Bassist Jimmy Haslip and the Yellowjackets are making their Club Nocture tour of the U.S. this fall. The band, comprised of Russell Ferrante, William Kennedy, Bob Mintzer, have 17 records to their credit and tour annually. It's AAJ's great pleasure to bring you this special feature and give you an insiders look at what it's like to tour with Yellowjackets. Jimmy and the band are touring across the country and making stops in Canada before heading off to Europe. Your thoughts and words of encouragement are welcome throughout the tour. You can participate by clicking the "Add Your Comment" button on the bottom of the page.

About Jimmy: Jimmy Haslip grew up in a rich musical environment. As a youth, he listened to Latin and salsa music around the house, including such Latin music icons as Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Machito, Ray Barretto, Celia Cruz and Eddie Palmieri, to name a few. In addition to learing various Latin dances from his parents, Jimmy learned how to play a lot of basic Latin rhythms on the different percussion instruments that they had around the house. He learned to play authentically on the claves, maracas, cowbell, bongos and the guido, which gave him that keen sense of time and rhythm that surfaces in his bass playing today. Jimmy's bass is an integral part of the Yellowjackets sound. In addition to building the foundation upon which their songs are crafted, his thoughtful and often fiery solos are a high water mark of many Yellowjackets tracks. He also has two solo projects to his credit: "Arc" released in 1995 on GRP and his new recording "Red Heat", due out in January on Unitone.

Date:	20-Nov-1998 04:35:22
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hi everybody, Just got back from my gig at the House of Blues in Los Angeles and it rocked. I must say though, we had some help tonight with Brenda Russell singing "Love and Paris Rain" her featured track on the new Yellowjackets CD "Club Nocturne". We also had Jonathan Butler sitting in on his featured track "Even the Pain" also on the "Club Nocturne" CD and he played guitar on "Savanna", a tune we recorded on a CD entitled "Blue Hats". Then We got an encore... it was a great audience and they definitly had a great time as we did. The encore was a standard of ours called "Revelation" and we all joined in together to perform this piece ! It was a highlight for me on this wonderful evening of music. We did come back for a second encore and performed with Jonathan once more on a song called "Even Song". He was featured on guitar as the original version was done for in the studio for a CD entitled "Like A River" and featured Robben Ford on the guitar. It was a blast, but I should also mention that we had a wonderful concert just two nights before in Panama City, Panama for their Jazz Society. It was our first time playing in Panama and we were excited to perform there. It's always an inspiring experience to play in other countries and experience different cultures of people and their music. All I can say is that it's always a learning experience for me personally and I don't take that part of touring for granted. I want to continue to learn more about other cultures and their music to broaden my own perspective of music and thus, be able to contribute better ideas to projects I'm working on ... ie the Yellowjackets !!!!! Peace !

 

Date:	20-Nov-1998 04:54:42
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hey it's me again ! I just wanted to add that I'm on my way to Denver, Colorado at 8am this morning. It's sort of a rough schedule but that's what we have to do to squeeze in all these gigs in a short period of time. Helps to promote our new CD as well. We are playing a place called The Casino 2637 Welton Street in Denver proper. Looks like they have dinner arrangements for us at Ethel's Soul Food Cafe around 5:30pm I'll be in Las Vegas on Saturday and we are performing at the Texas Station Casino there on 2101 Texas Star Lane in North Las Vegas. WAH-HOOOO !!!!! IT'S ACTUALLY A GREAT VENUE, WE'VE PLAYED THERE BEFORE !!!!!!! I'll be talking at you again real soon !!!!

 

Date:	20-Nov-1998 09:18:14
From:	Michael Ricci (mricci@visionx.com)
	Hi Jimmy, Are you planning on making a stop in Philly (actually Glenside) for a gig at the Keswick Theatre? I haven't seen you guys since the Clifford Brown festival in Wilmington a few years back -- what a smokin' night that was. Glad to hear the tour is going well!

 

Date:	22-Nov-1998 16:03:10
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	>Michael Ricci (mricci@visionx.com) Hi Jimmy, >Are you planning on making a stop in Philly (actually >Glenside) for a gig at the Keswick Theatre? I haven't seen >you guys since the Clifford Brown festival in Wilmington a >few years back -- what a smokin' night that was. >Glad to hear the tour is going well! Hey Michael, I just got back from the most recent road trip. We just flew in from Las Vegas. I'll get back to that, but to answer your question; We have been to the Keswick theatre already. We were there on October the 8th. We had about a half a house unfortunatly and from my understanding the local "Smooth Jazz Station" was not playing our new "Club Nocturne" recording because #1 - They hadn't heard the ruling from Broadcast Architecture yet (for those who don't know what that is, I'll explain if you want to know?) AND they thought that our wonderful potential single entitled "Even the Pain", a collaborative piece with Jonathan Butler and the Yellowjackets, written by Richard Page, former lead singer with Mr. Mister, was (AND I CAN"T BELIEVE THIS EXCUSE???????)..... it was TOOOOO SMOOOTH. Anyway, we had a great show, there were some wonderful moments that night, the audience was amazing and a we all shared a great night of fun and music !!!!!!! We will be coming to Willmington, Delaware on December the 2nd and also will be performing a couple of pieces from our "Club Nocturne" recording on the local Fox Network Morning Show... I believe we'll be on live @ 8AM the morning of the 2nd. Then we will perform that night at the GRAND OPERA HOUSE. The following day we head up to New York City to play the Birdland Club in mid-town Manhattan for three nights; December 3rd, 4th and 5th; two shows per night. That's basically it for the 1998 schedule and the Yellowjackets. We start up again in mid February with some major touring around the U.S. and Europe. I'll come back later and talk about our last two days in Denver, Colorado and Las Vegas, Nevada. I've also talked a little about our travels down to Panama City, Panama and the House of Blues in Los Angeles. See you later Alligator !!!!!! Peace

 

Date:	23-Nov-1998 03:02:55
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hi there, I'm back and just wanted to mention a little something about The Yellowjackets last two gigs at the Casino Cabaret Club in Denver, Colorado and the Texas Station Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. I guess we could call this portion the casino leg of the tour. although we don't gamble really, Bob Mintzer won $80.00 on a slot machine after our gig in Vegas !!! The Denver gig was really nice, since there are not many places in Denver to play clubwise, it was great to get back to Denver in an intimate setting. Especially since we haven't played there in about 4 years. we had a great crowd and they were very exuberant to say the least. An exhilarating experience to say the least. I should add that breathing the wonderful cold Colorado air is also a great experience, since I'm living in a smoggy city like Los Angeles ! Las Vegas was happening as well. It was the second time we've performed at this interesting venue and being that there is a Jazz Society there and some really good Jazz radio in town. We always have a great turn out. The Casino also provides an excellent advertising campaign to also insure a good crowd will be in attendance. We have a lot of loyal and supportive fans and again it was a smokin' night of music and jubilation ! We'll be heading up to Oakland, California this coming Tuesday, November 24th, to perform at a wonderful nightclub called Yoshi's (A 5 star Japanese restaurant as well.) Joining us for the week of 12 shows {2 shows per night}, will be special guest Jonathan Butler again !!!!! We are extremely excited about this one. He really has an incredible amount of energy and I can tell you from our 1st experience playing live at the House of Blues in L.A., he can definitely burn up a room full of people. He is a very gifted singer, guitar player and can certainly entertain an audience in a way that not many other performers can... ie. He got the L.A. audience to do a sing along with some soulful complex melodies that challenge my ears. That not an easy task... but he accomplished it with ease and raised the roof off the House just like that !!!! We obviously are looking forward to continuing our collaboration with Jonathan who happened to anounce to our audience that the Yellowjackets were his favorite band ! Thanks Jonathan !!!!!! I wish Don Heckman and the Los Angeles Times felt the same way but that really would asking way too much ???!!!!! Peace in the World my friends and I'll be back ! Jimmy

 

Date:	23-Nov-1998 19:43:31
From:	Nicole Selwyn (theselwyns@ozemail.com.au)
	Hi Jimmy, I'm writing all the way from down under - Sydney, Australia! I'm a huuuuuge fan of the Yellowjackets, and have had the wonderful opportunity of hearing you at the Montreal Jazz Festival years ago (I'm actually Canadian), and also at a club in Northern California while visiting there about four years ago(I went for three shows in a row!). You guys are amazing. I'm debating on moving to San Diego, and would love to hear your opinion on what the jazz scene is like there. Do you play there? I would love to see you guys again soon. Cheers, Nicole Selwyn

 

Date:	24-Nov-1998 03:31:21
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	< Hi Jimmy, Hi Nicole, Thanks for your uplifting comments ! We did enjoy our appearance at the Montreal festival and we hope to perform there again !! To answer your question about San Diego, We have played there quite a bit and I believe the scene there is somewhat limited, but there are a lot of great musicians living there. There have been a lot of musicians that have moved here to Los Angeles from San Diego. There is a vital scene here in L.A., so it's easy for musicians living in San Diego to either commute up here or stay up here for a while to check out the gig situation. San Diego is a very nice place though and from my perspective there are places to go hear Jazz and other kinds of music. Thanks for writing in and good luck Down Under... say hello,to Sidney from the Yellowjackets !!! Peace, Jimmy

 

Date:	24-Nov-1998 14:12:53
From:	Carlton Jackson (cjackson@teleport.com)
	Just a quick note to Jimmy to say that I am still enjoying "Arc" and am waiting for your next album to show (having Vince Mendoza produce was a great touch...hope the union was a good one between the two of you) Plue "Club Nocturne" is in my rotation here at home. You and the guys never cease to amaze me with your harmonic / rhythmic adventurism. And I share your sentiments about Broadcast Architecture just not 'getting' what you guys are about. Smooth jazz radio will never really embrace what the band is really about, and even though you are giving them perfectly acceptable tunes for the format (i.e. "Even The Pain" or "Love And Paris Rain"), they are totally self-serving to their own whims as to what is acceptable. What ever happened to just accepting music for what it is.....good or bad. You make the choice!!! So as you and your band continue their role as "Sisyphus and his Rock" with your current hill in front of you today (as in a new venue, or career move....), this is just a wish for your band to continue the wonderful music that we as fans have come to know for quite a few years. Take care, Carlton Jackson

 

Date:	24-Nov-1998 22:55:33
From:	Nicole Selwyn (theselwyns@ozemail.com.au)
	Hi Jimmy, Thanks so much for that info on San Diego and the jazz scene. Really appreciate it. Hope I can see the Yellowjackets again soon! All the best to you, and keep making that incredible music. (By the way, can I tell you that one of my favourite pieces of music is "Summer Song" with Bobby McFerrin, from the "Dreamland" CD - I could listen to it forever.) Take care, Nicole

 

Date:	25-Nov-1998 11:46:06
From:	Steve Schenkel (schenksm@webster.edu)
	Hi Jimmy, IMHO you are the most musical bass player on the planet. I look forward to the Yellowjackets concert in St. Louis in February. Could you talk a bit about your touch, especially as it relates to phrasing? Many thanks for years of great music. Steve Schenkel

 

Date:	26-Nov-1998 18:29:22
From:	Jeff Mills (vindaloo@erols.com)
	Hi Jimmy, I just wanted to say that I am a big fan and have followed your career since the early days. What I wanted to know is the following. I had heard a rumor last that you were going to produce a CD with the New York area bass legend Chris Weigers. What ever happened with this project? Many of us are waiting to see what comes out of this collaboration. I hope that this project hasn't been put on the shelf. So please let me know what is happening with this project. Thanks.

 

Date:	27-Nov-1998 00:58:04
From:	Doyle Carmody (doyle@ibm.net)
	Hi Jimmy- Now I know why you didn't join Russ and I at "The Zoo" - you were too busy with this project! Cheers, Doyle

 

Date:	30-Nov-1998 02:46:24
From:	From a recent visitor to the big smoke and retired saxophonist.
	Jimmy, If you are looking to pick a great saxophonist in NY just listen to a young guy by the name of Sean Coffin. He is one of Bob Mintzer's students at MSM. From Sydney, Australia. Great sound. Loves the Yellowjackets.

 

Date:	09-Dec-1998 12:53:46
From:	Matt Archuleta (MJArchuleta@email.msn.com)
	The "Arc" compact disc is a fantastic CD! I was turned on to Jimmy on the Rod Stewart album "Foolish Behavior". I maintained contact with his music with Gino Vannelli and Joe Vannelli. Jimmy you are fantastic to say the least. I cannot wait to have the new release due out in January. By the way the article in "Bassics" magazine was great.

