YELLOWJACKETS — The Spin (1989) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Smooth jazz with some rough edges, you can actually sink your teeth into The Spin. Yellowjackets haven't completely taken pop/jazz out of their diet -- Marc Russo's "Blues for Nikki" and Russell Ferrante's "Whistle While You Walk" will skip a little too lightly for some tastes -- but most of the songs find a satisfying midway point between the sweet and the sour. "Geraldine," "Dark Horses," and "Storytellers" all have some meat on them, with keyboardist Russell Ferrante leading a musical discussion that steers clear of the banal. Leaving Russo to carry the melodies, Ferrante is free to pursue a more discursive dialogue (notably on "Enigma"), with punctuation provided by the brisk percussion of William Kennedy (who shines on "Dark Horses"). Jimmy Haslip's bassline gives "The Spin" its shape, but he continues to fade in and out of the mix, and fails to make the most of his one solo. The compact disc features a great bonus track: a medley of Billy Strayhorn's "A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing" and Bud Powell's "Hallucinations." What their version may lack in soul they make up for in stride. The Spin has more on its mind than an album like Shades, and Yellowjackets' willingness to create and resolve musical problems will give some listeners pause to think. At least on this occasion, Yellowjackets show that light jazz doesn't have to be a guilty pleasure. Dave Connolly  
Tracklist :
1     Geraldine 6:43
Russell Ferrante
2     The Spin 4:46
Russell Ferrante / Jimmy Haslip / William Kennedy / Marc Russo
3     Storytellers 6:44
Russell Ferrante
4     Prayer for El Salvador 6:00
Russell Ferrante
5     Whistle While You Walk 5:14
Russell Ferrante
6     Enigma 4:48
Russell Ferrante / Jimmy Haslip
7     Dark Horses 5:00
Barry Coates / Russell Ferrante / Jimmy Haslip
8     Blues for Nikki 4:20
Marc Russo
9     A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing/Hallucinations 8:48
Bud Powell / Billy Strayhorn
Credits :
Arranged By [Percussions] – Alex Acuna
Bass – Jimmy Haslip
Drums, Percussion – William Kennedy
Keyboards – Russell Ferrante
Producer – Yellowjackets
Saxophone [Saxophones] – Marc Russo

YELLOWJACKETS — Timeline (2011) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Contemporary jazz ensemble Yellowjackets' 2011 Mack Avenue debut, Timeline features the band's longstanding knack for straddling the line between smooth jazz and more cerebral post-bop stuff. Marking the group's 30 years in the business, the album is a perfect mix of low-key, soulful moments and more funky, angular jazz. In that sense, it's a perfect balance of what the band has done throughout its career. Showcased here are members saxophonist Bob Mintzer, keyboardist Russell Ferrante, bassist Jimmy Haslip, and drummer Will Kennedy, as well as guests guitarist Robben Ford and trumpeter John Daversa. Ultimately, with tracks like the disarmingly knotty opener "Why Is It," the expansive "Tenacity," and the ruminative R&B-infused title track, Timeline reveals Yellowjackets as a band in a seemingly reinvigorated and creative state of mind. Not a bad place to be at 30. Matt Collar

Tracklist :
1     Why is It 5:04
Bob Mintzer
2     Tenacity 6:07
Bob Mintzer
Trumpet – John Daversa
3     Rosemary 4:54
W. Kennedy
4     Timeline 5:11
R. Ferrante
5     Magnolia 4:36
R. Ferrante / Jimmy Haslip
Guitar – Robben Ford
6     A Single Step 7:05
R. Ferrante
7     Indivisible 5:22
R. Ferrante
8     Like Elvin 5:32
Bob Mintzer
Trumpet – John Daversa
9     My Soliloquy 6:22
Bob Mintzer
10     Numerology 5:56
R. Ferrante
11     I Do 6:00
R. Ferrante
Credits :
Bass – Jimmy Haslip
Drums, Keyboards – Will Kennedy
Piano, Keyboards – Russell Ferrante
Producer – Yellowjackets
Tenor Saxophone, Sopranino Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Bob Mintzer