Yellowjackets released their latest recording, Coherence, in April 2016, with 10 originally composed and arranged compositions. The album is grounded in jazz by Mintzer’s sax, but also references the bands jazz-funk heyday of the 1980’s.
Yellowjackets was formed in 1977, known originally as the Robben Ford Group, after the band’s founder, who is considered one of the greatest guitarists of all-time, and is well-known for crossing over from jazz to blues, to various jazz forms.
During their more than 35 year run, the Yellowjackets have developed a special chemistry, receiving continuous critical acclaim in a manner unsurpassed in the jazz genre, in spite of going through numerous personnel changes. This includes more than 14 Grammy award nominations. Originally labeled as “fusion,” at times the band has moved toward R&B (especially during a period with former Tower of Power alto saxophonist Marc Russo), blues and progressive rock.