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Sunday, 19 May 2013

The Yellowjackets Celebrate 25 Years with CD and DVD

Written by Ronaldo Oregano

Tuesday, 16 May 2006

The Yellowjackets are celebrating their milestone quarter-century anniversary with the CD/DVD release aptly titled Twenty-Five. The CD portion of the two-disc set captures a live 2005 performance in Paris that features band members bassist Jimmy Haslip, keyboardist Russell Ferrante, saxophonist Bob Mintzer and drummer Marcus Baylor delivering a burning set that includes vintage Yellowjackets' compositions along with more recent material. The bonus DVD includes a second live high-energy performance, filmed at the Naima Club in Forli, Italy, in October 2005. In addition to the concert footage, the DVD also includes a variety of behind-the-scenes features: interviews with current and past band members, retrospective performance footage and other clips.

The Yellowjackets started 25 years ago, with a group of talented musicians led by guitarist Robben Ford intense sound incorporating elements of jazz, funk, R&B and rock. Keyboardist Russell Ferrante, bassist Jimmy Haslip and drummer Ricky Lawson were first assembled in 1977 as session players for jazz guitar virtuoso Robben Ford's instrumental release, The Inside Story. Although Ford's label wanted him to follow up with a more pop and vocal oriented album, the band, then known as the Robben Ford Group, preferred the instrumental approach. They renamed themselves the Yellowjackets, and released an album by the same name in 1981. Robben Ford left the group to pursue other project, but the band went on. They reassembled in time for the 1984 Playboy Jazz Festival, adding percussionist Paulinho Da Costa and their new lead voice, sax man Marc Russo. In 1990 saxophonist, band leader, and composer Bob Mintzer joined the group and has remained a creative force with the group ever since. The Yellowjackets continue to please crowds worldwide with an aggressive touring schedule.

Bob Mintzer's experience like his early gigs with Eumir Deodato, Tito Puente and the Thad Jones and Mel Lewis Big Band were formative. The routine of playing and performing on a daily basis was important "because it gets you in the habit of coming up with a high level of musicianship on the spot." Some of his earliest arranging jobs were for Buddy Rich's band. Bob Mintzer Buddy encouraged Bob to write a chart for his big band. One of his most influential stints was with the Thad Jones and Mel Lewis Big Band. At first, he played every Monday night at the Village Vanguard, playing for about six months until Thad left and stayed on with Mel. "Mel Lewis's drumming, in many ways, was the greatest big band drumming I've ever experienced at first hand. He really listened and supported and accompanied." He continues, "The band just swings like crazy. It felt very comfortable to play with that band. It was a determining factor on the way I run my own band, the way I like to play and the way I write. Thad had a big impact on my writing."

Mintzer's own big band recordings build upon a lot of his earlier work, as well as a lot of the music he listened to and admired. On his big band recordings, you hear not only traditional big band elements, but some rock, Latin and fusion elements as well. However, it is the Yellowjackets with their aggressive touring schedule that takes up most of his time.

Marcus Baylor, a native of St. Louis, began playing the drums at two years old. At Mannes School of Music in New York City Baylor was fortunate to study with some of his musical heroes, Lewis Nash, Chico Hamilton, Michael Carvin and Buster Williams. Being in New York City afforded him all that was available in the jazz world from being able to hear great musicians as well as play with them. A significant turning point in Baylor's career as he recorded for the first time with Cassandra Wilson on "Travelin' Miles", featuring the music of Miles Davis. "Playing with Cassandra, I learned to hear and play different textures, or 'colors' as she called it, and explore different dynamics." While on tour, there were many memorable moments as renowned artists sat in with the band. Among them were George Benson, Dave Holland, Regina Carter and Olu Dara. Following Wilson, Marcus began working with Kenny Garrett. He explains this opportunity as "a dream come true". For Marcus, this was a chance to open up and explore another side of playing jazz music. Also on the road with Garrett, Marcus was exposed to playing with other greats such as Chick Corea and Freddie Hubbard. Baylor has worked with John Scoffield, Joshua Redman (Elastic Band), Greg Osby, Cyrus Chestnut, Stephon Harris, Junior Mance, Nicholas Payton, Lamont Johnson and East St. Louis native, Russell Gunn. Marcus has been playing with the Yellowjackets since 2000.

Jimmy Haslip’s bass is an integral part of the Yellowjackets sound. In addition to building the foundation upon which their songs are crafted, his thoughtful and often fiery solos are a high water mark of many Yellowjackets tracks. While being mostly self taught on the bass, Jimmy studied with a private bass/tuba player from New York named Ron Smith. He was also very fortunate to have studied with one of jazz music’s greatest talents. "…I did manage to study with Jaco Pastorius for a few weeks in the mid seventies, when he had just joined Weather Report. That was a giant leap for me as a serious musician and it filled me with a much higher level of inspiration. I think he was a major inspiration to all bass players at that time!"