THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Well into their fifth decade as a band, Grammy-winning jazz pioneers Yellowjackets’ new release will be their 27th album. Since releasing their eponymous debut album in 1981 at the height of the fusion era, they’ve adhered to fusion’s genre-blurring mentality while refusing to remain tied to any single style or era. Drawing upon a history-spanning mélange of jazz movements, steeped in funk grooves and chamber music sophistication, and always keeping an ear to the ground for new sounds and technologies, Yellowjackets have evolved to become a genre unto themselves.
The spirit of forward motion that has propelled Yellowjackets throughout the band’s history has less to do with the tempo of the songs themselves — which, as ever, make up a vibrant blend of styles and influences — but with their commitment to exploration and renewal. Those ideas are reflected in the band’s lineup, which features founding pianist/keyboardist Russell Ferrante; drummer Will Kennedy, whose second tenure in the band (starting in 2010) has now surpassed his first (1987-1999); saxophonist Bob Mintzer, who came on board in 1990; and Australian-born bassist Dane Alderson, who will celebrate his first decade as a ’Jacket alongside the release of Fasten Up.
“What we’re about is a quest for self-discovery,” defines Ferrante. “We’re constantly figuring out who we are, continuing our journey and evolution while challenging ourselves along the way. The more we play, the closer we get to realizing the ideal of four guys totally losing themselves and making one unified sound.”
There is a communal joy that invigorates all of the music that Yellowjackets create. The thrill of group discovery bristles through the muscular funk grooves, deepens the emotion of the ballads, and digs deep to unearth the roots of the band’s bracing sense of swing. On Fasten Up, their rich history remains in focus in the rearview mirror as they accelerate into the future.”