 

Date:	10-Dec-1998 08:37:13
From:	Phil (peoplesp@dickinson.edu)
	Hi Jimmy. >>... They hadn't heard the ruling from Broadcast Architecture yet (for those who don't know what that is, I'll explain if you want to know?) ...<< I was in the Keswick audience that night and was stunned at the size of the crowd. Very unusual for a Yellowjackets' concert. Regardless, the show was fabulous and you guys will always be a favorite. When you are fairly close to our area I will be in the audience. Got to chat with some of you after the show that evening. My wife told Bob Mintzer that she liked his hair style better at this concert than the last. Just wanted to say as well that you guys make it impossible to sit still at your concerts. Love your rhythm and Will Kennedy is absolutely incredible. Bob's EWI work on Freda was one of the evening's highlights. .... I have to plead ignorance about this "Broadcast Architecture" and would appreciate a definition when you have the time in your schedule. Thanks again for some wonderful moments that always reflect the absolute joy that music/jazz bring into our lives.

 

Date:	10-Dec-1998 22:32:47
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	So... I'm sorry I've not been around, but with the Thanksgiving Holiday and a string of hotels minus a business center, it made it difficult to get back online and talk to you. I guess I should also add that my schedule was extremely hectic ! Let's see, I think we left off at the House of Blues concert in which we got a great review in the Variety Magazine and a luke-warm review in the Los Angeles Times (mainly because they sent a critic who's only expertise in music seems to be the straight ahead genre.) As they say "all reviews are good reviews as long as they spell your name correctly"! I thought it was an exciting evening of music though and the Yellowjackets are found of the collabrative work with Brenda Russell and Jonathan Butler, who both performed brilliantly that night !!!!!!! Since that fateful night we went up to Oakland, California for an entire week (Thanksgiving week), to play at a wonderful nightclub called Yoshi's (located in the Jack London area of town). Our special guest all week, every night was Jonathan Butler, and it what a thrill having him aboard. I can truly say we gave a full-on dynamic show for six nights, twelve shows in a row !!! I was in heaven and our fans were treated to something really special that entire week. We love to do this whenever we can ! We really appreciate our fans all over and whenever possible we try and hook up something wonderful for them. We only wish we could do it all the time for all of our fans all over the world. Maybe someday we cook something up that would be a special treat and present it everywhere we perform !!!! It was sad to have the parting of the ways with Jonathan Butler, but I know we will be working together again soon. He is an incredible person as well as an amazing artist and we look forward to our next collaboration !!!!! The next gig was down in Santa Cruz, California at the Kuumbwa Jazz Club ! It was a blast and the location is very close to Russell Ferrante's parent's house, so when we finished our sound check we decided to go and visit the Ferrante houshold and catch up with Russ' folks ! we even got to look at some of the old photo album and check out some of Russ' childhood photos ! We enjoyed our visit and got back to the gig to perform two shows. Great crowd ! The Kuumbwa always has a great audience and it makes for a joyous night of fun and music there everytime !!!!! Next we got up bright and early, 7am... (by now we are sort of ready to fall on our heads !), went to San Jose Airport and had the travel day from hell !!!!!! Our travel mis-informed us on our departure time for our flight to Newark, New Jersey via Dallas-Fort Worth Airport and so we actually missed our flight. YIKES !!!! The nice Sky Cap figured out a new flight plan right away and we were saved ! We were really lucky!!!!!!! Now we had to rush a bit but we ran and caught a flight to Newark via Chicago ! Once in Newark after acouple of smooth flights, our travel agent struck again and what usually take fifteen minutes to pick up two rental vehicles, took about an hour !!! Anyway we got the transportation dilema taken care of and then had a two and a half hour drive down to Willmington, Delaware for our next engaement at the Willmington Opera House. We arrived around 11:30 pm east coast time and checked in to our hotel after a long day... I then proceeded to fall on my head ! Especially because we had to be at the Opera house by 7am to perform two songs for a live television broadcast - GOOD MORNING PHILADELPHIA - on a Fox Network affiliate ! We actually had a good time doing it even though it so early in the morning after a long day of travel ! That night we performed at the Opera House to another wonderful audience and at this point I have to say that the audience plays a big part in keeping us going after such a grueling schedule ! They really help us so much... I started to feel a bit low in energy, but the audience made me play hard and actually gave me an incredible second wind. Thanks to all of our live audiences for giving us the electricity to push on through to the other side of fatigue !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's greatly appreciated !!!!!!! Next was back up to New York City (a two and a half hour drive) and we performed three nights at another great spot called the Birdland Club on west 44th street in Manhattan. This was a blast and we enjoyed our sets there very much. I know Bob Mintzer was in heaven because he got to be at home with his family (he lives up in the Westchester area outside of the city). It's always a blast to play in New York and from my point of view, it's an especially bright occasion since I grew up in the area (Huntington Station, Long Island), so I get to catch up with friends and family as well. My Wife, my Daughter and I also got to do some Christmas shopping among other things (we also visited the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center !!!). I'm going to take a break, but I'll be back and I will answer all the questions preceeding this update later. Thanks for writing in and I promise to answer all of these inquires ect... by this evening Los Angeles time !!!!! See you Later.... Peace, Jimmy

 

Date:	11-Dec-1998 04:25:40
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hi there again !!!! I would like to respond to the inquires preceeding my last entry now. first off: This is for Carlton Jackson. Thanks for your comments and I'm happy to hear that anyone purchased my first solo effort, "ARC" let alone hearing some positive remarks about the project !!!! You see, GRP Records really did not lift a finger to promote this project. I guess they didn't feel it was worthy of any support. I have received glowing reviews for my effort and the fact that Vince Mendoza was involved as a co-producer and composer/arranger as well really gave this project some weight, in my humble opinion. Unfortunately recording company didn't really understand the creative implications of this collaboration and blew it off. It's nice to get so much positive feedback and I won't get tired of hearing about someone enjoying this recording. I'm very proud of it and a lot of thought went into making this very ambitious project, so thanks Carlton ! My new recording project should be released in late January. It's entitled "Red Heat" and I co-produced it with Joe Vannelli. I'm of course very excited about and the new relationship I have with Unitone Recordings who will be releasing and supporting this project ! I hope you and all my fans enjoy it .... It's really different than my first recording, but I think that's a good idea myself. I don't want to make the same recording over and over again! Thanks again Carlton !!!!! For Nicole Selwyn : I'm glad you like "Summer Song" ! I wrote that with Russell Ferrante and we decided that it would be fun to record it with the help of Bobby McFerrin ! You see we had already recorded a collabrative project with him that was released after we put out the "Dreamland" recording. It's called "Bang Zoom" and was produced by Bobby and Russell Ferrante and basically features the collaboration between Bobby and the Yellowjackets. It also has Paul Jackson Jr. on guitar, Paulinho Da Costa on percussion and the Tower of Power horn section to name a few. It's on the Blue Note label and It's one of my very favorite projects that I had the pleasure of working on ! Check it out if you get a chance !!! Peace Now for Mr. Steve Schenkel: You ask about my touch and melodic phrasing on the bass ! All I can tell you is that I've been playing the bass guitar since I was 15 years and I am now turning 47 years on December the 31st... coming right up !!!! I practice quite a bit and I use to practice fanatically as a youger dude. That helps develope a very close relationship with your very personal instrument over time. That's just one aspect. I've also been very fortunate to have relationships with bass makers (Luthiers by trade) that have built some wonderful handmade instruments like Mike Tobias and Keith Roscoe. Yamaha also has built some fantastic instruments for me ! Having some great instruments to play can' hurt either. It raises the level of playing... I guarantee !!!!! And maybe one more element is listening to as many great recordings as you can, especially horn players, can give you some needed insight to the art of melodic phrasing. Jaco gave me that advice in 1976 and I can tell you that it's very sound advice for any musician ! Lately I've been studying guitar players, especially since I will be predominantly playing 7-string bass in 1999 ! I'm Listening to Pat Metheny, John Scofield, Grant Green, Joe Pass, Tal Farlow, Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Mark Whitfield, Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, Allan Holdsworth, John McGlaughlin, Robben Ford, John Abercrombie and Jeff Beck to name a few... there's plenty more, but the main idea is to listen to as much music as you can for ideas, phrasing and to help personalize your own voice melodically ! Thanks for writing in Steve and let everyone know that the Jackets are looking forward to playing in St. Louis too !!! For Jeff Mills: You were asking about the possible production of a project with my good friend Chris Weigers from my old stomping grounds out on Long Island. Well that was shelved unfortunately ! I was very much forward to working something out with him and a band called the Jim Pin Band, But I guess there was glitch in the ranks about the direction we might be going in, I had some definite ideas about that and I thought I could have been a lot of fun, It just didn't work out much to my dismay. Chris and I are very good friends though and we are in touch... maybe something else will present itself. Thanks for asking Jeff and continue your support of Chris ... he is a fine musician and a terrific person !!! Peace For Doyle Carmody : He man I actually looked for you guys that night in Seattle. I was very thirsty and would have enjoyed the conversation ! Unfortunately I was looking in the wrong place ! I walked into the bar and saw some dudes, didn't realize that you were seated just around the corner, figured you went somewhere else for a brewsky, so I went back to the shed to practice ... I was determined to cop that McGlaughlin melody on "Thelonius Melodius" ! Sorry I missed you and Russell... I'll take a rain check (especially in Seattle !) Thanks for writing in Doyle. Talk to you again soon !!!!!!!!! This is for Matt Archuleta : WOW !!!! Not many people are aware of my early recording experiences, especially that one (Rod Stewart "Foolish Behavior"). I was excited about that one. I'm a big Rod Stewart fan. I'm also a big Phil Chen fan, he played on a lot of the big hits for Rod. I'd also done some recording with Carmine Appice during that time and actually there may be an interesting recording coming out next year with Carmine Appice as the ARTIST !!!! We did a recording in like 1976-77 with Max Middleton (keybordist on Jeff Beck's "Blow by Blow"). Anyway ... thanks for your comments on my summer issue cover story with Bassics magazine. I enjoyed that and as you probably already know, I have an on going educational column with Bassics on harmony and the II - V - I progression. I'm also looking forward again for the release of my second solo project in January 1999 !!!! Thanks for your interest Peace......... This is for Phil from Dickerson.EDu : You were interested in finding out something about BROADCAST ARCHITECTURE; Well it's a rather involved dilema, but I will explain. This company, for all it's worth, is what you might call a test marketing company. What they've have managed to accomplish is that they have monopolized, for the most part, what we all here on the radio. That goes for "Jazz" (not really... "Smooth Jazz") and Pop music predominantly ! They test market songs from new releases, like the Yellowjackets for instance, and through this test marketing procedure of paying a large group of people to sit down at a listening station, provided by them. Then these people are instructed to listen to the music, approximately 10 to 15 seconds worth, and with a meter of sorts, grade the music between 0 and 100. Anything graded below a 70 percentile is cast off into the bogus bin and anything graded a 70 percentile or more is placed on a list with the BROADCAST ARCHITECTURE seal of approval and sold to the majority of radio station that we listen to for a play listing that is followed by the tee by the program director. If you buy the list and do not adhere to it, I believe that a stern reprimand follows such an action by both the program director and BROADCAST ARCHITECTURE. So it basically shuts out bands like the Yellowjackets and from what I understand Pat Metheny, Tribal Tech, Weather Report, or any pure Jazz artists like Miles Davis, Wynton Marsalis, even Wes Montgomery....... I really don't understand this type of control which has been forced on us, but I guess it has been a successful venture and money talks. Unfortunately the Artist and the Listener loses the creative openess of radio that explores all the possibilities available in the world without the restrictions that a company like BROADCAST ARCHITECTURE enforces ! That's really about it in a nut shell !!! All we can do as Artists is to continue to uphold our own integrity and play what we as Artists really believe in. To me it means playing real music and I hope that someday soon we have a new music revival will awaken our. I'm a big fan of radio formating in the 1960's when the creative spirit was alive on our radios !!!!!! I can only dream !!!!!!!!!! So Phil, part of the mediocre showing at the Keswick Theatre was directly due to the fact that we had little or no support from radio in Philly. They actually had't gotten a ruling from BROADCAST ARCHITECTURE yet and wouldn't play our record or support the concert because of that !!!!!! Does it make sense to you ??????? Not to Us !!!!!! I hope that answer is clear ! It's a difficult topic to talk about, because it's fairly involved and it actually pisses me off !!!!!! Thanks for asking though, maybe if more people know about this insider information, it will eventually make some sort of difference with the kind of music that's being spoon fed to us through the airwaves !!!! Peace !!! And LAST BUT NOT LEAST.... To A RECENT VISTOR TO THE BIG SMOKE AND RETIRED SAXOPHONIST... I don't quite know what that means but I will ask BOB MINTZER about his student SEAN COFFIN !!!!! He has recently talked to me about a bright young student that he has, but I don't remember his name ! Thanks for the information man !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Peace to you all and I will home for a while and jumping on here quite frequently to rap !!!!!!! Happy Holidays !!!!!! Peace In The World !!!!!!!!!

