JAZZBO NOTES HIGHLY RECOMMENDED RECORDING
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There’s never been any doubt about the musicianship of Russell Ferrante (piano) and Jimmy Haslip (bass) since the release of Yellowjackets, their eponymously titled debut. But since that time, Russell Ferrante has seen fit to smother his musicianship in synth washes and increasingly saccharine tunes. The result has been huge sales and a deluge of fuzak.
Thankfully, Time Squared (on the Heads Up label) marks a major change of direction for the Yellowjackets. The addition of Bob Mintzer on sax has given the Yellowjackets a much-needed infusion of energy and integrity. While retaining the user friendly rhythms and melodies of yore, Time Squared is much closer to post bop than fuzak. Gone is the usual pancake syrup of synthesizer washes, replaced with crisp, spacious charts that allow you to fully appreciate the musicianship of Ferrante and company.
After 22 years, the Yellowjackets have finally realized the promise that they had all along. Encore!