Yellowjackets

小简介
80年代Yellowjackets的出现，代表着美国西岸一群录音室乐手的新声音时代的来临。该乐队起初只是个三人组合，除了乐队主脑 Russell Ferrante(罗素·费兰特)司职钢琴与键盘，为乐队的创作灵魂，还包括贝斯手Jimmy Haislip(吉米·海斯利)和鼓手 William Kennedy(威廉·肯尼迪)。该乐队早在GRP时期就确立了自己无法替代的音乐风格，作品主要集中展现合成器缤纷丰富的电子音色，配以R& B、Soul Jazz、Rock等极富弹性、舒适饱满的节奏，迷乱、离奇中不乏流畅和清新。可以说，Yellowjackets精妙、富有新意的编配，变幻无穷的音响色彩和气氛的营造，不仅迷倒了成千上万的乐迷，更为当时的录音制作和伴奏带来了崭新的理念。 90年代后，乐队吸收了一位萨克管猛将 Bob Mintzer(鲍勃·明泽)，他的加盟使得Yellowjackets的音乐更具真正意义的即兴色彩，也使得原本以电声唱主角的乐队声音更趋丰满，更富有感情。事实上，Yellowjackets不仅自身获得过多个格莱美奖及其提名，每个乐手更是独当一面，他们都曾经应数不清的大牌艺人邀请担任伴奏、制作唱片，可说个个技艺非凡。
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.