 

Date:	11-Dec-1998 09:53:06
From:	Phil (peoplesp@dickinson.edu)
	Thank you for taking time to answer my question on "Broadcast Architechture." I'm stunned by it all! I'm wondering how your band copes with such practices and can manage to maintain its level of creativity. I've heard that on many releases artists are often required to include some tracks "for radio play" by their recording company. If this is true, then it would place you between a rock and a hard place. In the Philly area your music was played mostly on the Temple Radio WRTI 24-hour jazz station as opposed to WJJZ, the so-called "smooth jazz" station. But about a year or so ago WRTI acquired a local classical station and now plays 12 hours classical (daytime) and 12 hours jazz at night. I believe this has affected the exposure of your music in our area. This post is getting long and I apologize for this. I'm highly surprised that you have time to respond to messages but am very appreciative that you are taking the time. I wish that jazz fans had more opportunity to talk directly to artists like you. It would be very helpful in not only increasing our awareness about music but educating us on the things you have to deal with day-to-day. One reason I think this is important is the misconceptions about music, whether what you play "is" or "is not" jazz. I'm a regular part of the discussion board on Jazz Central Station and reading the posts there are very eye-opening to say the least. So often on that forum, anytime an artist/group releases anything for radio format, they are characterized as "sellouts" to the "smoothies." To me, it often seems to be a very "shallow" view of things. These attitudes seem to be escalating and I wonder how you guys deal with such thinking? Seems as if you face pressures that many of us do not see or understand. I'll close now and look forward to your next visit to our area. By the way, I purchased "Arc" a few months ago and it is a first class release. I will look forward to the new one as well. Long live Yellowjackets!

 

Date:	11-Dec-1998 19:59:27
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hey Phil@dickinson.edu, Thanks again for your interest and I'm glad my explanation was clear and informative. I've done some research on this situation and have basically come up with this understanding of BROADCAST ARCHITECTURE and their mode of operations. As far as my time to write in at this site... I was approached by my publicist to participate with this new chat site for traveling/active musicians. Sounded interesting and since we do have a new recording out now, it seemed like a nice idea. It's meant to educate the fans or anyone interested about our behind the scenes adventures ect... This really inspired me to take the time to become involved with this site ! I've been a professional musician for 29 years and around the block a few hundred times so I have plenty of answers about the music scene. It's my intention to talk to students, fans and anyone who wants to learn more about music, music business/publishing, recording, composition, arranging, production, marketing and promotion for starters and I try to include this information when I do master classes all over the world. It's something that is not really taught in college or music schools, so it's one way I can contribute something to the next generations of musicians and music lovers who I come in contact with !!!! Thank God for radio stations like WRTI / TEMPLE JAZZ. We did some interviews there with a great DJ / Earle Brown. It's always a good feeling to have someone out there supporting your music the way they do !!!!!! THANKS WRTI TEMPLE !!!! AND..... Thanks to Jazz Central Station for their support ! We were voted, by the fans, BEST CONTEMPORARY JAZZ GROUP on their website ! It's always an honor to have the fans show their support !!! AND there you have it !!!! We are inspired by our fans and that includes the radio stations and magazine/newspaper editors that support our music efforts !!! That's what gives us the motivation to continue our quest of creativty and our inexhaustable search for unique expressionism. We hope to continue without very much compromise ??? !!! AnD so far I think we have been successful in that account. We don't see anything wrong with experimenting with POP music "COMMERCIAL MUSIC" if you may, but we do have our own standards when it comes to that. It must have some element of uniqueness or some extreme emotional attachment to out spirits in order for us to accept it's release with our name on it. We take a lot of pride in what we do and we try really hard to keep our level of quality and creativty high! Thanks again for your interest and thanks for your comments on my recording "ARC" !!! Our Thanks to you, PEACE, JIMMY

 

Date:	12-Dec-1998 00:39:06
From:	Don Elliot (delliot@gwi.net)
	Hi Jimmy, I am also a large fan of the Yellowjackets. I have pursued a career in programming (and raising a family) over the last 10 years after graduating from our local state university with a computer degree and a 2year jazz degree. In spite of my vocation in the world of computers, music has been the most real spiritual part of my life; guitar music of all kinds for 30+ years. I'd just like to say that listening to you guys play is high up there on my 'nourishment of spirit and the musical soul' list. There are days when I have been so locked up in logical exercises in my head that I don't realize how localized my energy is until I put on some really fine music at the end of the day. It's like a water fall, all that tension cascading out of my head and releasing into my body, with fine harmonies and good grooves as the catalyst. I must add my distaste and disgust at the throttle placed on the listening public by the shallow approach of BROADCAST ARCHITECTURE. We have a local station that plays only a few hours of Sunday morning 'jazz brunch' 'smooth' jazz, and I have always wondered why there was no Miles or Wes Montgomery in there... I even had a hard time finding jazz on the internet!! I want to add my voice to the chorus of hope that more people will discover the beauty and joy that can come from listening to great music because it is great music! Glad to hear of the new album. I fully intend to increase my Yellowjackets collection soon. Keep up the good playing! Don in Maine

 

Date:	13-Dec-1998 03:08:57
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hi Don in Maine, Thanks for writing in and thanks a lot for your comments about BROADCAST ARCHITECTURE ! Also appreciate your feeling about out music (YELLOWJACKETS), we always feel that our music does communicate to our fans on multy levels, especially the spiritual one. That's a place we usually end up communicating on when we play together because of the amount of time that we've been together doing this !!!!! We also feel that bringing the music to this level gives our music more meaning as composers and creates more of an inspiration to create music. As a cyclical creative enviorment occurs here, I feel that it actually makes for a wonderfully positive catch 22. That emotional, passionate approach certainly inspires me !!!!!!! I'm always happy to hear that we actually bring that passion to our fans and hearing that from you and our fans around the world, makes me want to write something new immediately if not sooner. Thanks again for your inspiring thoughts !!!!!! Peace !!!

 

Date:	14-Dec-1998 13:21:57
From:	Phil (peoplesp@dickinson.edu)
	Hello again Jimmy . . . I was wondering about how many days a year the Yellowjackets are out on tour? Also I have often wondered what kind of a traveling entourage your tours require (equipment, instrument transporting, stage crew requirements, time required to setup for a concert, sound check, etc.) in bringing your music to an audience? Also, if you are on a show that has someone opening for you, how is the sound set up for each act? I remember seeing a show where guitarist Norman Brown opened for the Rippingtons. His band's sound was absolutely awful and detracted from the performance by this excellent guitarist. When the Rips came out, the sound was perfect. This experience seemed to suggest that one act has priority in setting up the sound. How do bands/artists who may appear with you deal or work around this problem? Forgive the repeated questions, but I think this idea is simply great with the time you take to respond. Any response of course will be appreciated. Thank you.

 

Date:	14-Dec-1998 20:54:55
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hi Phil@dickinson.edu, Thanks for writing in again... good questions !!!!!!!!! Well we are now touring around 4 to 5 months out of the year in small doses. The longest we are out is around 5 to 6 weeks and that¹s usually in the summer during the European festival season. Other than that we tour anywhere from a 3 day weekend to 2 weeks at a time ! That¹s the average span of touring time !!!!! Our entourage consists of the four band members (Myself, Russ Ferrante, William Kennedy and Bob Mintzer, who is the only member living in New York.) We have two crew members traveling with us; Tim Aller our road manager/front house soundman/electronic whiz technician and Kevin O¹Conor our stage manager/drum technician/monitor man. It¹ very compact and very efficient ! We travel very light with just 13 cases and 6 suitcases. This includes Williams drum kit, Russell¹s electronic keyboard set - up and Bob¹s EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument.) Our soundchecks are usually short and sweet, somewhere around and hour or two depending on the acoustics of the venue and the local sound company¹s efficiency. Our two man crew usually sets up in an hour and a half and they¹re ready for action ! It¹s all a pretty straight forward operation when there are no hang ups, which could be any number of things that are beyond our control ! Now as far as the headliner/opening act deal ! If we are the opening act, usually the situation is cool but it definitely depends on the headliner how cool it is !!!!!????? Our experiences have run the full gamut but we have been fortunate to tilt the scales towards being cool. I will say this... we have worked with the Rippingtons before and they are not one of the cool ones. It¹s unfortunate, but they happen to have a road manager who is not a very nice person, I¹m assuming he has his own problems, but he certainly doesn¹t know how to make friends, so it doesn¹t surprise me to hear you say that when Norman Brown opened for them, they had a bad sound experience and to complete the picture, the Rippingtons sounded wonderful ! This is typical of some bands/artists who have a serious problem with insecurity and ego. I¹m not pointing the finger at anyone except the road manager in this case, because I¹ve had the displeasure of working with him before and it seems that Russ Freeman is a good guy!!!!!! These types of stories really burn me up though because I feel that everyone should be treated with respect. We are out there busting our chops to tour and put on a good show for our fans and none should have to put up with petty situations such as this. It¹s shameful and that God we have only experienced this sort of thing a handful of times !!!!!!!!! I surely hope that anyone opening up for us never experienced anything like that and if so it would have been done without my knowledge and they have my complete apology!!!!!!! Anyway.... the headliner should setup and soundcheck first for a reasonable amount of time and then the opening act sounchecks second and the equipment will be placed or squeezed on stage, depending on the size of the stage and ready for the back to back performances. It again very straight ahead without any surprises that could throw a wrench into the works !???????? Festivals on the other hand are sometimes very complex if there are multiple bands, so usually there are no soundchecks... we just jump up there and strive for tone. That can be challenging and exciting all at once !!!!!! I hope that gives you some insight on this sometimes complex arrangement for putting on a show. It is the most important part of our day you see. We jump through all the travel hoops and then sit around and wait a lot (I usually spend the time practicing) and the icing on the cake is our evenings performance. So you see we are as excited as you might be to get the show going and enjoy our hour plus on stage ! Makes going through all those changes worth it. we also like going out after the performance and meeting our fans in person. Puts everything into perspective and adds the cherry on top so to speak ! Peace, Jimmy

 

Date:	15-Dec-1998 17:03:14
From:	Edgar
	Hey Jimmy what do you think about Tubetech preamps for the bass. I am thinking about getting one.

 

Date:	16-Dec-1998 00:37:44
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hey Edgar, Thanks for writing in ! I actually don't know a lot about Tube Tech pre-amplifiers, but I just e-mailed a good buddy of mine to get the lowdown on this product ! (DO you have any info on the product yourself ??? I'm guessing that you know something about this product or you wouldn't be interested in the 1st place !!! Let know if you have some info !!!!!!) My friend is a very knowledgeble gent who I always contact when I need to know about the latest hip gear ! I should get these specs in the next 24 hours and I'll write you again on this very site !!!!!! Stay tuned !!!!!! Peace, Jimmy....... oh by-the-way ... I endorse SWR gear and they make some very impressive amplification and pre-amplification. Let me know if your interested in talking to someone about this gear and I'll give you the Artist Relations dude's phone number. He'll be happy to talk to you !!!! More Peace !!!

