Yellowjackets

Description

In the seventies, guitarist Robben Ford recruited keyboardist Russell Ferrante, electric bassist Jimmy Haslip, and drummer Ricky Lawson as a backing band for a solo album that ultimately led to the founding of the Yellowjackets. The album opens with an excellent groove called "Matinee Idol," a song that, along with "Sittin' In It," really provides a direct definition of what 80s jazz-fusion looks like. Ford's powerful bluesy guitar playing truly gives the album a boost. His skills are particularly showcased on "Imperial Strut," "Priscilla," and especially in the energetic "Rush Hour." This quartet, along with Larry Williams and Ernie Watts among others, blends beautifully throughout the album and sounds as fresh as it did upon its release in the early 80s.