Pittsburgh-Jazz.com Yellowjackets' Bob Mintzer InterviewYellowjackets - Contemporary and classic Jazz supergroupPittsburgh Jazz -- Pittsburgh-Jazz.comYellowjackets' Bob Mintzer interview By Mark O’Keefe
Herald-Standard Reprinted with permission... Jazz saxophone player Bob Mintzer says he can’t remember exactly how he became a member of the Yellowjackets band. "It was a very gradual process. At first I was a guest on some of their CDs and then about three years later things just got to a point where I was playing with them so much that they asked me to be a member of the band," said Mintzer. "I guess you could say I got my wings," added Mintzer. Often comparted to jazz-rock bands like Weather Report and Return to Forever, the Yellowjackets are known for their versatility, playing everything from free form to fusion jazz with touches of the blues and Latin music thrown in for good measure. They will bring their own unique style of music to Dowe’s on 9th, the popular downtown Pittsburgh jazz club on Monday, Nov. 3. The band will be performing at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Tickets are $25. For more information call 412-281-9225. Mintzer said it’s hard to believe that 13 years have passed since he first played with the Yellowjackets on their CD "Greenhouse". "I’m always surprised when people mention how long I’ve been with the band," said Mintzer. "It doesn’t seem like it’s been that long. I guess that’s because I’ve had so much fun with the band over the years." Mintzer admitted that it wasn’t exactly a match made in heaven. Coming from a traditional jazz background, Mintzer was widely known and respected for his work as leader of the Bob Mintzer Big Band and there were some who wondered how he would fit in with the Yellowjackets, who were more of a jazz-pop band. "I think there some questions out there since I played more straight ahead jazz and my predecessor Marc Russo was more of a rhythm and blues player," said Mintzer. "But I think the Yellowjackets were looking to grow and do some different things even before I came on. I know the guys in this band well enough to know they weren’t going to settle on just one style. They would have kept on evolving even if I hadn’t come on board." Indeed, change has been the name of the game since the Yellowjackets were first formed in 1977, mainly as a backup band for blues guitarist Robben Ford with keyboardist Russell Ferrante, bass player Jimmy Haslip and drummer Ricky Lawson. After Ford decided to pursue more of a pop direction, the band decided to stay together as an instrumental group with the Yellowjackets name. Over the years, their music changed as group members came and went. Lawson left in the mid-1980s and was replaced by William Kennedy who stayed until the late 1990s before leaving. Peter Erskine took over the drums for a couple of years before giving way to Marcus Baylor two years ago. But perhaps the biggest change came with Mintzer replacing Russo. Gradually the Yellowjackets became more of a straight-ahead, acoustic, true jazz band exploring all the boundaries of jazz. Mintzer credits the band’s popularity to its versatility. "We all throw our ideas around when we’re making music," said Mintzer. "It’s a very organic process. We all feel quite comfortable with each other, and we all get involved in the process. "I think the personnel changes over the years have helped. Each new member brings their own influence, and it keeps the music fresh," added Mintzer. "It would be very tiresome to have to play the same way night after night. We never want to play a song the same way twice. We think that’s the way jazz is meant to be played." Mintzer said the band’s new CD "Time Squared" continues that tradition. It comes on the heels of the band’s live CD "Mint Jam", which won a Grammy nomination last year for Best Contemporary Jazz CD. "This CD is about two things. First, it’s a tribute to the New York City and what happened on 9-11. We always like to incorporate events in the world in our playing, and we felt this was an appropriate way to do this. "Second, we’ve always been very interested in time as it relates to music. We like to manipulate time and that’s very evident on this CD. You can really feel the pulse and groove of this music," he added. "'Time Squared' also relates to the four people in the band and how we all relate to time. It was a fun CD to work on, and we’re sure that all of our fans will enjoy it." Coming up next is a Christmas CD, "Peace Found", which features a number of traditional holiday songs such as "Little Drummer Boy", "Winter Wonderland", and "Silent Night". But don’t expect for the Yellowjackets to play those songs the way they’ve been played a million times before. "We definitely put our own Yellowjacket stamp on these old warhorses," said Mintzer. "We’ve talked for a long time about putting out a Christmas CD, and we finally got around to doing it. We were in between gigs at one point, and I just said we have to go into the studio and do this. "It was very enjoyable for all of us," he added. "Everyone really got into the spirit of things and it shows on the CD." And it’s that spirit which has kept Mintzer going on all these years both with the Yellowjackets and his big band. "I feel very lucky that I can do all the things that I get to do," said Mintzer. "I have a great time both playing with the Yellowjackets and my big band. It's really like I’m fulfilling a dream. I feel very fortunate because I’m doing what I love to do." Don't forget to sign the Pittsburgh-Jazz.com Guest List and receive the newsletter to stay tuned to the announcements about what’s going on when and where! Leave any comments and/or suggestions you might have in the Guest Book and spread the word by Telling a Friend! Also view:
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