Yellowjackets
Yellowjackets is an American jazz fusion band.
History
In 1977, guitarist Robben Ford was recording his first solo album when he assembled for his band keyboardist Russell Ferrante, bass guitarist Jimmy Haslip, and drummer Ricky Lawson. They were then signed to Warner Bros. Records by producer Tommy LiPuma, who chose the name "Yellowjackets" from a list that band members compiled.In 1984, the band's second album, Mirage a Trois, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Fusion Performance. Ford left the band after the second album, and saxophonist Marc Russo was hired. The album Shades reached No. 4 on the Billboard magazine jazz album chart, while the single "And You Know That" won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance. Their next three albums, Four Corners, Politics, and The Spin received Grammy nominations for Best Jazz Fusion Performance. With Marc Russo leaving the band, Bob Mintzer joined the Yellowjackets in 1990 for the album Greenhouse, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Album chart. Mintzer remained as a member of the band. The Yellowjackets celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2011 with the album Timeline for Mack Avenue. When bassist Jimmy Haslip left, he was replaced by Felix Pastorius, son of bassist Jaco Pastorius. The band released A Rise in the Road with Pastorius. On some of the songs, he played the fretless bass guitar owned by his father.
In addition to their studio albums, the Yellowjackets contributed two tracks to the soundtrack of the film in 1986.
Awards and honors
Grammy Awards- R&B Instrumental Performance: "And You Know That"
- Jazz Fusion Performance: Politics
- Jazz Fusion Performance: Mirage a Trois, Four Corners
- Contemporary Jazz Performance: Greenhouse, Like a River, Run for Your Life, Dreamland, Club Nocturne
- Contemporary Jazz Album: Mint Jam, Time Squared, Lifecycle
- Jazz Instrumental Performance: The Spin
- Instrumental Composition: "Claire's Closet", Russell Ferrante, "Civil War", Bob Mintzer
Discography
- 1981: Yellowjackets
- 1983: Mirage a Trois
- 1985: Samurai Samba
- 1986: Shades
- 1987: Four Corners
- 1988: Politics
- 1989: The Spin
- 1991: Greenhouse
- 1992: Live Wires
- 1993: Like a River
- 1994: Run for Your Life
- 1995: Dreamland
- 1997: Blue Hats
- 1998: Club Nocturne
- 2001: Mint Jam
- 2003: Time Squared
- 2003: Peace Round: A Christmas Celebration
- 2005: Altered State
- 2006: Twenty-Five
- 2008: Lifecycle
- 2011: Timeline
- 2013: A Rise in the Road
- 2016: Cohearence
- 2018: Raising Our Voice
Members
Present lineup
- Russell Ferrante – keyboards, synthesizers
- Bob Mintzer – saxophones, bass clarinet, EWI
- William Kennedy – drums, percussion
- Dane Alderson – bass
Former members
- Robben Ford – guitar
- Jimmy Haslip – bass
- Mike Miller - guitar
- Ricky Lawson – drums
- Michael Landau - guitar
- Marc Russo – saxophones
- Peter Erskine – drums
- Terri Lyne Carrington – drums
- Marcus Baylor – drums
- Felix Pastorius – bass
Timeline
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