Yellowjackets – A Rise In The Road

Eastside Radio’s Album of the Week is Yellowjackets “A Rise In The Road”.

A Rise In The Road, the Yellowjackets’ second Mack Avenue Records offering, is indeed an appropriate title for a time-honored jazz ensemble that has never been fearful of facing newer musical horizons, not to mention the myriad challenges of life itself. Throughout their storied 32-year history, the Yellowjackets have undergone numerous lineup changes, never failing to rise to the inevitable challenges of adjustment, resulting in 17 Grammy® nominations—with two wins—countless sold-out tours, and worldwide critical acclaim.

In 2010, the Yellowjackets signed to Mack Avenue Records and in 2011 released Timeline, which reached #5 on Billboard’s jazz chart; Now the Yellowjackets unveil A Rise In The Road, a 10-track study that burnishes the group’s sterling reputation for high quality tonal explorations and ensemble execution.

Produced by Russell Ferrante (Keyboards), Bob Mintzer (Saxophone) and William Kennedy (Drums), A Rise In The Road stands shoulder-to-shoulder with their 21 previous efforts. “It’s about the challenges that people face in their lives and whatever path they are on: It’s not always smooth sailing, it’s not always a level road,” explains Ferrante, with regards to the project’s meaning.

A Rise In The Road introduces a new member—bassist Felix Pastorius—to replace Jimmy Haslip.  He is the son of legendary jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius, most known for his affiliation with jazz-fusion contemporaries, Weather Report.

“The actual recording process went smoothly,” Ferrante relates. “Felix did a lot of homework; he had charts and demos of the new music.” Mintzer adds, “On several of our records there were extensive overdubs. But on A Rise In The Road, it was mainly just the four of us playing live.

A Rise in the Road by Yellowjackets is out now on Mack Avenue and available through The Planet Company