Yellowjackets at Stanford Jazz Festival at

Anyone involved in jazz can attest to the challenges of keeping a group together. But the Yellowjackets have done just that, for an incredible 32 years, and three of the current members have been among the lineup for most of that time. Their 22 recordings have resulted in 17 Grammy nominations and two wins, a solid batting average. In addition to their prolific output with the Yellowjackets, the individuals have worked with stars including Buddy Rich, Thad Jones, Bobby McFerrin, Joe Farrell, Lee Ritenour, Chaka Khan, Jonathan Butler and dozens of others. Their latest Mack Avenue release is A Rise in the Road, introducing electric bassist Felix Pastorius into the group’s evolving story...

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Anyone involved in jazz can attest to the challenges of keeping a group together. But the Yellowjackets have done just that, for an incredible 32 years, and three of the current members have been among the lineup for most of that time. Their 22 recordings have resulted in 17 Grammy nominations and two wins, a solid batting average. In addition to their prolific output with the Yellowjackets, the individuals have worked with stars including Buddy Rich, Thad Jones, Bobby McFerrin, Joe Farrell, Lee Ritenour, Chaka Khan, Jonathan Butler and dozens of others. Their latest Mack Avenue release is A Rise in the Road, introducing electric bassist Felix Pastorius into the group’s evolving story. Jazz fans will recognize the name as his father was legendary bassist Jaco Pastorius, of Weather Report fame. Rest assured, Felix has a dynamic and unique voice on bass in his own right! Besides his prominent role in the Yellowjackets, Bob Mintzer heads jazz studies at the USC Thornton School of Music, where Russell Ferrante is also on the faculty.

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