Well into their fifth decade as a band, Yellowjackets show no signs of slowing down. Very much the opposite, in fact – as implied by the title of their latest release, Fasten Up, the 27th album of the quartet’s storied career and their seventh for Mack Avenue Records. The curious turn of phrase, taken from the exhilarating title tune by bassist Dane Alderson, embraces the band’s ethos of unbridled momentum while carrying the suggestion of cautionary warning: brace yourself, fasten those seatbelts, Yellowjackets are back and the pedals to the metal. Their new album “Fasten Up” has been released on Feb 21, 2025.
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 line-up, 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 came on board in 1990; and the Australian-born Alderson, who will celebrate his first decade as a ‘Jacket alongside their lease of Fasten Up.
Yellowjackets released their eponymous debut album in 1981 at the height of the fusion era. Since then, 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.
“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.”
Adds Mintzer, “When I write songs for Yellowjackets, I’m attempting to create an environment in which we can do what this band does. Somewhat selfishly, we’re all about just getting together to play. Yellowjackets is all-encompassing; we appreciate chamber music, R&B, gospel, straight ahead jazz, in such a way that it's hard to pinpoint the prevailing influence. We have an identifiable sound, but it keeps evolving based on the way we write as a vehicle for the way we’d like to play together.”
Kennedy credits their ability to balance tradition and invention to the unique position the band finds itself in. “Being around for over 40 years, that’s a small club to belong to,” the drummer says.
“There’s a reflective perspective baked into that. We have a history that we can look back on, with a lot of fun, a lot of challenges, and a lot of change. The music industry continues to evolve around us, and we feel honoured to still be here and still be in the game as viable contributors after all this time.”
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