Track Listing

1. New Rochelle
2. Spirit of the West
3. Daddy's Gonna Miss You
4. Matinee Idol
5. Chosen
6. Homecoming
7. Imperial Strut
8. Claire's Song
9. Top Secret
10. Up from New Orleans
11. Summer Home
12. Theme from Il Postino

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26678 in Music
• Released on: 1999-12-14
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
The Best of Yellowjackets spans the group's two-stage relationship with Warner Brothers Records, surveying their first three studio recordings (1981, '83, and '85) and their final three projects of the 1990s (1995-98). The Yellowjackets' disparate eras manage to mesh nicely on this 12-track sampler, though the pieces that strike the most sparks are lifted from the group's fusion-fueled 1981 debut release, when founding members Russell Ferrante (keyboards) and Jimmy Haslip (bass) energetically underpinned the audio excursions of guitarist Robben Ford. While dated, the sophisticated spunk that drives "Matinee Idol" and "Imperial Strut" offers a refreshing flashback to the group's formative years. The newer tracks, reflective of saxophonist Bob Mintzer's big-band influence, are stylish, subdued, and polished. The attractive, concluding "Theme from Il Postino," with its brushed-drum ambience, is this disk's one new selection. --Terry Wood

Customer Reviews

A triumph of the human spirit!
I recently had the opportunity to see Evelyn Glennie perform Veni, Veni, Emmanuel with my local symphony orchestra. I was, to put it mildly, flabbergasted. The piece requires equal parts musician and track star, as Ms. Glennie ran all over the stage playing various percussion instruments. My awe of the performance was compounded by Ms. Glennie's deafness. As I listened to the intricate part work, I spent more time marveling at Ms. Glennie's feat (and feet) than I did paying attention to the music itself. This disc let me hear what I missed. The music is intense, beautiful and moving. As a bonus for me, this disc allowed me to hear several other works by MacMillan, all of which are worth hearing.

The problems of changing of company...
I was really shocked when I saw this record was given only one star. I have heard to it a lot of times and I'm not dissapointed at all. I think this reader should have read the sleeve of "The best of the Yellowjackets" to find out the compilation was only made of the recordings when not in GRP.

In order to complete it, you should purchase "Collection" or, of course, "Greenhouse". The problem is that this record should be called "The best of the Yellowjackets of their first three recordings and the last two ones". Of course, it doesn't sell, but it is the pure reality.

I like most of the tunes, although Michael Franks' and Bobby McFerrin's appearances are not at their best. Instead of this, listen to "Spirit of the West" and "Daddy's gonna miss you".

Yeah, most groups have made into the scene of "Smooth Jazz". At least, Yellowjackets were one of the first!

Smooth Jazz Killed the Yellowjackets
To call this disk "The Best of the Yellowjackets" is a joke. Absent are the great early tunes like the title track from Greenhouse; in fact, there are NO tunes on this CD from Greenhouse, The Spin, or Four Corners. What the heck happened to this band, with their interesting phrasing and intricate compositions? What happened to the great sax? WHAT HAPPENED?! Thank God I have their earlier work on cassette. I cannot even find the CDs now. They must be out of print. At any rate, do NOT waste your money on this CD. I just bought the disk today and it is bound for the nearest used record store as soon as I have time to unload it. This band totally sold out to so-called smooth jazz (a misnomer for yuppie elevator muzak) and it simply is not worth the money. How sad. At this point, my only hope is that they've disbanded. The last thing we need is another smooth jazz group. Yellowjackets, R.I.P.