YELLOWJACKETS — Mirage a Trois (1983) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1.    Claire's Song 5:07
Composed By – Russell Ferrante
2.    Top Secret 6:00
Composed By – Jimmy Haslip, Russell Ferrante
3.    I Got Rhythm 4:32
Composed By – George Gerschwin, Ira Gerschwin
4.    Pass It On 6:10
Composed By – Russell Ferrante
5    Goin' Home 5:36
Composed By – Russell Ferrante
6.    Man In The Moon 4:35
Composed By – Jimmy Haslip, Russell Ferrante
7.    Elamar 4:08
Composed By – Mike Miller
8.    Nimbus 4:44
Composed By – Russell Ferrante
Credits :
Bass – Jimmy Haslip
Drums – Ricky Lawson
Guitar – Mike Miller (pistas: 3, 6 to 8), Robben Ford (pistas: 2, 4 to 6)
Keyboards, Piano – Russell Ferrante
Lyricon, Saxophone – Richard Elliot (pistas: 2)
Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa
Synthesizer, Programmed By – James Newton Howard (pistas: 7, 8)
Vocals – Bill Labounty (pistas: 3), Brenda Russell (pistas: 3), Bruce Hornsby (pistas: 3), Marilyn Scott (pistas: 3), Max Gronenthal (pistas: 3), Pauline Wilson (pistas: 3), Randy Crawford (pistas: 3), Yolan Fischer (pistas: 3)

YELLOWJACKETS — Live Wires (1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This live set by the Yellowjackets (taped at the Roxy in Hollywood) has plenty of solo space for Bob Mintzer (on tenor, soprano, bass clarinet and EWI) and keyboardist Russell Ferrante (who takes a particularly colorful spot on "Homecoming") along with fine backup work by bassist Jimmy Haslip, drummer William Kennedy and percussionist Paulinho Da Costa. Although the back cover of the CD says "Featuring: Michael Franks, Take 6, Brenda Russell & Marilyn Scott," fortunately Franks, Russell and Scott are only heard on one harmless selection ("The Dream" ) while Take 6 just pops by for the closer "The Revelation." The strength of the improvisations and of Ferrante's Joe Zawinul-like originals make this one of the Yellowjackets' stronger efforts. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1.    Homecoming 5:35
Written-By – Russell Ferrante
2.    Bright Lights 6:53
Written-By – Bob Mintzer
3.    The Dream 5:08
Lyrics By – Michael Franks
Music By – Jimmy Haslip, Marc Russo, Russell Ferrante
4.    Freedomland 6:26
Written-By – Russell Ferrante
5.    Downtown 4:51
Written-By – Russell Ferrante
6.    Claire's Song 7:41
Written-By – Russell Ferrante
7.    Geraldine 7:21
Written-By – Russell Ferrante
8.    The Spin 9:47
Written-By – Jimmy Haslip, Marc Russo, Russell Ferrante, William Kennedy
9.    Wildlife 9:26
Written-By – Alex Acuna, Jimmy Haslip, Russell Ferrante
10.    Revelation 6:24
Lyrics By – Lorraine Perry
Music By – Russell Ferrante
Credits :
Arranged By [Strings] – Vince Mendoza (pistas: 7)
Backing Vocals – Brenda Russell, Marilyn Scott
Bass – Jimmy Haslip
Drums – William Kennedy
Keyboards [Synclavier] – Steve Croes
Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa
Producer – Yellowjackets
Saxophone, Saxophone [Ewi], Bass Clarinet – Bob Mintzer
Vocals – Michael Franks (pistas: 3), Take 6 (pistas: 10) 

MARILYN SCOTT – Avenues of Love (1998) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

A top-notch adult contemporary vocalist still awaiting a well-deserved crossover commercial breakthrough, Marilyn Scott adds powerful fuel to her cause on Avenues of Love by helping herself with a well-balanced array of production and songwriting talent. George Duke surrounds her with party voices and a kneejerking Latin groove on a playful list of dance steps on "I Like to Dance," then surrounds her clear, sensuous voice with airy, billowing synth cushioning on the Bacharach-David classic "The Look of Love." Scott and bassist Jimmy Haslip reroute to Memphis on Michael Ruff's Wilson Pickett-like pick me up, "Love Is a Powerful Thing," engaging a two-piece horn section that sounds even larger. The Yellowjacket touch is in full effect on the picturesque "Avenida del Sol," which approximates an update of the gentle Astrud Gilberto sound; the tune was written by Scott and Bob Mintzer, and produced by Scott, Haslip, and Russell Ferrante. Scott's greatest gift here is her sense of modulation; she belts like crazy on the funk pieces, but recognizes the emotional power of restraint on the ballads. Jonathan Widran 
Tracklist :
1.    Starting to Fall    4:47
 George Duke / Marilyn Scott 
2.    I Like to Dance    5:00
 George Duke / Bob Mintzer / Marilyn Scott 
3.    Avenida del Sol    4:27
 Bob Mintzer / Marilyn Scott 
4.    The Look of Love    5:38
 Burt Bacharach / Hal David 
5.    Heaven's Design    5:53
 Bobby McFerrin 
6.    Love is a Powerful Thing    4:30
 Michael Ruff 
7.    Hold You Up    5:34
 Russell Ferrante / Jimmy Haslip / Marilyn Scott 
8.    Hey Love    6:16
 Russell Ferrante / Jimmy Haslip / Marilyn Scott 
9.    Get Home    5:45
 Russell Ferrante / Jimmy Haslip / Marilyn Scott 
10.    The Last Day    3:38
 John Ewbank / Brenda Russell 
Credits :
Bob Mintzer - Composer, Guest Artist, Horn
Brandon Fields, Steve Allen - Saxophone
Fred Washington - Bass
George Duke - Bass, Bass Programming, Composer, Executive Producer, Guest Artist, Keyboards, Piano, Producer, Vocal Producer
Jimmy Haslip - Bass, Composer, Producer
Joe Heredia - Drums
Lori Perry - Arranger, Vocal Arrangement, Vocals (Background), Voices
Marilyn Scott - Composer, Primary Artist, Producer, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Michael Landau, Mike Miller, Ray Fuller - Guitar
Michael Ruff - Composer, Keyboards, Vocals (Background)
Paul Jackson, Jr. - Guest Artist, Guitar
Paulinho Da Costa - Guest Artist, Percussion
Rafael Padilla - Percussion
Ralph Rickert - Trumpet
Russell Ferrante - Arranger, Composer, Keyboards, Producer
Take 6 - Guest Artist
Walt Fowler - Horn
William Kennedy - Drums
Yellowjackets - Guest Artist
Alvin Chea, Sharon Perry, Carolyn Perry, Darlene Perry, David Porter Thomas, David Powell,  Lynn Davis, Richard Montgomery, Lisa Horton, Jim Gilstrap, Mary Turner, Maxayn Lewis - Vocals (Background) Voices 

