Founded in 1981 and often grouped in with smooth jazz groups, Yellowjackets quickly evolved into a more straight-ahead fusion/post bop in the style of Weather Report or Steps Ahead. The standout players in this quartet are Russell Ferrante on keyboards and Jimmy Haslip on 5-string bass. Marc Russo (saxophone) has great skills but doesn't always have the best tone. As the CD goes on, the music becomes more acoustic and less electronic, but the characteristics of the band's music don't change: busy accompaniment, lots of melodic doubling, and plenty of cymbal work.
In 1989, the album was awarded the Grammy for Best Jazz Fusion Performance, an award only given the years 1980-1991.
Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart
Reviews/ratings:
- Billboard: "there's enough electronic ooze to entice the post-Weather Report generation."
- Stereo Review: "emphasizes composing and arranging over improvising"
- High Fidelity: "this disc is very near as bland as Dan Quayle"
- The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide (1999): ★★
- The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★★
Peak on Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz chart: #5
Peak on CashBox Jazz Album chart: #4
Tracks: 10 tracks clocking in at almost 50 minutes. My favorites are Oz, Local Hero, Foreign Correspondent, and Evening Dance. The obligatory late '80s tribute song to Jaco Pastorius, Galileo, is pretty bland but has some nice soloing by Haslip. I usually skip One Voice.
Tracks: 10 tracks clocking in at almost 50 minutes. My favorites are Oz, Local Hero, Foreign Correspondent, and Evening Dance. The obligatory late '80s tribute song to Jaco Pastorius, Galileo, is pretty bland but has some nice soloing by Haslip. I usually skip One Voice.
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