Yellowjackets - Cohearence

Some skeptics didn't give the Yellowjackets a chance to survive, but here it is 35 years later - hardly trailing the segmented 40-year longevity of MJQ - and the group stretches its impressive longevity by continuing to evolve artistically with its third Mack Avenue Records recording, 'Cohearence'. With two founding members - pianist/keyboardist Russell Ferrante and drummer Will Kennedy - and its longtime reeds player Bob Mintzer (a Jacket since 1990) and a brand-new virtuoso electric bassist, Australia-born Dane Alderson, the Yellowjackets cover a range of jazz flavors, including a rousing Weather Report jazz fusion vibe, a swinging switch-up on John Coltrane's Giant Steps, a moving rendition of a folk song classic, a funky soul-jazz excursion and a chamber jazz-like grace in the album end-song, Coherence.