YELLOWJACKETS — Samurai Samba (1985) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Samurai Samba is notable for the addition of fiery saxophonist Marc Russo to the group, an alumnus of the Tower of Power horn section. His sound gave Yellowjackets an identity, and resulted in some memorable tunes such as the album opener "Homecoming" (a concert favorite back in the day), and the title track where Russo blows almost bebop lines over a funky blend of jazz fusion set to a fast-paced samba beat. "Lonely Weekend" is notable for the guest appearance of singer and tunesmith Bobby Caldwell. The overall sound is very much of its time, fitting in well with the contemporary jazz fusion that was popular back then. This one is an important evolutionary album in their catalog. Rudy

Tracklist :

1.    Homecoming 5:13

Russell Ferrante

2.    Deat Beat 5:25

Russell Ferrante / Jimmy Haslip / Ricky Lawson / Marc Russo

3.    Daddy's Gonna Miss You 4:33

Russell Ferrante / Jimmy Haslip / Ricky Lawson / Marc Russo

4.    Sylvania 4:14

Russell Ferrante / Jimmy Haslip / Ricky Lawson

5.    Silverlake 5:45

Russell Ferrante

6.    Lonely Weekend 4:20

Bobby Caldwell / Joseph Curiale / Russell Ferrante / Ricky Lawson

7.    Los Mambos 4:24

Paulinho Da Costa / Russell Ferrante / Marc Russo

8.    Samurai Samba 5:18

Russell Ferrante

Credits :

Vocals – Bobby Caldwell, Carl Caldwell, Marilyn Scott, Paulinho Da Costa

Bass [5-string] – Jimmy Haslip

Drums, Drums [Electric] – Ricky Lawson

Guitar – Carlos Rios, Michael Landau

Keyboards – Russell Ferrante

Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa

Saxophone [Alto] – Marc Russo

MARILYN SCOTT — Nightcap (2004) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Over the course of seven previous recordings, while establishing herself as a premier adult contemporary singer/songwriter, Marilyn Scott has carried on a quiet but steady love affair with the Great American Songbook. Her rendition of "The Look of Love" (from 1998's Avenues of Love) earned producer George Duke a Grammy nomination for Best Arrangement with vocals. Earlier recordings feature stunning versions of the classics "Let Me Be the One," "The Summer Knows," and "You Don't Know Me." On this much too short but still very satisfying collection, Scott's flirtation with pop standards evolves beautifully into a life-changing romance with the help of some of Los Angeles' most acclaimed studio musicians and jazz performers -- Brandon Fields (sax), Rick Baptist (trumpet), Ray Fuller (guitar), Brian Bromberg (upright bass), Dan Higgins (flute), Brazilian guitarist Dori Caymmi, and Vinnie Colaiuta (drums). Nightcap also marks the first time that frequent collaborator Duke has produced and arranged an entire Scott recording. The choices are inspired, from the coolly swinging Brazilian romance of "I Wished on the Moon" (from the Billie Holiday catalog) to the tender trio arrangement of "Smile" and understated poetry of "Stardust" (featuring Duke on piano and Rhodes). Scott skips through a nice variety of moods -- the heartfelt melancholy of "Here's that Rainy Day" balancing the optimistic "Isn't This a Lovely Day," with her bright vocal cruising gracefully over Bromberg's throbbing bass. The soulful big-band brass textures on "If It's the Last Thing I Do" adds a classy closing touch. Jonathan Widran 
Tracklist :
1 I Wished on a Moon 5:02
Dorothy Parker / Ralph Rainger
2 Smile 4:00
Charlie Chaplin / Geoffrey Parsons / John Turner
3 Here's That Rainy Day 4:59
Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen
4 Stardust 5:28
Hoagy Carmichael / Mitchell Parish
5 Isn't This a Lovely Day 4:04
Irving Berlin
6 Here's to Life 5:15
Artie Butler / Phyllis Molinary
7 Yesterdays 5:04
Jerome Kern
8 If It's the Last Thing I Do 6:10
Sammy Cahn / Saul Chaplin
Credits 
Alto Saxophone – Brandon Fields
Bass – Brian Bromberg
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Guitar – Dean Parks, Ray Fuller
Guitar, Vocals – Dori Caymmi
Keyboards, Producer – George Duke
Percussion – Lenny Castro
Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Dan Higgins
Trumpet – Rick Baptist
Vocals – Marilyn Scott