I’ve been reading The Bible, (life’s manual!) & 1001 Ways To Be Romantic (recommended reading for all husbands) and listening to Lil’ Ol’ Groovemaker by Count Basie Orchestra, I Love The Blues, She Heard My Cry by George Duke and Sly & The Family Stone - Greatest Hits
William
Give a listen to: Show of Hands by Victor Wooten, Quartet by Pat Metheny, Tales from the Hudson by Michael Brecker, Weather Report’s Night Passage and a various assortment of Salsa music. I’m reading The Zone by Barry Sears, Ph.D, and Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn.
Jimmy
I’ve been reading The Music of Chance by Paul Auster, and Care of the Soul by Thomas Moore. I’m listening to Miles Davis Live at the Plugged Nickel, John Coltrane, The Atlantic Recordings, Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner 2000 year old Man, Miles Davis and Gil Evans Collection, and Ike Quebec Soul Samba.
Bob
I’ve been reading: Letters to a Young Poet, by Rainer Maria Rilke, The Art Spirit by Robert Henri and In Retrospect by Robert S. McNamara/ I've enjoyed listening to Keith Jarrett Live at The Blue Note, Wynton Marsalis’ Hot House Flowers and Samual Barber Symphony #1, Piano Concerto op. 38.
Russell
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Bob Mintzer relates the following from his trip to Tokyo Japan, to play the Blue Note with Mike Manieri:
“We arrived at the Capital Tokyo Hotel the day before our engagement was to begin. Upon arriving we discovered roughly 1000 young girls hanging around the hotel lobby with signs that read “We love you Michael.” I hadn’t worked with Mike Manieri in 15 years, and I commented that his popularity had really blossomed in Japan! A moment later Michael Jackson emerged from one of the elevators, and his entourage nearly mowed us all down. So much for the glamorous jazz life!
Russ Ferrante remembers the inspiration for the tune “My Old School”
“Have you ever found yourself on a transcontinental flight trapped in the center seat under assault from an inebriated, although well-meaning passenger? Such is the humble origin of one Yellowjackets song.
I took my seat that morning, on a flight from Los Angeles to New York, seated next to a quiet, elderly matron. Little did I know what was in store for me. Forty-five minutes into the flight, she popped the tab on her fifth Bud. Her previously reserved and grandmotherly demeanor gave way to a tipsy, touchy-feely familiarity. In a slurred speech, she asked: “Got a Caaard? Got an addresssssh?”
She wrote down my address, took another swig of Bud and then immediately turned and asked: “Got a Caard? Got an addressssh?” Such memorable phrases as “lots of love,” and “I’m from the old school,” peppered her monologue. The episode culminated when I attempted to feign sleep, and found her attempting to “tuck me in” by rearranging the blankets around my neck. Mercifully, I escaped to the rear of the plane, where I stood for the remaining three hours of the flight.
Upon returning home, Jimmy Haslip and I were working on a tune. We had initially titled it “The Drinking Song” because one section of the tune was reminiscent of sailors hoisting a few cold ones at the pub. With my previous in-flight experience still fresh in my mind, and the phrase “I’m from the old school” ringing in my consciousness, the tune was fittingly renamed “My Old School.”
Bob released a quartet CD with the New York Jazz Ensemble called Groovetown on Owl Records in France. Members of the ensemble are James Williams on piano, Tony Reedus on drums, and Jay Anderson on Bass. Also planned is a forthcoming duet recording with Gil Goldstein on Owl Records. Bob also released Big Band Trane on DMP Records- a big band tribute to John Coltrane (4 stars in Downbeat Magazine).
Russell played on a Jobim Tribute Album along with Lee Ritenour and fellow Yellowjackets members. Will, Russell and Jimmy have been working on the Will Downing & Friends project. Russ also wrote and recorded with violinist Doug Cameron on his new album. Russ and Jimmy wrote tunes for Eric Marienthal’s latest album project.
Jimmy Co-Produced a tribute to the ’96 Summer Olympics with Vince Mendoza entitled Flame featuring Yellowjackets, Chaka Khan, Brenda Russell, Al Jarreau, Gino Vanelli, Lori Perry, Toots Thielmanns, and the WDR Orchestra of Koln Germany.
Bob released a new book entitled 14 Funk and Blues Etudes, published by Warner Bros. Publications and featuring members of the Jackets on a play along CD. Kendor Music released Bob’s first Saxophone Quartet, Quartet in 3 Movements in the spring of 1996. Advance Music in Germany released Bob’s Concertino for Tenor Saxophone, Strings, and Winds.
Jimmy produced and played on a new Gino Vannelli recording for Verve. He also played on two tribute compilation recordings including a tribute to Jeff Porcaro, and a Disney compilation record with Huey Lewis and the Temptations. Jimmy worked on a project with Japanese pop artist Junichi Inagaki called Revival which was produced by Joe Vannelli, Joe Curiale, and Christopher Cross. He worked on a recording for Rippington’s percussionist Steve Reid entitled Water Sign. Jimmy also worked on new projects from Warren Sneed, Jon Phelps, Michael English’s new album Freedom, and recorded a project with Marc Antione.
Russell and Jimmy recorded music for former Yellowjackets drummer Ricky Lawson’s solo project.
Will is working on a Music Minus One Cassette so drummers may play along with selections from Blue Hats and perhaps other Yellowjackets’ material.
Bob toured with the Stockholm Jazz Orchestra and the Bunsland Big Band in Sweden and also played the Blue Note Tokyo with Mike Manieri, Omar Hakim, Anthony Jackson, and Warren Bernhardt.
Jimmy writes an educational column on rhythm changes/II-V-I Progression and improvisation for Bassics Magazine, and conducted a clinic/master class at Pasadena Music Academy.
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“Invisible People”, “River Waltz”, “Sightseeing”, “Storytellers”, “Sandstone”, “Greenhouse”, “Seven Stars”, “Indian Summer”, “Galileo (For Jaco)”, “Foreign Correspondent”, “The Hornet”, “The Spin”, “Prayer for El Salvador”, “Whistle While You Walk”, “Imperial Strut”, and “Evening Dance”.