 

Date:	16-Dec-1998 18:18:51
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hey ... just wanted to post a little blurb I read in Jazziz Magazine yesterday !!!! Has to do with this issue I wrote about on this site ... BROADCAST ARCHITECTURE * It's called; BROADCAST ARCHITECTURE IS WATCHING YOU - "Congrats on your 15th anniversary! I must say, however, that the whole article on the smooth jazz-radio scene ("Smooth Operators," September issue) bummed me out. I have friends that are recording artists, and these BROADCAST ARCHITECTURE people are really screwing with people's lives. They should be viewed as "The Big Bad Wolves." John Kaiser jkjazz@aol.com I thought that was interesting enough to post and if you wish to read up on this subject, I suggest that you contact Jazziz magazine and order the back issue for $5.00 at: Jazziz Magazine, Dept.B, 3620 NW 43rd street, Gainsville, Florida 32606-8103 (allow 4-6 weeks for delivery) . I'll be back !!!!!! Peace, Jimmy

 

Date:	17-Dec-1998 00:48:19
From:	Paul Midlick (midwave@webtv.net)
	Hi Jimmy!!! I've been a fan of the Yellowjackets since 1986 when I saw "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" and bought the soundtrack from the movie. Since then I have bought every CD from the group, and have tried to keep tabs on the former members of the group. I was wondering if you have heard from Marc Russo and Ricky Lawson recently, and if the are preparing any recording of their own in the near future. I wish they would join the group occasianally for a track or two, since I miss their talents they gave to the group. I was also wondering if Bob Mintzer has played the same instruments that Marc Russo talented so well, since it seems that Bob's style is more geared towards a mellow approach instead of a fusion-based one.(?) Finally, will we be hearing any of the old 'fusion' and 'fast-paced' recordings in the near future, which is what drew me to your group in the first place. Keep up the great work and hope to see you in the Youngtown,OH some time in the future. (Maybe a return to Cleveland or Pittsburgh?)

 

Date:	17-Dec-1998 04:44:39
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hi Paul, Thanks for your questions !!!!!!  >Hi Jimmy!!! I've been a fan of the Yellowjackets since 1986 when I saw "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" and bought the soundtrack from the movie. Since then I have bought every CD from the group, and have tried to keep tabs on the former members of the group. >I was wondering if you have heard from Marc Russo and Ricky Lawson recently, and if the are preparing any recording of their own in the near future. A. I haven't really heard much from Marc Russo personally. I did hear that he was playing with Doobie Brothers recently and he did put out a solo recording several years ago called "The Window" on the JVC recording label. As far as Ricky Lawson is concerned, we've been doing some session work together ("Rock and Roll Doctor"a tribute to Lowell George, the "Barney Great Adventure Movie" for example) ... and he has completed a solo recording for a Japanese release. I'm not sure of it's name but it was supposed to be released very soon ! He has also been touring and recording with Phil Collins and Steely Dan as of late!!!!!!!! > I wish they would join the group occasianally for a track or two, since I miss their talents they gave to the group. A. We have moved on since their participation with the band, but they are great musicians and I am a big fan of both of them as people and artists !!!!!!!!!! We have done some work with another original member of the Yellowjackets ... The Founding Member himself: Robben Ford ! >I was also wondering if Bob Mintzer has played the same instruments that Marc Russo talented so well, since it seems that Bob's style is more geared towards a mellow approach instead of a fusion-based one.(?) A. Well actually Marc Russo was predominantly an Alto Saxophonist who double on Soprano Saxophone. Bob Mintzer is predominantly a Tenor Saxophonist who also plays Soprano Saxophone, Bb Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Alto Flute and the Electric Wind Instrument or the EWI ! I guess what your describing is the actaul sound differences in these different horns ?!!! The Tenor Saxophone, being lower in timbre can be described as mellower because it has a fatter and lower type of sound inherently. Where as the Alto Saxophone is higher pitched a can definitly have more of a biting type of sound. Marc was coming from more of a R&B sound like Lenny Pickett, mixed with his love for guys like Paul Desmond and Charlie Parker where Bob has a more classic Jazz style coming from John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins and Joe Henderson to name a few. Both of these guys are tremendous musicians and they offer completely different points of view in their own distinctive voices. The Yellowjackets have always strived for a band atmosphere with a whole lot of individualism and creative enviorment for each musician to give freely within this enviorment. We don't shy away from collaborating with each other and letting everyone in the band express themselves whole heartedly in their own personal style. Their is a distinctive Yellowjackets sound that comes partly in the composition and the two original founding members, (in Russell Ferrante and Myself), but as time has gone by we have let the musicians involved along with us create and experiment within this collaboration in order to continue to grow as a musical entity in the name of progress and wave the flag of challenge. This type of thought will always push the creative envelope and we will see how far it takes us. The element of challenge will be their for us and our fans and we the Yellowjackets hope it's a journey that we all enjoy together !!!!!! I also hope this hasn't gotten too over our heads, but we love to play music and our passion to create a unique style is our goal as long as we are given the opportunity ! >Finally, will we be hearing any of the old 'fusion' and 'fast-paced' recordings in the near future, which is what drew me to your group in the first place. A. Well I believe that their are some very fast paced compositions included in some of our latest work ??!!! Check out the title track from our recording "Run For Your Life" and "Savanna" and "Statue of Liberty" from our recording entitled "Blue Hats", also check out our live recording "Live Wires" and listen to "The Spin" and "Wildlife" or even "Bright Lights" !!!!!! I guess we have always written up tempo pieces on most of our recordings, but then I guess it's how the individual perceives how fast they really are ???? We don't really contend ourselves with the speed of our compositions as to the content of the music. That's the most important aspect of our music to me. It's the message and/or the passion in the music. If that's accomplished from our point of view, how fast it's performed is not an issue. I guess the speed of a particular piece can contribute an emotion as well ... it does add an element of thrill and possibly urgency !!!????? >Keep up the great work and hope to see you in the Youngtown,OH some time in the future. (Maybe a return to Cleveland or Pittsburgh?) We are traveling frequently starting February of 1999. Keep an eye on our website : Yellowjackets.com , we post our updated schedule there !!!!!!!!! Thanks again ! Peace to you my friend, Jimmy

 

Date:	17-Dec-1998 15:38:12
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hey Edgar, I got some info on the TUBE TECH PRE-AMP !!!!! > My questions are: WHat do you think of TUBE TECH amplifiers, are they any good ? A. Very expensive...but excellent amplifier..it all depends what you are using it for. They are distributed by T.C Electronics up in Westlake Village. These things are anything but cheep...depending on your usage, I may have other suggestions.??????? can you give me some specs ??????? A. Somewhere around my office, I have them...I'll fax them over if I find them. > An e-mail came in to me with my advice for this purchase, but I've not heard anything about these amps???????? A. TUBE TECH are known for making the highest quality all tube Mic Pre's, Equalizers, and compressors known to man. Their MP-1A single channel Mic Pre for example has a DEALER COST of $ 1,916.00, and that's just for a Mic Pre !!! Something tells me that this amplifier is going to be in the 5-6 thousand dollar range. ALL TUBE, FRONT TO BACK. Hey ... if you need more info on this Pre-AMP, I'll get you intouch with the company directly !!!!!!! Hope this is helpful to you !!!!!!!!!!! Peace, Jimmy

 

Date:	17-Dec-1998 19:26:09
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hey Edgar, Here's the Amendment to your question about the TUBE TECH PRE-AMPS !!!!!!!!!!!!!! And you can thank my very good friend Patrick for the info .... He's a happening dude !!! Concerning this product : The amplifier is about 5 grand dealer cost...is a full class A tube amplifier...this thing runs extremely hot...and goes through tubes at an above average rate...It sounds wonderful...but is only 40 watts per side (stereo into an 8 ohm load). For considerably less money, you could buy a Hafler TRANSNOVA series that STOMPS and will give you headroom for days. Well whatta ya think about thems apples !!!!!!!! Think about that before you take the plunge my friend !!!! Best of luck my man !!!! Let us know what you come up with! Jimmy

 

Date:	18-Dec-1998 02:41:57
From:	Paul Midlick (midwave@webtv.net)
	Hi Jimmy (again) 80) Thanks for answering my questions and I do see what you mean about the passion your group puts into their music. After I read you response, I went back and listened to "Blue Hats" and one track I enjoyed alot was "New Rochelle". That track is a prime example of what I like about your group, in which you allow some different 'instruments' to blend in with a great composition. I assume that both the sax and EWI work was Bob, and I like how he blended the two. When I think of your group, I do like the different approaches that each of you bring to it. I personally think that "New Rochelle" should be listed as one your groups greatest recording. Its good to see that everyone is willing to try a non-traditional instrument and effectively play it so well. I also am wondering that since the group is back at Warner, what changes have occurred in your arranging of a new CD? (such as, is there more creative control and/or publicity?) Hope to talk to you again and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!! Paul Midlick

 

Date:	18-Dec-1998 03:04:19
From:	Paul Midlick (midwave@webtv.net)
	WOOPS...why i was thinking EWI and meaning to say Russell's keyboard, I can only say I am sorry....thats what I get for writing a note at 2:30 am (I work til midnite and am sometimes too exhausted to think straight i guess...haha..80). Anyways, my point being that I like how each of you blend and use different instruments so well, and it does show that you do care about your music and fans. You did mention about the yellowjackets.com web address, which I visited and found the out-of-print "Politics" CD, which till now I only had the audiotape and tracks from your live and collection cd's. Also wondering if you ever do any improvisational music and have recorded it? With the chemistry and talent of everyone, it just seems like you might be able to freeform a song. Thanks again, Paul Midlick

 

Date:	18-Dec-1998 08:35:56
From:	Phil (Peoplesp@dickinson.edu)
	Been reading with interest your responses to Mr. Midlick's questions. It's not unusual on JCS (Jazz Central Station BBS) to here talk about pre and post 1990 Yellowjackets. I personally enjoy what the band has been doing in the 90's with "Blue Hats" being the very best to date in my opinion. I think that the writing/arranging is very prolific and original to say the least. Please keep stretching the jazz envelope. With the mention of the EWI, I have to say that I love the sound of the instrument and wonder whether it will continue to be used in your band? I read an interview with Bob Mintzer recently where he implied that beyond the Yellowjackets, he doesn't see himself using the EWI. I gathered he does not think the EWI works in a more straight-ahead jazz environment. I suppose this has to do with the "acoustic" nature of jazz as opposed to the use of electronics. I've heard Pat Metheny's use of his guitar synth on straight-ahead releases. Mike Brecker's "Tales From the Hudson" comes to mind. While only on one track, I thought it sounded great! I have felt that the EWI could be used this way as well, yet even Brecker tends to separate what he calls his "electric" needs from his "acoustic" roots. And Bob regards him as the master of the EWI. What's your take on this instrument and its possibilities? Sorry for another long message. Enjoying "Club Nocturne."

 

Date:	19-Dec-1998 03:10:50
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hey Paul , Thanks for all of your compliments, greatly appreciated ! ³Blue Hats² happens to be one of my favorite recordings and it¹s interesting that you picked ³New Rochelle² as your favorite track. It came close to being omitted from the project, but we fought for it and it was actually nominated for a Grammy in the ³Best Contemporary Jazz Composition² category. Our 11th Nomination to date !!! I love this track because it was a one take performance and my daughter was standing near by me and watching me the whole time. I had a feeling for this track because of it and my daughter, who was almost two years old, was my personal inspiration for my performance on the track !!!!! As far as the instrumentation, you were right to begin with. It was Bob playing both the EWI (on the live basic track )and then enhancing it with an overdubbed Tenor Saxophone. Russell did add some synth sounds later as well but it was minimalistic coloration. Warner Bros. Records ... let¹s see.... So we were originally with Warners for our very first three recordings, from 1980 - 1985. Then we moved on and did four recordings for MCA JAZZ and then four recordings for GRP. Then we were signed again by Warner Bros. in 1994-95 and we¹ve now done three recordings for this deal, ³Dreamland², ³Blue Hats² and now our newest release ³Club Nocturne². Warners has not handcuffed us creatively nor have they insisted on creative control or dictated any changes or demands from us artistically. This was ideal for us since we¹ve produced and co-produced almost all of our fourteen releases in the last 20 years. We haven¹t even relied on them for publicity, we have our own independent publicity agent. It¹s all very straight ahead as far as that goes, Warners pays for our independents but hopefully we end up with again more control of our destiny. We do rely on them to distribute the product and be responsible for advertising. Whether it¹s accomplished or not is out of our control, We always hope for the best and rely on our fans for their support of our music. we are very appreciative of our fans !!!!!!!!!!!! As far as the, as you called it improvisational/free form music, we did record a piece on the newest recording ³Club Nocturne² called ³All Is Quiet² with Kurt Elling on vocals. It was one take primarily and performed as a free improvisational piece of music (we did have a chart depicting the chord changes and melody, but it was played free with some form of conducting involved by both Kurt and Bob.) Thanks again for all your comments and support. Happy Holidays !!!! Jimmy Hey Phil (@dickinson.edu), Thanks for the compliment on our ³Blue Hats² release and we will always try to stretch out as we are always searching for new and unique ideas in our music !!! You asked about the EWI being used in our future recordings. That¹s a big yes, It¹s a very interesting instrument and extremely versatile as another melodic voice for the band. I guess the EWI is not a very traditional instrument, therefore not what you would use in a traditional Jazz setting. Bob is steeped in the tradition and has his own big band. The EWI is an experimental instrument which may or may not be awkward in combination with the traditional sound. I feel it¹s all cool and it¹s up to the musician, composer and possibly the composition as to whether any of this works !???? We keep the mind open for all possibilities !

