YELLOWJACKETS — Blue Hats (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

As they continue to evolve, the Yellowjackets have gradually gone from being an R&B-oriented fusion band to a more acoustic group that emphasizes fairly straight-ahead improvisations. Although this CD has nine originals by bandmembers and some electronics are utilized (primarily by keyboardist Russell Ferrante for color), much of the music would satisfy even hard bop listeners. Bob Mintzer's many solos on tenor, soprano, bass clarinet and EWI are excellent, but it is the tightness of the rhythm section (which also includes bassist Jimmy Haslip and drummer William Kennedy) that continues to give the Yellowjackets their own original sound. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1.    Capetown 5:37
Composed By – Jimmy Haslip, Russell Ferrante, William Kennedy
2.    With These Hands 6:56
Composed By – Russell Ferrante, William Kennedy
3.    Prayer For Peace 6:48
Composed By – Bob Mintzer
4.    Statue Of Liberty 6:12
Composed By – Russell Ferrante
5.    Coal Minor Blues 5:57
Composed By – Russell Ferrante
6.    Savanna 7:09
Composed By – Jimmy Haslip, Russell Ferrante, William Kennedy
7.    New Rochelle 6:07
Composed By – Bob Mintzer
8.    Coquimbo 4:31
Composed By – Jimmy Haslip, Russell Ferrante, William Kennedy
9.    Angelina 7:15
Composed By – Jimmy Haslip, Russell Ferrante
Credits :
Bass – Jimmy Haslip
Drums – William Kennedy
Keyboards – Russell Ferrante
Saxophone – Bob Mintzer 

YELLOWJACKETS — Mint Jam (2001) 2CD | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This set differs from most of the Yellowjackets' previous recordings in several ways: It is a two-CD set, it has not been released by a major record company but instead has been put out by the group's own private label, and the music overall emphasizes straight-ahead jazz and dynamic solos. In fact, it contains some of the best solos on record by tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer and keyboardist Russell Ferrante. With electric bassist Jimmy Haslip inspiring the lead voices and taking occasional solos, while the band's newest member, drummer Marcus Baylor, keeps the ensembles stimulating, the group performs a dozen songs, all of which are originals by Ferrante (who emphasizes his own acoustic piano playing), Haslip, and/or Mintzer. Whether it be the catchy "Boomtown," "Blues for KJ," "Song for Carla," or "Statue of Liberty," the Yellowjackets show that they are one of the most vital groups in contemporary jazz, even after 20 years. The high-quality improvisations, the appealing group sound, and the diverse but consistently satisfying originals make this one of the Yellowjackets' strongest releases. Scott Yanow  
Tracklist :
1.     Les Is Mo 4:30
Russell Ferrante
2.     Boomtown 5:23
Russell Ferrante / Jimmy Haslip
3.     Motet 9:16
Russell Ferrante / Jimmy Haslip
4.     Mofongo 7:00
Bob Mintzer
5.     Blues for KJ 5:08
Russell Ferrante
6.     Runferyerlife 7:00
Bob Mintzer
7.     Song for Carla 5:24
Bob Mintzer
8.     Tortoise and the Hare 7:09
Russell Ferrante / Jimmy Haslip / Will Kennedy / Marc Russo
9.     Mosaic 6:14
Bob Mintzer
10.     New Jig 6:57
Russell Ferrante
11.     Statue of Liberty 9:34
Russell Ferrante
12.     Evening News 6:06
Russell Ferrante / Will Kennedy / Bob Mintzer
Credits :
Drums – Marcus Baylor
Electric Bass – Jimmy Haslip
Piano, Synthesizer – Russell Ferrante
Producer – Yellowjackets
Tenor Saxophone, Electronic Wind Instrument [EWI] – Bob Mintzer 

YELLOWJACKETS — Time Squared (2003) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Following on the heels of their Grammy-nominated Mint Jam, their self-released 2001 "live" recording, the Yellowjackets continue to blaze an enjoyable musical trail that pulsates with their energy and signature sound that few will fail to recognize and many have come to love over the past 30 years. With Time Squared, the group's first studio recording in five years, the Yellowjackets have added 11 diverse songs to this fertile contemporary jazz landscape. The songs, which were all written by the group's new members, range from prayerful, peaceful melodies with improvised vocals, such as "Healing Waters," to those that capture Thelonious Monk's piano style. On "Monk's Habit," pianist Russell Ferrante and tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer stir up some great jazz memories by playing an amazing straight-ahead set ripe with bebop solos reminiscent of Monk's time with Sonny Rollins. The title track has the listener in a '70s boogaloo instinct, but Mintzer has set it apart with the addition of his bass clarinet for texture, Jimmy Haslip's great basslines, Ferrante's very cool electric keyboard lead on the melody, and truly complimentary rimshots and backbeats from drummer/percussionist Marcus Baylor. The set closes with "My 1st Best Friend," which features Mintzer taking a dynamic saxophone solo that has the potential to take its place alongside some of the more memorable jazz solos. Overall, Time Squared is perhaps the most multi-dimensional offering from the Yellowjackets since their explorations in the 1990s took listeners through a diverse cross section of sound and rhythms. But there are no hints of sameness here. This is a full-length music CD and a multimedia CD-ROM with a video, artist profile, and a lot of great jazz played by great musicians. Paula Edelstein  

