Yellowjackets

About

Also known as: The Yellow Jackets, The Yellowjackets, Yellow Jackets, Yellowjackets feat. Mike Stern

Yellowjackets grew out of sessions for guitarist Robben Ford's debut solo record in 1977, with keyboardist Russell Ferrante, bassist Jimmy Haslip, and drummer Ricky Lawson rounding out the lineup. Producer Tommy LiPuma signed them to Warner Bros. and picked their name from a list the band had put together themselves. From there they built one of the more decorated catalogues in jazz fusion, racking up two Grammy wins and a string of nominations across multiple decades. Their single "And You Know That" took the Grammy for Best R&B Instrumental Performance, and the album Politics won Best Jazz Fusion Performance. Saxophonist Bob Mintzer came aboard in 1991 and has anchored the band's sound ever since, steering them toward a richer, more textured contemporary jazz feel. A notable chapter arrived when Felix Pastorius, son of the legendary Jaco Pastorius, joined on bass and recorded A Rise in the Road with them, even playing his father's famous fretless bass on some tracks. The band has kept releasing records well into the 2020s, with Fasten Up landing a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Instrumental Album.