 

Date:	19-Dec-1998 18:58:13
From:	Len (amandla@bigpond.com)
	Hi Jimmy, I'm from Melbourne Australia. WHEN ARE YOU GUYS COMING TO AUSTRALIA? I have listened to YJ since the first LP yes LP! Club nocturne is lovely. I do a shift every saturday morning on PBS FM here in Melbourne. I call it Bitches Brew! It's a mixture of Fusion Jazz Rock and a whole lot of other things and YJ are always featured. Hey this thing about broadcast architecture realy sound bad. Hope it never happens in Australia, maybe it already does that's why all commercial radio plays the same stuff!!! Love to get a copy of your new Cd when it comes out. Will it be available from most internet stores? Look forward to hearing from you Jimmy. Cheers Len

 

Date:	19-Dec-1998 21:33:51
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hi Len@bigpond, Thanks for writing in ! Just let me say that we would love to play in Melbourne anytime !!!!! We've never been in Australia (we all have been individually but not with the Yellowjackets for performances.) You asked when we would be there and I really don't know but we'll take an invatation anytime !!!!!!!! Hey thanks for checking us out all these years, it's really appreciated ! Thanks for the compliment on the new CD too!! Concerning your saturday morning on PBS FM in Melbourne. I hope you never have to deal with anything even resembling BROADCAST ARCHITECTURE !!! I ALSO LIKE THE NAME OF YOUR SHOW ( Bitches Brew! ) AND THANKS FOR PLAYING OUR MUSIC !!!!!!! Again, it's greatly appreciated !!!!!!! You'll be able to aquire a copy of my new Cd when it comes out on our internet web-site/newsletter THE BUZZ. THE ADDRESS IS YELLOWJACKETS.COM Cheers back at you my friend, Jimmy

 

Date:	19-Dec-1998 23:05:05
From:	Pphil (peoplesp@dickinson.edu)
	A topic of some consideration lately among fans has to do with the seeming mass exodus of artists from the GRP record label. Yellowjackets left a few years ago and have been followed by other groups (Ripppingtons, Dianne Schuur, Nelson Rangell, Lee Ritenour, and now Spyro Gyra as well as others). You had commented to another poster that your deal with Warner Brothers allows you more creative latitude (or something to that effect). Can you shed any light on the label's possible demise? And have the Yellowjackets ever considered having a "discussion" board on your web site? Regardless, it's a regular stop for me when I go online.

 

Date:	21-Dec-1998 03:29:08
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hi Phil@dickinson.edu, Your keeping me busy over here !!!!!!! Thanks for all the good questions and your genuine concern about what¹s going on with the music business. I don¹t claim to have all the answers, but I do have a lot of experience in these matters and I will always dig up the truth one way or another ! Anyway, you were asking about the considerably large exodus from GRP records over the last three years. Starting, it seems with the Yellowjackets in 1994/95, which is when we re-signed with the Warner Bros. Record label and put out ³Dreamland² our twelfth recording. Your right, after that it seems that a lot of artists were either let go or left on their own terms. In our case, we had finish our contractual commitment and tried to negotiate with GRP. We had a clause that once we were finished with the concrete terms of our contract, which was for eight records, we could then talk to GRP and negotiate a possible new deal ! We were interested in doing so and I truly believe that they were as well. The stumbling block came when we were offered a lucrative deal with several other labels as well, which was allowed under the conclusive terms of our deal with GRP. It¹s like free agency in Baseball. You can look around and see who is interested and whatever offers come in, gives you leverage and could increase your value in the market place. Then re-signing with your original team could get interesting! (There is also a gamble that none else is interested and that could decrease your value in the market place ??!!!), That¹s the chance you take one way or the other. Not in our case. We had some nice offers on the table and we went back to GRP and explained the whole scenario, but they figured we were bluffing or playing some sort of bargaining games. So they passed on the offer to match our other outside offers and said ³That if we could secure such a deal, to go right ahead and take it.² They were not interested and offered something that didn¹t make any sense. We had no choice at that point but to go with Warner Bros. and it was a rather exciting time for us. All the way back full circle with the company that originally signed us back in 1980 ! GRP was also going through a transition in that they had be bought by MCA Records and there was to be a changing of the guard in the head offices. There was a large executive exodus for one reason or another and with that change, almost half of the artist roster was let go to make room for new artist acquisitions and a revamping of the label structure. It gets fairly complicated and I would need about five more pages of writing to explain everything that went down. With that we saw a lot of artists moving on to different recording companies ect... Now you asked about our creative latitude as a possible reason for leaving GRP, but it was strictly business here and the creative aspect had nothing to do with it. We had as much creative freedom at GRP as we had here at Warners Bros. We¹ve been blessed with that part of our career and believe me when I say that we don¹t take that for granted !!! I don¹t think there is a demise in the life of GRP Records, I think their has been a lot of adjustment there with the initial changes I mentioned and now that MCA was recently acquired by Seagrams (yes ... the liquor mogul), who has just recently pulled off another acquisition by purchasing POLYGRAM. Now just in the Jazz department alone you see, they will be merging GRP (which is now called UNIVERSAL RECORDS), with VERVE and that should create a giant Jazz label that could have a serious competitive edge on that market. It¹s yet to be seen what the result will be, but on paper it¹s a monster of a label !!! Now as far as a ³discussion board² goes, I¹m not quite sure what that would entail and how it works???? You can certainly suggest such a thing and direct your inquisition to Neil Ruddish who runs our web-site. He¹s a great guy and certainly open for suggestions !! Thanks again for your great questions and thanks for checking out our web-site !!! I¹ll be around for a while and checking in frequently !!!! HAPPY HOLIDAYS, JIMMY

 

Date:	21-Dec-1998 08:13:59
From:	Nicole Selwyn (theselwyns@ozemail.com.au)
	Hi Jimmy, It's Nicole from Sydney, Australia again. I was touched reading about the song "New Rochelle" and how it was special to you because your daughter was watching you as you recorded it. It put a huge smile on face, and that song will have new meaning for me now. My father is a musician, and I can't put into words the kind of special link that music creates between father and daughter (I don't know about sons, because I don't have any brothers!). My dad had me singing everything from the Beatles to Roberta Flack stuff with him from the time I was two years old, and has the stuff recorded to prove it! We still listen to it together. How do you manage being a full time musician and balancing time with your family. Does your family get to travel with you much? I'd love to hear your take on it. Happy Christmas from down under, and all the best to you and your family in 1999! Cheers, Nicole

 

Date:	22-Dec-1998 01:59:37
From:	Breen acres
	more bass!

 

Date:	22-Dec-1998 03:06:05
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hi Nicole, My daughter is four years old and we have a lot of wonderful time together listening to and singing songs. She really does love music and she sings all the time. She knows a lot of songs too, even Yellowjacket songs. She's also a big Bobby McFerrin and James Taylor fan !!! Your Question was: >How do you manage being a full time musician and balancing time with your family. Well it's not easy but definitly accomplished with a lot of focusing by me. I will admit to being somewhat of a work-a-holic, but my family is very important to me and it works out that we have some great quality time together !!! Especially now during the Holidays !!!!! Your next Question was: Does your family get to travel with you much? I'd love to hear your take on it. My wife has traveled with me quite a bit and lately my daughter and two step sons have been coming out on trips as well. It's sometime very difficult because of the grueling schedules we have to deal with. Although there are some very cush tours which present the opportunity to travel with the family. I'm sure that will be the case in 1999 as we travel around promoting 'Club Nocturne' !!!!! Thanks again for writing in Nicole and our best wishes to you !!! Peace, Jimmy Hey Breen Acres .... I'm actually going to give you more bass in 1999 with my new seven-string and six-string midi bass. HA, HA !!! Peace my brother !!! Jimmy

 

Date:	24-Dec-1998 08:50:13
From:	Phil (peoplesp@dickinson.edu)
	Sorry to bother you again Jimmy but I just got wind of something that, as of this day, is still classed as "rumor." I received e-mail from a friend that drummer Peter Erskine is going to be joining the Yellowjackets and will begin touring with the group in early 1999. I got the info from guy in the music business as a producer and artist. He talked to Peter recently, and he apparently confirmed the rumor. Are you at liberty to say anything about this at this time? I love what Will Kennedy brings to the group and if this is true, regardless of Peter Erskine's impeccable credentials, skills and music/jazz background, I would miss Will's groove playing with the group. Then again, Erskine can bring something special to the group as well.

 

Date:	25-Dec-1998 23:46:46
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hello Phil@dickinson.edu, I must say you get around, and I appreciate your interest again in this band and our future. Let's say at this point I'm not at liberty to talk about it, but you might check with "fuzzy Music" online. You might find something there ????????!!!!! I hope your having a wonderful Holiday celebration and probably after this weekend, I'll be back to talk about some upcoming events and touring schedule !!! I might even have some more interesting stories to tell !!! Peace in the World !!! Jimmy

 

Date:	29-Dec-1998 04:02:02
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hope everyone is having a great holiday season and wishing you all a Happy New Year !!! Just to add to my last comments, There will be an official annoucement about some new develoement with the Yellowjackets soon in a few different places !!! Here, the Jackets web-site: yellowjackets.com and the Buzz Newsletter for all our subscribing fans. I wish you all Peace and Happiness ! Jimmy

 

Date:	29-Dec-1998 14:04:00
From:	Denis Simpkin (Sharlyne Simpkin.sympatico.ca)
	Dear Jimmy, Love Your playing !!!!!!! My wife had a very dear friend pass away in dec 98 We put on "Even the Pain" for her and a few other friends to help the through the pain. The tears started to well up in everyones eyes.After the song ended you could see they all felt alot better. It certainly helped us to get a little closure on Lee's untimely passing.I thought how powerful music can be at times and I wanted to share that with you. We are also in the middle of recording a CD in my studio. 2" tape . We are Hoping to be out by the spring of 99. We would love to be an opener for someone.If I sent you a tape and you liked it could you suggest anyone. Your the Best!!!!!! Denis Simpkin ph 1 604 576-6650

 

Date:	29-Dec-1998 16:30:06
From:	Francine L. Medina (francine.l.medina@slma.com)
	hi jimmy! i just lucked up on this website & it's cool! i am a 50 year old (soon to be, 10/99) grandmother who is a jazz fan. i also love the bass guitar! i've been contemplating on taking lessons! my husban, children & grandchildren think i'm nuts; but that's okay? when will the yellowjackets been in the washington, dc area again?, or for that matter, will you be doing any solo engagements in this area? God Bless & Happy Holidays! funky cold medina (nickname)

 

Date:	30-Dec-1998 02:38:22
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hello Denis Simpkin (Sharlyne Simpkin.sympatico.ca), Thanks for writing to me and sharing your story with us ! Also, many thanks for your compliments ! It makes me want to cry when I hear about how our music affects people. We know that music is powerful in that way and we always hope that our fans connect with that side of our music. I'm so sorry about your friend, I've recently had the same experience with several of my friends and their relatives. I was given a demo of "Even the Pain" about a year and a half ago and it made me cry then. I knew that the song was very powerful. It was written by a friend of mine named Richard Page and I really wanted to do something with it ! I finally found a home for it on the new Yellowjackets recording and Jonathan Butler, who heard the song and fell in love with it, really gave us a beautiful performance of it ! I'm very proud of this piece and I'm happy to know that it brought you some comfort at a very difficult time for you, your wife and friends. I wish you peace and strength for this New Year ! >We are also in the middle of recording a CD in my studio. >We are Hoping to be out by the spring of 99. >We would love to be an opener for someone. >If I sent you a tape and you liked it could you suggest >anyone. I'd be happy to listen to your recording and give you the best advice that I could. I'll give you a call after the holidays. Peace and good luck with your music, Jimmy   Hi there Francine L. Medina (francine.l.medina@slma.com)  Thanks for writing in !!! >i also love the bass guitar! i've been contemplating on taking lessons! I think it's a wonderful idea to spend time learning to play music on any instrument. It seems to me that if you love music, why not take it up and enjoy a wonderful experience in learning how to play an instrument of your choice. I will say that playing the bass has it's challenges. I can't lose anything by trying and you won't know until you do try it. Just find yourself a good teacher and Good Luck with all my best !!! >when will the yellowjackets been in the washington, dc area >again?, or for that matter, will you be doing any solo >engagements in this area? Well we just played sort of in the area, at the Barns next to Wolf Trap. It was a wonderful night and we always enjoy coming to the D.C. area to perform. I hope that we return in '99 and in fact, I'm sure we will get back there soon ! Thanks again, Jimmy