Tracklist :

1.     Go Go 5:33

Bob Mintzer

2.     Monk's Habit 5:12

Russell Ferrante

3.     Smithtown 5:17

Russell Ferrante / Jimmy Haslip

4.     Healing Waters 6:10

Marcus Baylor / Russell Ferrante

5.     Time Squared 6:45

Bob Mintzer

6.     Gabriela Rose 4:53

Russell Ferrante / Jimmy Haslip

7.     Sea Folk 6:31

Russell Ferrante

8.    V 5:27

Russell Ferrante

9     Claire @ 1 8 5:29

Russell Ferrante

10     Village Gait 5:31

Bob Mintzer

11.     My 1st Best Friend 4:49

Russell Ferrante

Credits :

Bass – Jimmy Haslip

Drums, Percussion – Marcus Baylor

Piano, Keyboards [Electronic] – Russell Ferrante

Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Clarinet [Bb], Bass Clarinet, Flute, Electronic Wind Instrument – Bob Mintzer 

YELLOWJACKETS — Altered State (2005) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The most adventurous quartet in contemporary jazz has met its visual match in Peter Max, the legendary pop artist who, as it turns out, is a huge fan of the band. Russell Ferrante and company could probably feel at home naming any of their innovative, loose-spirited albums after one of Max's paintings, but Altered State definitely fits the vibe here -- which is all odd meters, emotionally provocative melodic lines, and unexpected harmonies. Max, in turn, took a few preliminary tracks and was inspired to create the cool, splotchy cover art. The hourlong musical affair won't cause any permanent mental and emotional departures, but there are a lot of odd and spirited surprises along the way. "Suite 15," featuring the funky interplay of Bob Mintzer's aggressive sax and Ferrante's power chording (not to mention one of Ferrante's classic lush piano solos), is classic Jackets stuff all the way. They almost go "pop" on Mintzer's multi-genre romp "March Majestic," which is driven by drummer Marcus Baylor's New Orleans-styled march beat, Ferrante's gospel-tinged keys, and -- big shock -- Mintzer's ace soloing throughout. The spiritual centerpiece of the disc is "The Hope," a churchgoing gem featuring Jean Baylor on lead vocals and the Perry Sisters backing. Running from the fellowship hall, the quartet goes alternately fun and jazzy and then weird and wild, from Ferrante's dark, brooding, and gently exotic "Hunter's Point" to bassist Jimmy Haslip's simmering and offbeat "Youth Eternal." Marcus Baylor has a blast taking listeners into a dense percussive forest at the beginning of "Free Day," which develops into a fairly straightforward midtempo jazz number. Ferrante explains that this project was about finding some less-traveled roads. But even on those, the band can't get away from the powerful risk-taking and solid playing that make the Yellowjackets treasures in their chosen genre. Jonathan Widran  

Tracklist :
1.    Suite 15 4:51
Written-By – Russell Ferrante
2.    March Majestic 5:20
Written-By – Bob Mintzer
3.    The Hope 5:02
Written-By – Jean Baylor, Jimmy Haslip, Russell Ferrante
4.    Hunter's Point 6:14
Written-By – Russell Ferrante
5.    Mother Earth 4:43
Written-By – Bob Mintzer
6.    Youth Eternal 5:08
Written-By – Jimmy Haslip
7.    Free Day 5:28
Written-By – Marcus Baylor
8.    Cross Current 5:29
Written-By – Bob Mintzer
9.    Aha 5:49
Written-By – Bob Mintzer
10.    57 Chevy 6:23
Written-By – Russell Ferrante
11.    Unity 5:56
Written-By – Bob Mintzer, Marcus Baylor
Credits :
Backing Vocals – Carolyn Perry (pistas: 3), Darlene Perry (pistas: 3), Lori Perry (pistas: 3), Sharon Perry (pistas: 3)
Drums – Marcus Baylor
Electric Bass – Jimmy Haslip
Lead Vocals – Jean Baylor (pistas: 3)
Percussion – Mike Shapiro (pistas: 1, 4)
Piano, Electric Piano, Keyboards – Russell Ferrante
Producer – Yellowjackets
Saxophone [Tenor, Soprano, Ewi], Clarinet [Bass] – Bob Mintzer  

