Since that time, the Jackets signed a deal with the HeadsUp International label, and have since released "Time Squared", the holiday release "Peace Round" and, most recently, "Altered State".

What's In A Name? If you're expecting something cute or meaningful in the naming of the group, you may be disappointed. Russell Ferrante relates the following on how the group's name was chosen: "I wish there was a clever rationale, but there really isn't. At the time we were making our demo in hopes of landing a recording contract, we were still the "Robben Ford Band". We had recorded one record with Robben, (primarily instrumental) but his record company was "encouraging" him do do something more pop and vocal oriented. As we also wanted to continue playing instrumental music, we all decided to form a "band within a band" so to speak. At the demo session Jimmy brought in a sheet full of possible names, most just awful. The one that popped out was Yellowjackets as it seemed to connotate something lively, energetic, and something with a "sting". That's really about as deep as it went. Once you choose a name, you're stuck with it so here we are, 16 years later, grown men playing in a band named 'Yellowjackets.'"
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The Yellowjackets at Blues Alley

by Dave Dorkin
March 19, 2025

The Yellowjackets Blues Alley jny:Washington, D.C. March 9, 2025 The Yellowjackets' visit to the historic Blues Alley venue in Washington was a valuable opportunity to witness a band which has been active for nearly half a century firing on all cylinders in a warm and intimate setting. The quartet's lineup has been stable since the entry of Australian bass virtuoso Dane Alderson in 2015 and the capacity of the band members to give and take ...

Live Review

Yellowjackets al Roma Jazz Festival 2023

by Mario Calvitti
January 5, 2024

Yellowjackets Auditorium Parco della Musica Roma Jazz Festival 2023 Roma 12.11.2023 Gli Yellowjackets sono uno dei gruppi di fusion più longevi ancora in attività sulla scena internazionale che calcano da ben 43 anni, come sottolinea con una punta d'orgoglio il sassofonista Bob Mintzer durante la presentazione del gruppo. Il pianista Russel Ferrante è l'unico superstite della formazione originaria (per una curiosa coincidenza quella stessa sera era presente a Roma un altro dei membri ...

Album Review

Yellowjackets: Raising Our Voice

Read "Raising Our Voice" reviewed by Chris Mosey

by Chris Mosey
September 15, 2018

Named after a rather unpleasant insect, founded by a guitar superstar to back him but then dropped, the Los Angeles-based Yellowjackets--despite it all--continue to forge ahead. There's something of the MJQ about them: they dress well (if casually) and play a brand of jazz that is discreet and refined, sometimes almost to the point of becoming background music. Of the musicians picked as a backing group by Robben Ford in 1977, only Russell Ferrante (keyboards) remains. Now ...

Album Review

Yellowjackets: A Rise in the Road

Read "A Rise in the Road" reviewed by Ian Patterson

by Ian Patterson
October 2, 2013

With the departure of bassist Jimmy Haslip in 2012, pianist Russell Ferrante is the sole original member, more than three decades after the band's debut recording Yellowjackets (Warner Bros, 1981) set the ball rolling. That said, saxophonist Bob Mintzer has been onboard 22 years and drummer Will Kennedy 14. Not for nothing does the twenty second studio recording sound every bit a Yellowjackets offering--and a fine one at that. New bassist Felix Pastorius has been touring with the band for ...

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Album Review

Yellowjackets: Timeline

Read "Timeline" reviewed by Ian Patterson

by Ian Patterson
May 5, 2011

Timeline is Yellowjackets' 21st album, in a career spanning 30 years--an impressive return, and an indication of the group's enduring appeal and continued motivation and commitment to making music. As ever, there are signs of evolution, with the addition of trumpet widening the sonic palette. However, pianist/keyboardist Russell Ferrante's sparing use of synthesizer-- which has given an orchestral depth to much of the group's music over the years--and saxophonist Bob Mintzer's switch from EWI to bass clarinet, steers the music ...

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Album Review

Yellowjackets: Timeline

Read "Timeline" reviewed by Mark F. Turner

by Mark F. Turner
March 11, 2011

To have worked thirty years in the business is exceptional for any band, especially in jazz. But since 1981, pianist/keyboardist Russell Ferrante and bassist Jimmy Haslip have maintained the award-winning Yellowjackets--from that year's eponymous Warner Bros. debut, with its infectious blend of fusion and funk, featuring guitarist Robben Ford, and the incorporation of jazz and strings in Greenhouse (GRP, 1991), with multi-reed master Bob Mintzer, to the twentieth anniversary double-CD Mint Jam (Yellowjackets Ent., 2001)--and the group's beat, in its ...

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Film Review

Yellowjackets: New Morning - The Paris Concert

by John Kelman
August 6, 2009

YellowjacketsNew Morning - The Paris Concert Heads Up International2009A group that has, on occasion, ventured along the fine line between contemporary jazz and that of the smoother variety, Yellowjackets has always been a performing band. Now approaching its 30th anniversary as a collective, it's the group's eighth year with a consistent line-up that includes, in addition to co-founders Russell Ferrante (keyboards) and Jimmy Haslip (bass), long-timer Bob Mintzer (saxophone and EWI - ...