 

Date:	31-Dec-1998 00:43:41
From:	Paul Midlick (midwave@webtv.net)
	Jimmy, Just a quick note wishing you, the group, and all their families all the BEST in 1999. Keep up the great work and hope to see the group in concert next year!!! Oh....what commercial work have you been doing other than the Barney Movie Soundtrack and what's coming up that I can hear the 'Jackets in a soundtrack. And I have 2 odd questions that you might help me with... (1) On the 1986 "Shades" release (MCA) , the "Oasis" track was mentioned as the theme from the movie "Booby Trap" , which I have never heard of. Did the movie ever get made? (2) On the GRP 1995 "Collection" CD, they never mention Marc Russo as a member of the band where they should, as they did for Ricky Lawson, and some of the tracks that were studio recordings are said to be from "Live Wires". Someone didn't do their homework?...thought it was a bit interesting and unusual. HAPPY AND SAFE NEW YEAR JIMMY, Paul Midick

 

Date:	31-Dec-1998 03:23:24
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Good Morning Paul Midlick- midwave@webtv.net, Happy New Year to you too !!! Should be an interesting Year !!! Hope to see you out on the road ! >Oh....what commercial work have you been doing other than >the Barney Movie Soundtrack and what's coming up that I can >hear the 'Jackets in a soundtrack. Well there is nothing yet in the works for the Jackets and film scores, but there is interest and hopfully we will be involved with some film scoring soon !!! I've been recording with some different artists of which there has been a bunch of releases ! Everett Harp's new recording "Better Days" A new duet recording by Will Downing and Gerald Albright "Pleasures of the Night" Marc Antione's newest "Madrid" A new Glenn Jones recording produced by Ross Vannelli called "It's Time" Marilyn Scott's "Avenues of Love" Gino Vannelli's "Slow Love" A Compilation by Gary Wright called "Best of the Dream Weaver" A wonderful compilation recording on Zebra Records called "A Song A Day" A new Bobby Caldwell retrospective called "Timeline" and a new Bob Mintzer recording called "Quality Time" on TVT records, to name a few !!! >And I have 2 odd questions that you might help me with... >(1) On the 1986 "Shades" release (MCA) , the "Oasis" track >was mentioned as the theme from the movie "Booby Trap" , >which I have never heard of. Did the movie ever get made? Well ... I believe it did come out with another name ! The movie title was changed to "Wired To Kill" !!! A very horrible movie set in a futuristic society ala "Road Warrior". I wouldn't recommend seeing it, but Russell Ferrante did an excellent job scoring the picture and wrote a very nice main theme entitled "Oasis". (not to be confused with a song we collaborated on with Eric Marienthal, a title cut on his GRP recording "Oasis") !!! >(2) On the GRP 1995 "Collection" CD, they never mention >Marc Russo as a member of the band where they should, as >they did for Ricky Lawson, and some of the tracks that were >studio recordings are said to be from "Live Wires". Someone >didn't do their homework?... >thought it was a bit interesting and unusual. Yes ... Someone did not do their homework and basically screwed up the credits on the first Yellowjackets GRP Collections CD. Unfortunately we had nothing to do with the making of the compilation, so all we could do is accept it for what it was ! It really pissed me off though !!!!! It certainly was slapped together when we left the label and I guess no one cared enough to make it a quality package !!! I also hated the cover !!! That's life ! Thanks for pointing that out and I have to say we are excited with our beginning stages of recording our 15th CD!! My best wishes to you, Peace, Jimmy

 

Date:	31-Dec-1998 20:39:56
From:	Greg (greg.smith@nike.com)
	Thanks Jimmy for taking the time to respond to all of these questions and sharing your 'stories of the road' with us. I've been a YJ fan for many many years and as my wife points out every time I buy a new YJ CD, "We already own more Yellowjackets CD's than we do of any other artist!". All I can respond with is "Sorry, can't help it." :-) I just read through all of the questions and your responses and I think I can speak for all of us YJ fans in saying that its wonderful to learn that the quality of the people (or at least the bass player :-) in the Yellowjackets matches the incredible quality of the music you put together. Thanks again for taking the time. Happy new year and hope to see you back in the Portland, OR area. Hopefully back at the Mt. Hood Jazz fest? And I gotta add a dumb question. Having played bass in a few bands myself back in high school and college, coming up with band names was always an excruciating exercise. Usually involving hundreds of suggestions that some other member of the group would immediately discard for some reason or another. How did 'Yellowjackets' come about?

 

Date:	01-Jan-1999 22:44:39
From:	Phil (Peoplesp@dickinson.edu)
	First, as a very highly regarded electric bass player, who was/were your major influences on the instrument? I believe I had read you had studied under Jaco Pastorious for a period. Second, what electric bass players would you mention as being worthy of wider recognition today? Thank you for your answers.

 

Date:	02-Jan-1999 03:12:59
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hi Greg (greg.smith@nike.com), > hope to see you back in the Portland, OR area. Hopefully back at the Mt. Hood Jazz fest? We miss playing that festival. We've performed there twice and always had a great time !!! Excellent festival ...One of the best venues in the U.S. in my humble opinion ! >And I gotta add a dumb question. Having played bass in a few bands myself back in high school and college, coming up with band names was always an excruciating exercise. Usually involving hundreds of suggestions that some other member of the group would immediately discard for some reason or another. How did 'Yellowjackets'come about? Well basically we were given that name by our first Producer, Tommy Lipuma during our first recording for Warner Bros. records back in 1980. He felt that the name was modern sounding and gave the band a unique twist. So instead of calling it something like the L.A.Jazz quartet we got the Yellowjackets !!! He also felt that the name fit the kind of music we had written and actually prompted me calling one of the songs "The Hornet" !!! My Best Wishes to you in 1999 !!!!! Peace, Jimmy   Hey Phil - Peoplesp@dickinson.edu   >First, as a very highly regarded electric bass player, who was/were your major influences on the instrument? I believe I had read you had studied under Jaco Pastorious for a period. well I have a lot of influences, in fact your best bet is to check out my bio on the Yellowjackets web site. I list a huge but edited group of influences including Jaco Pastorius who was my teacher for several weeks when I met him in 1976 here in Los Angeles !!! He was and is definitely an important influence in my playing and philosophy about playing music. He changed my life and I will never forget him as long as I live !!! >Second, what electric bass players would you mention as being worthy of wider recognition today? I would have to include Michael Manring, Bill Dickens, Jimmy Johnson, Alain Caron, Brian Bromberg, Keith Horn, James Cammack and probably a thousand other guys I don't know or haven't heard yet !!! Everytime I go out on the road for example I meet or hear some guys playing in a club or stuck in back of a stage plot with a little known artist at a jazz festival playing his butt off and because of the nature of this business, you never see or hear about him or her again !!! I'm a music fan and I thank my lucky stars for what I have accomplished !!! I will never take what I do for granted and I will continue to practice and teach music. Especially to try to help everyone and anyone I can. That's an inspired thought that I carry around with me always ! Thanks for writing in again my friend and Happy New Year to you all !!!!!!! Peace, Jimmy

 

Date:	02-Jan-1999 22:29:59
From:	mpho M. (mpho.mohapi@p4radio.co.za)
	Hi Jimmy, Just to let you know you have a great floowing in south africa! (surprised?) The only problem is availability of your music in local record shops. I work as an on-air person on a smooth jazz station in cape town (one of the 2 in the country). I have had the fortune of recieving a copy of Blue Hats from a friend who lives in the US, she was also kind enough to send me Club Nocturne, some of my friends who visit on a regular basis literally take over the choice of music in my house!!!!! One of the fav tracks being With these hands -I must confess I love it too- I literally forced it down on every one who would listen! Warmest regards to the whole band, all the best in the new year. Hope to see you live in the mother city (as Cape Town is referred to) What a pleasure to have found this link!!!!!!!! Mpho(mpor)

 

Date:	03-Jan-1999 18:28:29
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hello to you - mpho M. (mpho.mohapi@p4radio.co.za),  >Just to let you know you have a great floowing in south >africa! (surprised?) Not surprised, but honored to know that we have many fans there !!! We've come very close on a number of occassions to travel to South Africa, and we are still hoping and dreaming for an opportunity to make it there soon !!!???? You'll notice that we have a track on the "Club Nocturne" recording with Jonathan Butler called "Even The Pain" ! He is a wonderful person and musician/vocalist, and we are hoping to hook up with him for a visit to see you !!! I hope that my dream comes true !!!!! >The only problem is availability of your music in local >record shops. I work as an on-air person on a smooth jazz >station in cape town (one of the 2 in the country). I'm sorry it's so hard to find our music there, but you can find it through the internet now at: yellowjackets.com There you will find our news letter the Buzz and you can find any and all of our CD recordings at this site !!! We also sell hats, t-shirts, Educational books written by members of the Yellowjackets and you can even find out a lot about the band in biographies ect ... Hope you visit our site sometime and please mention it to our fans !!! >I have had the fortune of recieving a copy of Blue Hats >from a friend who lives in the US, she was also kind enough >to send me Club Nocturne, some of my friends who visit on a >regular basis literally take over the choice of music in my >house!!!!! One of the fav tracks being With these hands -I >must confess I love it too- I literally forced it down on >every one who would listen! Thanks so much for your appreciated support and for your information, we played "With These Hands" with Jonathan Butler !! He also loved this song and it was incredible performing this piece live with him in concert !!! Please send our love to the fans and thanks for writing to me. It made my day to hear from South Africa !!!!!! We hope to see you live in concert in the mother city !!! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND WISHING ALL THE BEST TO YOU AND OUR FANS FOR A FANTASTIC 1999 !!! Peace in the World, Jimmy and the Yellowjackets !!!

 

Date:	06-Jan-1999 20:47:18
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hi everyone, Just wanted to mention that I'll be heading down to Anaheim, California to perform at the IAJE convention with a rock fusion trio consisting of Frank Gambale on guitar, Ralph Humhrey on drums and myself on the bass. We are doing a one hour seminar on Jazz Fusion. A very vast topic, which we are consolidating in a one hour session ! The IAJE stands for : International Association of Jazz Educators. I'll be representing LAMA (the Los Angeles Music Academy) which is a wonderful music school in Pasadena, California. I do teach there from time to time as all the members of the Yellowjackets are heavily involved with education !!! I will be heading out next week to New York to do some producing and some session work for about 10 days and I'll be logging in from Woodstock, New York, which is where I'll be mostly working. I'll also get to visit with my friend Mike Tobias, who has built nine bass guitars for me over the last fourteen years or so. He is a wonderful Luthier/woodworker/guitar builder. A master craftsman and has his own shop right outside of woodstock. I always love visiting his shop, It gives me a really great feeling and a real connection with the instruments that I play. It's hard to explain, but it it has a been sometime since I've gotten to visit with Mike, so this makes my trip even more exciting to me !!! I guess I better bring my long johns too !!! Thanks again for all your great questions !!! Peace, Jimmy

 

Date:	10-Jan-1999 01:15:50
From:	Jimmy HASLIP
	I just wanted to follow up on my excursion to the IAJE Convention and how wonderful it was !!! Something very interesting came about, ... The day before I was heading down to Anaheim (which was this past Thursday January 7th), I got a phone call from Peter Erskine and another phone call from Russell Ferrante. I was driving across town to Sunland, California to pick up a bass rig and also get a tour of the new SWR Sound Corporation factory/ headquarters. I immediately returned both calls and came to find out that Peter, who was going to play the convention Friday night with the D'Adarrio Superband (which consists of Peter, Bob Mintzer on saxophone, John Patitucci on bass and John Abercrombie on the guitar), needed some subs !!! John had a prior committment and John had a family emergency. So since Bob and Peter were going to be there, Peter thought it would be an interesting opportunity to play with Russell Ferrante on piano and myself on bass. I immediately accepted the gig and as things progressed it became apparent to our publicity agent and management company that this would be the gig to make the official annoucment of the consumation of the new Yellowjackets !!! The rest is history ! We performed for the IAJE for approximately an hour and it was a blast !!! I am looking forward to what the future will bring musically with this new configuration !!! I also did a one hour seminar with Frank Gambale and Ralph Humphrey on Fusion Music ! I really enjoyed that as well as I got to talk to a lot of fans and most notably some folks from Melbourne, Australia who new Len (amandla@bigpond.com) from the Bitches Brew show Radio Melbourne !!!!! Gooday Len !!! All in all, it was an interesting and thought provoking weekend at the Disneyland Hotel !!!

