feature photo: Roberto Cifarelli
The Yellowjackets came out with their first album in 1981, when the world was a much, much different place than it is now. And while this popular, long-running fusion jazz group has gone through some changes itself, their secret sauce of artfully blending contemporary jazz with traditional jazz has been the constant, particularly true since reedman’s Bob Mintzer’s entry in 1990.
The lineup had stabilized over the last three albums, when the band settled on Dane Alderson as the long-term replacement for co-founder, composer and bass legend Jimmy Haslip, after a few years with Jaco Pastorius’ son Felix. Cohearence (2016) was Alderson’s debut with the group, and the young Australian – as we noted back then – was an immediate fit within the band, but that fine album was still largely carried by Mintzer’s and original keyboardist Russell Ferrante’s leadership. After the last two albums Raising Our Voice and Jackets XL were side excursions into collaborations, a strictly quartet format returns for Parallel Motion.
As the Yellowjackets are never one to sit still, Parallel Motion isn’t quite a return to Cohearence, because the artistic vision is shared more equally this time. There are more solos from the rhythm section, yes, but the songwriting chores extend to both Alderson and long-time drummer Will Kennedy, making this the first album with contributions from each member from this particular lineup.
Mintzer and Ferrante remain superb composers, contributing six of the nine tunes. Mintzer with Ferrante in perfect unison slips this cool bop lines on top of “Intrigue” while Alderson and Kennedy slide the groove underneath. But the new emphasis on showcasing the entire band comes quickly as Alderson gets the first solo and he deftly exploits the range of his six-string bass.
Mintzer’s perfectly balanced approach to jazz old and new continues with “Resilience,” as Kennedy constructed a funky swing for it and Alderson finds the right harmonic lines to play that links the drummer to the rest of the group.
The title track, also from Bob Mintzer, takes the tempo down just a bit and plays a more modern melody, with the saxophonist bonded to his EWI as Ferrante’s left hand comps on piano. The two old vets know how to leave enough space so you don’t miss the tight, swaying rhythm of Alderson and Kennedy.
Ferrante’s “Challenging Times” positions Alderson to the front with a pretty, high register bass lead at the start, and later trading fours with Mintzer one this intricately conceived piece. The sophistication of Ferrante’s composing is underscored by string accompaniment for “Il Mio Amico,” with Mintzer switching from his usual tenor to a silky soprano sax. “If You Believe” is a ballad from the pianist that’s lyrical, to the point that he saw fit to add actual lyrics to it and have the very capable vocalist Jean Baylor sing them. Mintzer’s tenor sax eventually steps forward and assumes the lead voice with just the right amount of fervor.
There’s no let up when it’s time for the other guys’ songs, and “Onyx Manor” shows that Alderson is able to meet the high standards the Yellowjackets established long ago. A funky number, the band keeps it lean and angular, with primo Rhodes production from Ferrante. The boys are clearly enjoying the groove as they keep it going for nearly nine minutes. “Early” is also Alderson’s song but Kennedy takes it over with some sick, hip drumming. And the album’s most melodic number comes from Kennedy. “Samaritan” is catchy and a little buoyant, and Mintzer easily gets the most out of it.
The Yellowjackets continue to defy the tendency of even the best of creative bands to run out of steam and go stale. With Parallel Motion, they merely tweaked an emphasis here and there, and the record wields the freshness of an ensemble just finding its footing.
Parallel Motion is set to drop August 26, 2022 from Mack Avenue Records.
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