Yellowjackets, a Grammy-winning U.S. jazz quartet, might be 40 years old, but they continue to turn out fresh new albums of jazz fusion.
And this year, Yellowjackets won new fans when they came to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv to perform at the Alfa Jazz Fest, which took place on June 23-27.
In its early years, the band was one of the first to bring jazz to big stages, according to Bob Mintzer, the band’s 64-year-old saxophone player and composer.
“Now we play large venues – before that jazz was kind of in clubs,” he said during an interview with the Kyiv Post before the band’s show on June 24.
The band’s long history has seen a total of 19 people playing in the group at various times since it was founded in 1977. Two of the founding members, pianist/keyboardist Russell Ferrante and drummer Will Kennedy, rejoined the band in 2010.
Mintzer joined Yellowjackets in 1990, while Dane Alderson, the bassist, joined the band only recently. He replaced Felix Pastorius, the son of jazz bass legend Jaco Pastorius.
Close as family
According to Mintzer, he has remained the same as he was at the beginning of his career – calm, and dedicated to his art. Even the fact that his band is internationally famous now has not affected his approach to life.
Yellowjackets have received two Grammy Awards, in 1987 and 1989, and have been nominated for a Grammy 15 times.
“It helps to have a better resume, so to speak. But winning a Grammy simply means people are noticing you, paying attention. It doesn’t mean you immediately become a better musician,” Mintzer says.
As time went by, Yellowjackets have become more than fellow band members, but a family. Together they have travelled around Europe, as well as the United States. Even though travelling is mostly fun, it can be tiresome, too, Mintzer says.
“To commit to being a full-time musician involves making certain types of sacrifices. We’re all away from home for quite a while, three of four of us have children, so we’ve missed certain aspects of our children growing on. Thankfully, we have families that understand us,” he says.
In Ukraine again
Yellowjackets have already been to Ukraine once – 10 years ago – when they performed in Kyiv.
Mintzer refused to compare Lviv and Kyiv, saying that for him they were like two different worlds. Lviv has really got under his skin, he says.
“There is so much happening,” he said. “…There is a lot of focus on the arts, music and food.”
If invited, Mintzer hopes to come to Ukraine again sometime.
He is aware of Russia’s war in the east of Ukraine, but says that doesn’t bother him.
“Rumors don’t stop us. We’re not in the center of the conflict. If Ukraine wants to have a music festival, we decided it is very important for us to be there. We feel very strongly that music and art bring people together.”
Jazz legends
The band has recorded 26 albums. The latest one, called “Cohearance,” came out in 2016.
While Yellowjackets are noted for playing jazz fusion, according to Mintzer, it is not exactly true anymore.
“Fusion is a combination of styles. In 1970’s it was jazz played with electric instruments, but now we add in modern acoustic (instruments).”
To appreciate the difference, compare new albums and those recorded in 1970’s, Mintzer says.
“The style may be the same, but the sound is different.”
Hans Peter Salentin, a trumpet player and a special guest of Alfa Jazz Fest, calls Yellowjackets “legends among all jazz players.”
“Yellowjackets inspire me – they have their own sound, it’s different. Each of them is a fantastic solo player. If you ask about Yellowjackets in the jazz world, everybody knows them.”
Mintzer says he finds inspiration everywhere – on the streets, and in daily life.
“We’re inspired by the environment, and maybe after visiting Ukraine we will create something new.”