 

Date:	11-Jan-1999 03:55:23
From:	Denis Simpkin (SharlyneSimpkin@bcsympatico.ca)
	Hello again Jimmy, Just a note to let you know I'm looking forword to your phone call. my studio # is 1 (604) 576-6650 or fax 576-6725 Again, we are looking for an opening spot with anyone interested in what we have to offer. Thanks again for responding so quickly to our first letter. P.S. our Drummer was in L.A. last may and him and a girlfriend went out to see Frank Gambale. They just raved about the bass player. Their Description of him was you. I wonder if it was you? Also you can call collect any time You may get my answering service . My side line business is called ANATEK midi accessories . Best Regards Denis Simpkin P.P.S Are you making any plans to visit Vancouver B.C. anytime in the near future ?

 

Date:	12-Jan-1999 19:30:35
From:	Gene Porter (GP3532@aol.com)
	Jimmy, I understand that you recently did a demo with Kim Lankford. She did a song called "Every Now and Then" in a movie called "Street Corner Justice". I have been trying to get the words/music but to no avail. I cannot reach her on the WEB.. Do you have any info which might help??? Thanks, Gene Porter

 

Date:	13-Jan-1999 04:05:27
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hi Denis Simpkin (SharlyneSimpkin@bcsympatico.ca), >Just a note to let you know I'm looking forword to your >phone call. Again, we are looking for an opening spot with >anyone interested in what we have to offer. I'll fax you our info as far as booking agent and management That's about all I can do. There isn't enough time in the day for me to be deeply involved with booking opening acts for our tours. I wish there was but that's all left up to the local promoter, our booking agent and our management office. They are the ones who oversee these kind of details and we are happy to travel to our various venues and play the music. If we do play in your area, it should be posted way ahead of time on our web site: Yellowjackets.com You can then find out who the local promoter is an ask him/them if they need an opening act from te area and maybe that's a good way to pursue this.???!! Otherwise you can contact our office or booking agent after I send you my fax. >P.S. our Drummer was in L.A. last may and him and a >girlfriend went out to see Frank Gambale. They just raved .about the bass player. Their Description of him was you. >I wonder if it was you? I know it wasn't me because I just played with Frank for the second time here at the IAJE Convention. The first time was in Los Angeles at a clinic at the Los Angeles Music Academy in Pasadena ! >Are you making any plans to visit Vancouver B.C. anytime in >the near future ? I hope we visit there again soon. I remember playing there a while back for a Jazz series call DuMurier Jazz. It was really wonderful ! We also opened for Miles Davis at the EXPO in a beautiful open air shed/theatre. That was really a treat ! Thanks again for your support and we'll keep hounding our booking agent to get us up to Vancouver soon !!! Peace, Jimmy   Hello Gene Porter (GP3532@aol.com),  >I understand that you recently did a demo with Kim >Lankford. She did a song called "Every Now and Then" in a >movie called "Street Corner Justice". I have been trying to >get the words/music but to no avail. I cannot reach her on >the WEB.. Do you have any info which might help??? All I can do, since I don't have any info on her, is contact my buddy JT Thomas who produced the demo I played on. Maybe he knows how to get a hold of her and he might have had something to do with that particular song as well !?? I'll check it out and get back to you here ! Best Wishes, Jimmy Gene Porter

 

Date:	14-Jan-1999 12:54:55
From:	Roy A Stewart (rstewart@bcit.bc.ca)
	Dear Jimmy, I to am a big fan from Vancouver Canada. I can;t believe what a wonderful human being you are, to take the time to write to all of your fans. Your spirit shows in your playing. My good friend Denis wrote to you asking about who he could talk to about his project here in Vancouver,and you gave him a call. I say Thanks to you because Denis is also a great musician and a good person and this has lifted his spirit. I did see the jackets in Seattle last year,WE drove from Vancouver. IT was a musical highlight for me and my friends. ALL THE BEST. Roy

 

Date:	14-Jan-1999 23:52:57
From:	Donald (Donnie) Hyams (nppj@cp-tel.net)
	Hi Jimmy, Here's a flashback for ya: Remember Natchitoches, Louisiana? A gig with Carmine Appice and Phil Brown? A record store named "University Sounds"? It's been a while [grin]. It was a pleasure to meet and hear you. It's very gratifying to see a warm, talented human (yeah..you) being find success in my favorite art form. Just wanted to say "Howdy"... --Donnie

 

Date:	17-Jan-1999 23:19:56
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hello  Roy A Stewart (rstewart@bcit.bc.ca),  Thanks for writting in. I will be contacting your friend Denis soon via fax with some info. I hope it helps out ! I appreciate my fans and hope that they understand that I'm always flattered by the wonderful feedback and comments ! It's always a surprise to me and very inspirational at the same time. I can't thank everyone enough for their continued support and I will always be thankful !!! >I did see the jackets in Seattle last year,WE drove from >Vancouver. IT was a musical highlight for me and my >friends. Thanks for traveling such a great distance to check out the Jackets and I really hope we make it up to Vancouver sometime soon. It's a happening city and we love to perform there ! My best wishes to you Roy and all your freinds ! Peace in the World !!! Jimmy   Hey Donald (Donnie) Hyams (nppj@cp-tel.net),  Do I remember ! How can I have forgotten such an incredible adventure in my life !!! I would never forget ! It was one of the most unforgettable experiences in my life, living in Natchitouches and New Orleans ! I learned a lot about life down there and met some incredible people like yourself ! Thanks for writing in and bringing back all those wonderful memories ! I think we would have to hook up and talk for a long time to catch up and people and things. I hope your well and now that I have your address, I'll drop you a line with some interesting stories about people you know ! I'm still in touch somewhat with Phil and he seems to be doing OK ! I've also recently been in touch with Carmine as well ! Have you run into anyone I might know there ??? It's too overwhelming to get into this now, but I'll be in touch soon my friend ! > A record store named "University Sounds"? I certainly remember hanging out in your cool store ! It was a special sancutary at that time !!! Thanks for being there ! You take care of yourself and we'll talk soon Donnie ! Peace, Jimmy

 

Date:	21-Jan-1999 18:29:38
From:	Donald (Donnie) Hyams (nppj@cp-tel.net)
	Hi again Jimmy, Wanted you to know that I got your message here. I can only imagine how hectic your schedule is, so I'll understand if it's a while before we can "really" make contact. I'm a little tied up myself (can you say "Y2K"?) In the meantime, if you want to email me your email address (hmmm -- that sounded redundant), I'll be figuring out how to distill the past 25 years or so [laugh]. Great to hear from you. Later, --Donnie

 

Date:	24-Jan-1999 19:23:25
From:	Mike Cole
	Jimmy: I have been following the Jackets' website but have just found this one. Russell Ferrante has been gracious enough to answer some letters that I have sent to him as well as e-mail. As I mentioned to Russell, I first saw you in Norman, Oklahoma in the winter of, I believe, 1977 when you and Russell were playing with Tom Scott at the Blue Onion club. You guys were fantastic. And, soon after that, I heard Robben Ford's "Magic Sam" playing over a loudspeaker at a spring festival, and immediately bought "The Inside Story" album, the birthsite of Yellowjackets. When I looked at the back of the album that shows the picture of Robben surrounded by the musicians, I recognized you and Russell from the Norman gig. About a year after that (or the year the debut album came out) I was on my way to Oklahoma City and heard some cuts from that album, and knew it had to be a continuation of the group assembled for "The Inside Story". The sound was unmistakable (probably because, in those days, Ford's guitar was still a mainstay of your music. In any even, I have followed the group constantly and purchased each album and cd as they have come out. In addition I have purchased the members' solo projects. ARC is by far, one of the best recordings I own (of all the recordings I own--not just Yellowjacket recordings). I think Vince Mendoza is an enormous talent, and your work on that cd is simply fantastic. Major good recording -- play it all the time. Also, I think Bob Mintzer's addition was one of the best things that ever happened when it happened. I frankly do not know of a horn player who can play with as much technical precision as he can. And, his soprano work is masterful. I am less a fan of the alto, mainly because there are so many Sanborn sound alikes. I guess I just tired of the sound. Sorry for the length of this. I am looking forward to the Springfield, MO concert, and will be driving up there from Oklahoma with a buddy of mine to see the concert. I admire each of you because of your extension to your fans and the fact that you all seem to be committed to your family's first and foremost. That is a tough one for musicians of your caliber, with the kinds of schedules that you have. I have a wife and three daughters, and I can handle about any kind of stress at the office as long as they are OK. Take care; thank you for the music; hope to get your new cd as soon as it comes out. Mike Cole

 

Date:	25-Jan-1999 13:26:53
From:	Phil (peoplesp@dickinson.edu)
	Looking forward to seeing the "new" Yellowjackets with drummer Peter Erskine. Any idea if you will be hitting the Keswick Theater in Glenside, PA this coming spring/summer/fall? Hopefully there will be a little more local radio support for the band's visit. Also wondering exactly what William Kennedy will be doing? Will your website give any more detail about his next band/gig? Perhaps you know specifically what he is doing next. I was wondering the specifics as well as to getting the band booked into our local area. They have just renovated an old theater turning it into the Carlisle Performing Arts Center and have had relatively few good jazz concerts to date. We've had excellent concerts by Lou Rawls, B.B. King, and Grover Washington, but little else in the last two years. How does one get booking information on the Yellowjackets? Love to introduce you guys to my hometown.

 

Date:	27-Jan-1999 00:08:38
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hey Donnie Hyams,   Sorry it's been a minute since I've been gone and out of touch here on this site ! I've been in NYC working on a new Michael Franks recording. I've also managed to catch this doggone flu bug ! Yucky, nasty bug !!! Stay away from it ! I'll be in touch soon via your address !!! >(can you say "Y2K"?) Can you find a solution so I can still use my ATM card ? THANKS MAN !!! You'll be my hero !!!! Later, Jimmy Hello Mike Cole, Hey thanks for the support and all those compliments ! I don't know what to say, except Thanks from me and all the guys. We really appreciate hearing from the fans, It gives us a lot of incintive out here ! Thanks Man !!! >I am looking forward to the Springfield, MO concert We're looking forward to this as well ! It's part of our first run with new drummer Peter Erskine and it should be interesting ! Thanks for making it up and try and say hello don't be shy !!! >family's first and foremost. That is a tough one for . I >have a wife and three daughters, and I can handle about any >kind of stress at the office as long as they are OK. My family is the most important thing on this earth for me and that feeling is shared by all the members of mthe band. Yes it's difficult to main this lifestyle, but noone said it would be easy !! Thanks again and my best wishes to you ! Peace, Jimmy

 

