The Early Years (1983-1989)
The Yellowjackets started as a backing band for guitarist Robben Ford, who recruited keyboardist Russell Ferrante, bassist Jimmy Haslip, and drummer Ricky Lawson for his first solo album in 1977. They decided to continue as a group and released their self-titled debut album in 1981. Their second album, Mirage a Trois, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Fusion Performance in 1984. Ford left the band after this album and was replaced by saxophonist Marc Russo.
The Yellowjackets' sound became more polished and sophisticated with Russo's addition, blending elements of funk, R&B, Latin, and pop with jazz improvisation. Their next four albums, Samurai Samba (1985), Shades (1986), Four Corners (1987), and Politics (1988), were all successful and received Grammy nominations. Shades won the Grammy for Best R&B Instrumental Performance for the song "And You Know That" in 1987. Some of their most popular songs from this period include "Homecoming", "Revelation", "Matinee Idol", and "Wildlife".
The Mintzer Era (1990-2011)
Russo left the band in 1990 and was replaced by Bob Mintzer, a renowned saxophonist and composer who had worked with Jaco Pastorius, Buddy Rich, and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. Mintzer brought a more adventurous and eclectic approach to the Yellowjackets' music, incorporating influences from world music, classical music, and avant-garde jazz. The band also experimented with different instruments, such as the EWI (electronic wind instrument), the bass clarinet, and the acoustic piano.
The Yellowjackets' first album with Mintzer, Greenhouse (1991), reached No. 1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Album chart. The band continued to produce high-quality albums throughout the 1990s and 2000s, such as Like a River (1992), Run for Your Life (1993), Dreamland (1995), Blue Hats (1997), Club Nocturne (1998), Mint Jam (2002), Time Squared (2003), Altered State (2005), Lifecycle (2008), Timeline (2011), and A Rise in the Road (2013). Some of their most acclaimed songs from this era include "Even Song", "Spirit of the West", "Dewey", "One Music", "Mother Earth", and "Magnolia".
The Legacy of the Yellowjackets
The Yellowjackets are one of the most influential and respected bands in the jazz fusion genre. They have collaborated with many other artists, such as Michael Franks, Joni Mitchell, Take 6, Bobby McFerrin, Kurt Elling, Joe Sample, Mike Stern, and Lee Ritenour. They have also contributed to the soundtrack of the film Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home in 1986. They have been praised for their musical creativity, technical proficiency, harmonic sophistication, and melodic sensibility.
If you want to listen to their discography in lossless quality, you can find it on various online platforms or download it from torrent sites. However, we recommend that you support the artists by buying their CDs or digital downloads from their official website or other authorized sources. You can also follow them on social media or check out their live performances if they are touring near you. The Yellowjackets are still active and releasing new music as of 2023. Their latest album is Parallel Motion, which came out in 2022.
We hope you enjoyed this article and learned more about the Yellowjackets and their discography. If you have any comments or questions, feel free to leave them below. Thank you for reading and happy listening!
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