Yellowjackets, A 'Timeline' of Great Music

Posted April 22nd, 2011 at 6:51 pm (UTC+0)
2 comments

Yellow Yackets - Timeline[audio:http://www.voanews.com/MediaAssets2/english/2011_04/timeline-30sec_yellowjackets.mp3]Diaa Bekheet | Washington, DC – The Yellowjackets Quartet is one of the most popular modern jazz bands in America. The group just released its new album “Timeline” to celebrate 30 years of achievements as one of the premiere jazz fusion/smooth jazz groups of our time.

Last year, when the Jackets were preparing to record their album, my colleague Russ Davis was in Detroit, Michigan. Russ was having breakfast in a restaurant on the sidelines of the Detroit Jazz Festival, when he saw Russell Ferrante of the Yellow jackets across the way. Here’s a recap of their conversation:

[audio:http://www.voanews.com/MediaAssets2/english/2011_04/Intv_russel_Ferante_Yellow_Jackets_apr11.mp3]

The Yellowjackets have recorded 24 albums, so far. The quartet is currently made up of Russell Ferrante on keyboards and synthesizers, Jimmy Haslip on bass, Will Kennedy on drums and percussions, and Bob Mintzer on saxophones and bass clarinet.

The group has won two Grammy Awards. One was for Best R&B Instrumental Performance for “And You Know That” in 1986:

[audio:http://www.voanews.com/MediaAssets2/english/2011_04/yellowjackets_AndYouKnowThat_30sec.mp3]

And the second was for Best Jazz Fusion Performance for “Politics” in 1988.

For more on jazz music, listen to VOA’s Jazz America

Diaa Bekheet
Diaa Bekheet has worked for a host of media outlets, including Radio Cairo in English, ETV News, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) and the Associated Press. He joined VOA in Feb. 1989 as an International Broadcaster, hosting a variety of popular news and entertainment shows such as Newshour, Radio Ride Across America, Business Week, and Jazz Club USA. He has interviewed a number of Jazz celebrities, including the legendary Dizzy Gillespie, Ramsey Lewis, Wayne Shorter, and George Benson. Diaa is currently an editor for our main English site, VOAnews.com.

2 responses to “Yellowjackets, A 'Timeline' of Great Music”

  1. Walter Bryant says:

    THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!! Now when are you coming back to New York?

  2. Mark Z. says:

    great music will live forever!

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VOA’s music bloggers bring you info about all kinds of music. Katherine Cole will keep you up-to-date on the world of Bluegrass and Americana music while Ray McDonald rocks the Pop charts and artists. Diaa Bekheet  jams with you on Jazz.  Visit us often. Your comments are welcome.

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