YELLOWJACKETS — Twenty Five (2006) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 Celebrating the smooth jazz giant's 25th anniversary as an ensemble, Twenty Five features the Yellowjackets performing live in Paris in 2005. Showcasing the tenor sax talents of Bob Mintzer, the band also includes longtime members pianist Russell Ferrante, bassist Jimmy Haslip, and drummer Marcus Baylor. Here, the Yellowjackets run through such fan favorites as "Geraldine," "Greenhouse," and others. Also included is a live DVD performance filmed in Italy in 2005. Matt Collar
Tracklist :
1     Revelation 7:38
Russell Ferrante
2     Geraldine 9:06
Russell Ferrante
3     Jacketown 10:55
Russell Ferrante
4     Sea Folk 11:05
Russell Ferrante
5     Free Day 7:37
Marcus Baylor
6     My Old School 5:26
Russell Ferrante / Jimmy Haslip
7     Greenhouse 11:08
Russell Ferrante / Jimmy Haslip
8     Runferyerlife 9:39
Bob Mintzer
Credits :
Drums – Marcus Baylor
Electric Bass – Jimmy Haslip
Piano [Acoustic Piano], Synthesizer – Russell Ferrante
Producer [Produced By] – Yellowjackets
Tenor Saxophone, Electronic Wind Instrument [EWI] – Bob Mintzer

YELLOWJACKETS — Lifecycle (2008) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The Yellowjackets needed a guest guitarist, who would be the best person for the job? Pat Metheny would be an excellent choice, as would Al di Meola, John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell, or John Scofield. Well, the Yellowjackets did hire a guest guitarist for Lifecycle -- an excellent and well-known guitarist, in fact -- and they feature him extensively on this 2008 release. The guitarist is Mike Stern, who enjoys a strong rapport with the Yellowjackets' 2008 lineup: Russell Ferrante on acoustic piano and electric keyboards, Jimmy Haslip on electric bass, Bob Mintzer on tenor and soprano sax and bass clarinet, and Marcus Baylor on drums and percussion. Stern and the Yellowjackets are a perfectly logical combination -- especially in light of the hell-bent-for-jazz direction the Yellowjackets have favored since 1991's Greenhouse. With Greenhouse (which was Mintzer's first album with the outfit), Ferrante and Haslip made it clear that they wanted the Yellowjackets to be considered a serious, heavy-duty jazz combo instead of a group that pandered to smooth jazz stations. That isn't to say that the Yellowjackets' 1980s output lacks merit -- many of their '80s recordings are quite creative -- but with Greenhouse, Ferrante and Haslip really emphasized their Weather Report/Miles Davis/Return to Forever heritage. And that mindset continues to serve the Yellowjackets well 17 years later on Lifecycle. Jazz purists and bop snobs, of course, would argue that if you use electric instruments and have been influenced by rock or funk in any way, you aren't playing jazz, but the truth is that Stern and the Yellowjackets do bring a serious jazz improviser's mentality to engaging tracks like Haslip's bluesy "Country Living," Mintzer's mysterious "Falken's Maze," and Ferrante's probing, somewhat John Coltrane-ish "Measure of a Man." With its blend of electric and acoustic instruments, Lifecycle is relevant to both fusion and post-bop -- and it is also proof that collaborating with Stern was a very wise move for the Yellowjackets. Alex Henderson
Tracklist : 
1    Falken's Maze 6:25
Written-By – B. Mintzer
2    Country Living 6:24
Written-By – J. Haslip
3    Double Nickel 6:42
Written-By – M.Stern
4    Dreams Go 6:49
Written-By – M.Stern
5    Measure Of A Man 7:33
Written-By – R.Ferrante
6    Yahoo 4:52
Written-By – B. Mintzer
7    I Wonder 6:01
Written-By – B. Mintzer
8    3 Circles 7:30
Written-By – B. Mintzer, J. Haslip, M. Baylor, R.Ferrante
9    Claire's Closet 5:05
Written-By – R.Ferrante
10    Lazaro 5:15
Programmed By [Programming], Sequenced By [Sequencing] – Jimmy Haslip
Written-By – B. Mintzer, J. Haslip
Credits :
Marcus Baylor - Drums, Percussion
Russell Ferrante - Keyboards, Percussion, Piano
Jimmy Haslip - Bass (Electric),
Bob Mintzer - Clarinet, Clarinet (Bass), Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor)
Jerry Mitkowski : Piano Technician
Mike Stern : Featured Guitar