Festival

Jazz this week: Yellowjackets, Pangea, Greater St. Louis Hispanic Festival, and more

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
September 20, 2017

This week's calendar of live jazz and creative music in St. Louis features the return of a jazz-fusion favorite; a weekend of Latin jazz and salsa at a free outdoor festival, and more. Let's go to the highlights... Wednesday, September 20 Jazz-fusion band Yellowjackets opens a four-night engagement continuing through Saturday at Jazz at the Bistro. Although Jazz St. Louis at this writing is describing the shows as “almost sold out," a few tickets remain; call the box office for ...
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Performance / Tour

Jazz this week: Yellowjackets, Peter Martin, Dave Bennett, Tatsuya Nakatani, and more

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
October 7, 2015

This week's calendar of live jazz and creative music in St. Louis offers an album release event from one of the city's favorite homegrown piano players, plus funk and fusion, free improv, cabaret, swing, and more. Let's go to the highlights... Wednesday, October 7 The popular fusion band Yellowjackets (pictured, top left) return to St. Louis to begin a four-night stand at Jazz at the Bistro, with a new member, bassist Dane Alderson, as part of the swarm. Alderson, who's ...
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Video / DVD

STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: An Evening with Yellowjackets

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
June 15, 2014

This week, let's check in on the contemporary jazz group Yellowjackets, who will be back in St. Louis on Saturday, June 28 to headline the Chesterfield Wine and Jazz Festival at the Chesterfield Amphitheater. Now featuring co-founder Russell Ferrante on keyboards, longtime members Bob Mintzer on saxophones and Will Kennedy on drums, plus the latest addition to the band, bassist Felix Pastorius, Yellowjackets have appeared at Jazz at the Bistro several times during the past decade, most recently in September ...
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Event

Kate McGarry, The Yellowjackets Headline Lawrence University's 33rd Jazz Celebration Weekend

Source: Rick Peterson
November 1, 2013

APPLETON, WIS. — Both ends of the jazz spectrum will be represented Nov. 8-9 when Lawrence University hosts its 33rd Jazz Celebration Weekend. Grammy Award-nominated vocalist Kate McGarry, a four-time “Rising Star" honoree by Downbeat magazine, kicks off the weekend Friday while the legendary fusion quartet the Yellowjackets close the weekend Saturday evening. Both concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Lawrence Memorial Chapel. Tickets, at $22-20 for adults, $19-17 for seniors and $17-15 for students, are available through the ...
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Recording

Yellowjackets Embark on New Chapter with Latest Project, "A Rise in the Road", Available June 25 on Mack Avenue Records

Source: DL Media
April 4, 2013

A Rise In The Road, the Yellowjackets‘ second Mack Avenue Records offering, is indeed an appropriate title for a time-honored jazz ensemble that has never been fearful of facing newer musical horizons, not to mention the myriad challenges of life itself. Throughout their storied 32-year history, the Yellowjackets have undergone numerous lineup changes, never failing to rise to the inevitable challenges of adjustment. Keyboardist Russell Ferrante and bassist Jimmy Haslip, the dual cornerstones of the group’s 21 previous recordings, were ...
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Music Industry

Yellowjackets Sign with Mack Avenue Records: Announced at the 2010 Detroit International Jazz Festival

Source: DL Media
September 15, 2010

Mack Avenue Records is proud to announce the signing of Grammy® award winning jazz group, the Yellowjackets. The signing was made official at the 2010 Detroit International Jazz Festival, where the group headlined on the Carhartt Amphitheatre Stage. Comprised of saxophonist Bob Mintzer, keyboardist Russell Ferrante, bassist Jimmy Haslip and drummer Will Kennedy (who was a member of the group from 1986-1998 and returned this year), the group joins the Mack Avenue family during its 30th anniversary of making music. ...
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Music Industry

Yellowjackets Sign with Mack Avenue Records

Source: AAJ Staff
September 8, 2010

Announced at the 2010 Detroit International Jazz Festival Mack Avenue Records is proud to announce the signing of Grammy® award winning jazz group, the Yellowjackets. The signing was made official at the 2010 Detroit International Jazz Festival, where the group headlined on the Carhartt Amphitheatre Stage. Comprised of saxophonist Bob Mintzer, keyboardist Russell Ferrante, bassist Jimmy Haslip and drummer Will Kennedy (who was a member of the group from 1986-1998 and returned this year), the group joins the Mack Avenue ...
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Festival

Jakjazz Finale Lights up the Jakarta Night

Source: All About Jazz
December 1, 2008

The 10th Jakarta International Jazz Festival ended Sunday with stunning collaborative performances from the world's jazz icons and one conviction: Jakarta has emerged as a melting pot and a mecca of jazz music. Jazz enthusiasts started swarming into the Istora Senayan area at around 5 p.m. to savor the evening performances from local and international acts on the outdoor stages. As on previous days, the rain did not deter the audience from coming. Syaharani and her band, the Queenfirework, heated ...
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Performance / Tour

Yellowjackets Grammy Winners Play OC Pavillion

Source: All About Jazz
June 10, 2008

Last Minute Father's Day Reservations Still Available with Grammy-Award Winning Artists, the Yellowjackets at The OC Pavilion.

OC Pavilion is pleased to announce a special Father's Day dining celebration on Sunday, June 15. The special celebration includes a 4-course, five-star meal in the award-winning Ambrosia Restaurant followed by a live performance by the two-time Grammy-award winning jazz band, The Yellowjackets, in the OC Pavilion theatre. The Yellowjackets debuted on the jazz music scene in 1981 dedicated to pushing the boundaries ...
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Event

The OC Pavilion Welcomes the Yellowjackets on Father's Day June 15

Source: All About Jazz
March 8, 2008

The OC Pavilion is pleased to welcome chart-topping jazz band, The Yellowjackets on Sunday, June 15. The Yellowjackets debuted on the jazz music scene in 1981 dedicated to pushing the boundaries of traditional jazz. Their improvisational style draws from a wide range of musical sources, incorporating elements of Bebop, funk, R&B, and rock. Their debut album made serious waves in jazz radio, receiving both public and critical acclaim. The group has performed together over the last 27 years at many ...
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