Yellowjackets

小簡介
80年代Yellowjackets的出現(xiàn)，代表著美國西岸一群錄音室樂手的新聲音時代的來臨。該樂隊起初只是個三人組合，除了樂隊主腦 Russell Ferrante(羅素·費蘭特)司職鋼琴與鍵盤，為樂隊的創(chuàng)作靈魂，還包括貝斯手Jimmy Haislip(吉米·海斯利)和鼓手 William Kennedy(威廉·肯尼迪)。該樂隊早在GRP時期就確立了自己無法替代的音樂風(fēng)格，作品主要集中展現(xiàn)合成器繽紛豐富的電子音色，配以R& B、Soul Jazz、Rock等極富彈性、舒適飽滿的節(jié)奏，迷亂、離奇中不乏流暢和清新?？梢哉f，Yellowjackets精妙、富有新意的編配，變幻無窮的音響色彩和氣氛的營造，不僅迷倒了成千上萬的樂迷，更為當(dāng)時的錄音制作和伴奏帶來了嶄新的理念。 90年代后，樂隊吸收了一位薩克管猛將 Bob Mintzer(鮑勃·明澤)，他的加盟使得Yellowjackets的音樂更具真正意義的即興色彩，也使得原本以電聲唱主角的樂隊聲音更趨豐滿，更富有感情。事實上，Yellowjackets不僅自身獲得過多個格萊美獎及其提名，每個樂手更是獨當(dāng)一面，他們都曾經(jīng)應(yīng)數(shù)不清的大牌藝人邀請擔(dān)任伴奏、制作唱片，可說個個技藝非凡。
by Scott Yanow
Although sometimes grouped with Spyro Gyra, Yellowjackets are actually one of the most creative regular groups in the "rhythm & jazz" genre. Founded in 1981 as an R&B-oriented band that starred guitarist Robben Ford, the group took a giant step forward when, after Ford's departure, altoist Marc Russo took his place. With original members Russell Ferrante on keyboards and electric bassist Jimmy Haslip, in addition to drummer William Kennedy, the band found its own R&B-ish sound, sometimes playing original compositions that sounded like Joe Zawinul at his most melodic. Starting out on Warner Bros. in the early '80s, Yellowjackets moved to MCA/GRP in 1986, where they released a string of well-received albums. In the '90s, Russo chose to go out on his own, and his replacement, Bob Mintzer (on tenor and bass clarinet), added more jazz credibility to the group's music. They moved back to Warner Brothers in 1995 for several albums before moving the Heads Up label for the live two-CD set Mint Jam in 2002. Their first studio album in five years, Time Squared, was released in 2003. Three years later, the band celebrated its 25th anniversary as an ensemble with the release of the live album Twenty Five. The studio album Lifecycle followed in 2008.