Yellowjackets (band)

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Yellowjackets
Yellowjackets - Leverkusener Jazztage 2015-3354.jpg
Leverkusener Jazztage, 2015
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres Jazz fusion
Years active1977–present
Labels MCA, GRP, Heads Up, Mack Avenue Records, Warner Bros.
Members Russell Ferrante
Bob Mintzer
Will Kennedy
Dane Alderson
Past members Robben Ford
Jimmy Haslip
Ricky Lawson
Michael Landau
Mike Miller
Marc Russo
Peter Erskine
Terri Lyne Carrington
Marcus Baylor
Felix Pastorius
Website yellowjackets.com

Yellowjackets is an American jazz fusion band founded in 1977 in Los Angeles, California.

Contents

History

Jimmy Haslip performs at the Liri Blues Festival, Italy, in 2000. Liri Blues Yellowjackets 2000.jpg
Jimmy Haslip performs at the Liri Blues Festival, Italy, in 2000.

In 1977, guitarist Robben Ford, for his first solo album, recruited keyboardist Russell Ferrante, electric bassist Jimmy Haslip and drummer Ricky Lawson. [1] They decided to continue as a group and were signed to Warner Bros. Records by producer Tommy LiPuma, who chose the name "Yellowjackets" from a list of potential group names the band had compiled. [2] [3]

In 1984, the band's second album, Mirage a Trois , was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Fusion Performance. [3] Ford played on only half this album, and after he departed the group, saxophonist Marc Russo was hired in his place. [1] The next album, Shades , reached No. 4 on the Billboard magazine jazz album chart, while the single "And You Know That" won a Grammy for Best R&B Instrumental Performance. Lawson left and was replaced by Will Kennedy in 1987. Their next three albums, Four Corners , Politics , and The Spin all received Grammy nominations for Best Jazz Fusion Performance. With Russo leaving the band in 1990, Bob Mintzer replaced him for the album Greenhouse , which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Album chart. Mintzer has remained a band member.

The Yellowjackets celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2011 with the album Timeline for Mack Avenue. When Haslip took an extended hiatus, he was replaced by Felix Pastorius (son of bassist Jaco Pastorius.) [3] The band released A Rise in the Road with Pastorius. On some of the songs, Pastorius played the fretless bass guitar made famous by his father. [4]

In addition to their studio albums, the Yellowjackets contributed two tracks to the soundtrack of the film Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home in 1986. [5]

Awards and honors

Grammy Awards

Grammy nominations

Members

Current members

Former members

Timeline

Yellowjackets (band)

Discography

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Mintzer</span> American jazz saxophonist, composer, and band leader

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Haslip</span> American electric bass player and record producer

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricky Lawson</span> American drummer (1954–2013)

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<i>Politics</i> (Yellowjackets album) 1988 studio album by Yellowjackets

Politics (1988) is the sixth studio album from the jazz group Yellowjackets. The album was awarded "Best Jazz Fusion Performance" at the 1989 Grammy Awards.

<i>The Spin</i> 1989 studio album by Yellowjackets

The Spin is an album by the American jazz band Yellowjackets, released in 1989. The album title refers to the Earth's rotation. The band supported the album with a North American tour.

<i>Club Nocturne</i> 1998 studio album by Yellowjackets

Club Nocturne (1998) is the 13th studio album from the jazz group Yellowjackets, and their sixth and final release for the Warner Bros. label. The album was nominated for "Best Contemporary Jazz Album" Grammy Award.

<i>Like a River</i> 1993 studio album by Yellowjackets

Like a River (1993) is the ninth studio album from the jazz group Yellowjackets, and their fifth studio album for GRP Records. The album was nominated for "Best Contemporary Jazz Recording" Grammy Award.The album reached a peak position of number three on Billboard's Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.

<i>Bang!Zoom</i> 1995 studio album by Bobby McFerrin

Bang!Zoom is a 1995 studio album by American vocalist and jazz/folk musician Bobby McFerrin, released by Blue Note Records. The line-up includes several members of the jazz fusion band Yellowjackets.

<i>Mirage a Trois</i> 1983 studio album by Yellowjackets

Mirage a Trois is the second album of the American jazz group Yellowjackets, released in 1983. The album reached a peak position of number 145 on the Billboard 200 and number 7 on Billboard's Jazz Albums chart. It was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Fusion Performance in 1984.

<i>Greenhouse</i> (Yellowjackets album) 1991 studio album by Yellowjackets

Greenhouse is the eighth studio album of the American jazz group Yellowjackets, released in 1991. In this album, the group was a trio. Bob Mintzer, who became an official member on the next album, was credited as a guest artist. The album reached a peak position of number one on Billboard's Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.

<i>Run for Your Life</i> (Yellowjackets album) 1994 studio album by Yellowjackets

Run for Your Life is an album by the American jazz group Yellowjackets, released in 1994. The album reached a peak position of number eight on Billboard's Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart. It was nominated for a Grammy Award, in the "Best Contemporary Jazz Performance" category.

<i>Timeline</i> (Yellowjackets album) 2011 studio album by Yellowjackets

Timeline is an album by the American jazz group Yellowjackets, released in 2011. The album reached a peak position of number five on Billboard's Top Jazz Albums chart, and was nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental Album at the Grammy Awards of 2012.

<i>Mint Jam</i> 2001 live album by Yellowjackets

Mint Jam is the second live album of the American jazz group Yellowjackets, released in 2001.

References

  1. 1 2 Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 1284. ISBN   1-85227-745-9.
  2. Milkowski, Bill (June 1, 2006). "Yellowjackets: Looking Back and Moving Forward". JazzTimes. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 Collar, Matt. "Yellowjackets". AllMusic . Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  4. "Felix Pastorius' emotional struggle using father Jaco's bass on new Yellowjackets album". Nydailynews.com. July 10, 2013. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  5. "Star Trek IV: Original Motion Picture Score". Discogs. Retrieved May 26, 2020..
  6. "Yellowjackets | Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved January 18, 2019.