Date:	30-Jan-1999 16:09:53
From:	Steve McCloud (CINCPOA@mindspring.com)
	Now this is just outstanding! Hi Jimmy. I just found this site for the first time and I am, needless to say, quite impressed that you take the time to sit down for lengthy chats with so many of these sharp Jackets fans...who obviously have oustanding musical taste! I first heard you guys on a Sunday PM jazz program out of Johnson City, TN in 1982. The host was cranking off rounds from "Mirage A Trois" and "Yellowjackets." Now, I had just graduated High School from South Carolina while everyone else in my school thought "Freebird" was the only music ever recorded, I had been listening to Earth, Wind, and Fire over and over and over again. You know what I was hearing. A lot. I was probably the only guy there who knew who George Benson was. There was NO jazz to be heard there. Then to college in '82. You would have thought Bop was all there was to jazz. One very talented sax player popped into my practice room one day and, pointing to Sanborn's "Voyeur" albumn on the piano, said, "I hate to tell you, but you wasted your money." You remember that dreaded taboo ..."fusion." I went to Hong Kong that summer and, while in a record store there, the sales guy asked me if I had heard of the Yellowjackets! I could only laugh. It was as though I had found home at last. Pitiful really, if you think about it. This surely must have been a Tennessee thing...ten years behind, for years later, several of those guys wanted to get together and work on tunes like "Top Secret," Sanborn's "Port of Call," and "Rush Hour," and, if you remember, Jean-luc-Ponty's "Rhythms of Hope." A few years ago I read a review on Robert Cray which began with the phrase, "Robert Cray is to Blues what the Yellowjackets are to Jazz..." This was around '87 and, at the time I thought he hit the nail on the head. Only recently did I return to buying jazz...(delving into 30s-50s swinging R&B, Rock&Roll, Swing, Jump Blues, etc...)and picked up Like a River. The next day I bought Blue Hats and Club Notcurne...and made a few calls to some old buddies who needed to buy some CDs, whether they were aware of it or not. I have newly recorded tunes I can listen to over and over again..and feel all sorts of emotions. (Tell me "Coquimbo" does not put you at the Ocean, or at least somewhere you love.) Now, you guys have always had "big ears," but you've grown in so many ways its difficult to define. Certainly melodically. Gorgeous pieces like "River Waltz" and "Azure Moon" combined with the poly-rythms of "Savanna," I think are your signatures. How do you guys construct poly-rythmic or multi-figured pieces like "Savanna"...as a team, by accident of improvisation, and how the heck is William playing so many brilliant notes without getting in the way, as many others would do? Reminds me of Marcus Miller. Same goes for your playing. You guys settle into grooves that leave so much space so settle into, a guy could move in living room furniture! Also, my reason for going through all that 80s ramblng was to encourage your comments on that time period as it affected the yellowjackets. What was it really like for you guys out there, and how difficult was is to find inspiration for the kinds of pieces you were writing at the time? The moral of that story is that it was extremely difficult for us, in our region, to find anything to listen to. In fact, the 80s was tormenting for me as far as Jazz was concerned. That's why I went to Blues...loved Robben Ford's stuff. There's another question... that guy has some of the biggest ears in the business...how bout some kickin cuts with him again? I promise never to write so much again. Bring the tour this way! Steve

 

Date:	30-Jan-1999 17:08:04
From:	Steve McCloud
	Yikes. Just went to the home site and got caught up on the latest. Well, Peter is one of the great ones. Should be exciting. Steve

 

Date:	30-Jan-1999 23:01:22
From:	mike cole (mcole@rcins.com)
	Jimmy: Thanks for the answer and greatly look forward to the Southwest Missouri State concert. You guys have been such a musical presence in what I listen to every day that I would have made arrangements to travel to wherever I had to go to see the band perform. Thanks again, and sure am looking forward to your solo project.

 

Date:	01-Feb-1999 22:45:55
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hey Phil (peoplesp@dickinson.edu),  Sorry, but I've gotten a little behind here ! It got real busy for me and I had to do a couple days for NAMM !!! >Looking forward to seeing the "new" Yellowjackets with >drummer Peter Erskine. This will be a blast and we are looking forward to working with Peter on a new recording ! >Any idea if you will be hitting the Keswick Theater in >Glenside, PA this coming spring/summer/fall? I'm not sure when we'll be back, but I hope we get back there somewhere in 1999 !!! >Hopefully there will be a little more local radio >support for the band's visit. I'm not sure about the radio support either ? We'll have to see what happens and I'm really curious about the direction our next recording will go in ??? I think we are going to do some experimenting for sure !!! >Also wondering exactly what William Kennedy will be doing? William is working on his own career and I'm sure he is very busy as well. He had some projects in progress. Other than that I'm not exactly sure what he's up to ! >Will your website give any more detail about his next >band/gig? Perhaps you know specifically what he is doing >next. Our web-site is very informative and is a place you should always check for any new details concerning the Yellowjackets schedule ect... >I was wondering the specifics as well as to getting the >band booked into our local area. They have just renovated an old theater turning it into the Carlisle Performing Arts >Center and have had relatively few good jazz concerts to >date. We've had excellent concerts by Lou Rawls, B.B. >King, and Grover Washington, but little else in the last >two years. Well basically you should contact our office at 310-656-3150 and they would take down the details and pass it on to our booking agent. Then they have to look at any potential dates and see how they route together and also decide whether it's OK to take it on finacially. If all these items match up with our criteria and makes sense, they try to book it and install the date with our consent into our calendar ! >How does one get booking information on the Yellowjackets? Just call our office in Santa Monica, California. The number is listed above ! Thanks for writing in Phil and we'll hopfully see you soon ! Peace, Jimmy

 

Date:	01-Feb-1999 23:17:09
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hello Steve McCloud (CINCPOA@mindspring.com),  Thanks for writing in and thanks for all your comments ! And thanks for supporting the band, it's greatly appreciated !!! >(Tell me "Coquimbo" does not put you at the Ocean, or at least somewhere you love.) I'm glad you discovered that song, we have a lot of tunes on our recordings that don't get as much attention as others and Coquimbo is one of those tunes ! I don't know exactly what we were thinking of, but this city is in South America. >How do you guys construct poly-rythmic or multi-figured >pieces like "Savanna"...as a team, by accident of >improvisation, We actually did a week of jamming in a rehearsal studio and came up with a lot of the ideas for the "Blue Hats" recording. Sometimes this brings some very unusual and interesting ideas to the table and allows us to compose new music in a very experimental fashion ! We like that !!! Polyrhythms are an important element in composing. That's my opinion, but it really helps to design some unique templates for writing harmony and seems to create a passionate backround for the music. We like that too !!! >and how the heck is William playing so many brilliant notes .without getting in the way, as many others would do? We work very hard on composition and we try to leave no stone unturned when it comes to putting the music together ! That means working the music out so that all the parts fit together like a puzzle and there is also lot's of space and room. It's like painting !!! >Also, my reason for going through all that 80s ramblng was >to encourage your comments on that time period as it >affected the yellowjackets. What was it really like for you >guys out there, and how difficult was is to >find inspiration for the kinds of pieces you were writing >at the time? Well we never gave it too much thought other than just trying to come up with the best music we could from project to project and hopfully continue to be creative and inspired for us and our fans ! We are a pretty inspired bunch and feel that our fans are extremely important and that in itself is motivation to create and feel good about writing and playing this music !!! >There's another question... that guy (Robben Ford) has some >of the biggest ears in the business...how bout some kickin >cuts with him again? Well we always keep in touch and we have played with him on several occasions. Just last year we did play with him at the Pasadena Jazz Festival. He played a tune with us on "Like A River", call "Even Song". and there are various other tracks we've recorded together on different recordings over the years. I think we'll play together again !!! Take care Steve and don't worry about writing in again. I hope I answered all your questions ! Peace and thanks again for your appreciated support !!! Jimmy

 

Date:	01-Feb-1999 23:20:32
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hey mike cole (mcole@rcins.com), No problem Mike, We'll see you soon and thanks for the support !!! Peace in the World ! Jimmy My new solo recording has been held up due to some record company dealings ! It's all very positive and I'm hoping that it will be out sometime in March !!! Cheers !!!

 

Date:	04-Feb-1999 00:18:59
From:	Mauricio Alvarez (maq640@df1.telmex.net.mx)
	Hello from Mexico City Jimmy! I just found out today about this site and the surprise that us jazz fans can communicate with our favorite artists. I'm also a bass player myself and I often follow your lead with the Yellowjackets CD's. My question: what do we have to do to see you guys perform in Mexico City? I know you've been to Cancun (lucky you!), but as far as I know, never in my town. Hope to hear from ya soon. Best regards and keep on groovin' Mauricio Alvarez

 

Date:	09-Feb-1999 01:52:52
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hello Mauricio Alvarez (maq640@df1.telmex.net.mx),  And Hello to you in Mexico City !!! >I just found out today about this site and the surprise >that us jazz fans can communicate with our favorite >artists. Thanks for the compliment my friend ! I can't tell how close we've come on several occassions, to playing at your Jazz festival !!! We've been disapointed on several canceled trips to perform for you ! I hope we can make it to Mexico City sometime soon ??? The Yellowjackets send there best wishes to you and all of our fans there ! >I'm also a bass player myself and I often follow your lead >with the Yellowjackets CD's. >My question: what do we have to do to see you guys perform >in Mexico City? I really don't have an answer for that, except that we would be very happy to come to Mexico City and play music for you !!! If you like you can contact the Yellowjackets web-site yellowjackets.com and give us an idea of the festivals and even if you can, the promoters for these festivals for us to call/contact for any future concerts !!! We would love to play there !!! >I know you've been to Cancun (lucky you!), but as far as I >know, never in my town. Actually, we've never played Cancun ??? !!!!! I think that's on of the gigs that was postponed or canceled !!! I wish we could play there too !!! We've never played in Mexico !!! But we would play there anytime under the right conditions !!! Hope to see you soon. Until then good luck with your music Mauricio and thanks for your support !!! We'll keep on groovin' !!! We start recording a new CD this May/June !!! Peace in the World !!! Jimmy

 

Date:	09-Feb-1999 23:56:24
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hello everyone, Just a quick update on my schedule. I'll be back on tour with the Yellowjackets on February the 19th. We are heading predominantly to the mid-west area. If your interested, our touring schedule is posted on the web-site: yellowjackets.com I've mostly been in Los Angeles working on various studio recordings. Most recently I've recorded some tracks for Gary Wright's new CD, Dwight Sils new CD and I'm scoring a western for HBO. I just completed writing music for a Mercedes promotional campaign with Judd Miller (all bass and drum music.) and I will be recording more bass and drum stuff with Peter Erskine (all Yellowjackets grooves.) I'm producing 5 songs on the new Michael Franks recording for Windham Hill. We cut the tracks in NYC at Clinton recording studios and I'll be mixing the tracks in Woodstock, NY at Bearsville studios in March. I'm now writing for a new Yellowjackets recording and in pre-production for a new Marilyn Scott recording on Warner Bros. I've been writing mostly with Russell Ferrante and Joe Vannelli. I'll be back with more info and views from the road as my travels progress. Thanks for all of your comments and support and please feel free to write in, as I'll be in touch with this site for most of this year ! The Chinese New Year of the Hare !!! Happy New Year !!! Peace, Jimmy

 

Date:	10-Feb-1999 00:04:34
From:	Steve McCloud
	Jimmy, thanks for your response. I enjoyed reading your comments on polyrhythms. One of the things that makes jazz, or any music, enjoyable is surprise. Jazz has a wonderful history in that regard, with so many gifted musicians who could tease listeners with twists and turns, "surprising" changes and turn-arounds, and then satisfy their ears with the resolution they are yearning for. Some make it a point to stay away from that resolution, as I call it, and leave 'em yearning... but it takes a blend to keep the music fresh. This is what I enjoy about you guys. Along with interesting changes and phrasing, you guys blend rhthyms and melodic counterpoint effortlessly. More shameless accolades huh? Oh well. You gotta use it all to get the most out of it. But turing it all into sweet music takes heart and soul. Like the Duke said, "If it sounds good, it is good." The Yellowjackets sound goooood. Carry on. Steve

 

Date:	11-Feb-1999 04:04:24
From:	Jimmy Haslip
	Hey Steve McCloud, Thanks for the supportive comments and know that we are always inspired by people and fans like you who appreciate what we're trying to do ! It gives us joy and satisfaction to know that your out there and hope to continue our exploration together with you all!!!!! Thanks again and may your wrld be filled with Peace and Happiness !!! Jimmy

 

Date:	19-Feb-1999 10:29:04
From:	Mike Cole (mcole@rcins.com)
	Jimmy: As I mentioned to both you and Russell Ferrante, I caught the concert back in, I believe, about 1978 in Norman, Oklahoma when both of you were touring with Tom Scott. I was trying to remember who made up the rest of the group, and wondered if Steve Kahn might have been on guitar, and who the drummer might have been. I know that is an eon ago, so you might not remember. Thanks Jimmy. Mike

 

Date:	19-Feb-1999 20:47:25
From:	Dick Salvucci (rsalvucc@bigfoot.com)
	Hey, Jimmy. This is Dick Salvucci, Gabe's friend. I stumbled onto this site and I've been having a good time reading the posts. Are you guys likely to get to San Antonio, Texas anytime soon? Peace, Dick Salvucci