Yellowjackets: Fasten Up

Since their auspicious debut in 1981, the Yellowjackets have stood as both standard bearers and restless innovators of the jazz fusion movement. The group is anchored by founding pianist and keyboardist Russell Ferrante, long-time collaborators drummer Will Kennedy and saxophonist Bob Mintzer and, the most recent addition (for nearly a decade), bassist Dane Alderson. With their release Fasten Up, they once again demonstsrate that their creative engine runs on both memory and momentum.

The album opens with a warm swaggering version of the jazz standard "Comin' Home Baby," written by bassist Ben Tucker with lyrics added later by the impish singer-pianist and composer Bob Dorough. The song was made popular by singer Mel Torme and included on his 1962 Atlantic Records release "Comin' Home Baby!". In the band's hands, it is a platform for deep funk interplay and harmonic reinvention. Ferrante's keyboards bubble with analog warmth, while Mintzer delivers a muscular but melodic reading of the head. The title track, "Fasten Up," is a tightly coiled explosion of rhythmic interplay and ensemble unity. The band does not just demonstrate their technical chops, they celebrate them. The tune's funky core, driven by Kennedy's intricate cymbal work and Alderson's sinewy bass lines, offers a terrain where motifs emerge, twist and transform in real time. Ferrante and Mintzer deliver lines that hint at forward-thinking modal exploration.

"The Truth Of You" pulls the tempo back and turns inward. It is a striking ballad that showcases the group's chamber-music sensibilities. Ferrante's piano crafts luminous harmonic textures, while Mintzer floats atop the arrangement with aching lyricism, speaking less in phrases than in emotional sighs. It is a reminder that the Jackets' power lies not solely in virtuosity but in their deep, intuitive sense of mood. "The Lion" prowls with stealth and majesty built on a syncopated groove that nods to Afro-beat and contemporary jazz-funk. Alderson here is commanding, with Mintzer and Ferrante creating a lush and slightly cinematic atmosphere.

The closing track is "Xemeris," which epitomizes the group's aesthetic: unpredictable, grounded in groove, and layered with harmonic intrigue. The piece unfolds gradually with subtle shifts in texture and feel. It is a slow-burn revelation, that only comes from years of shared experience and mutual trust.