The Spin
1989 studio album by Yellowjackets
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The Spin is an album by the American jazz band Yellowjackets, released in 1989.[3][4] The album title refers to the Earth's rotation.[5] The band supported the album with a North American tour.[6]
| The Spin | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1989 | |||
| Recorded | 1989 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | Jazz fusion[1] | |||
| Length | 52:30 | |||
| Label | GRP[2] | |||
| Producer | Yellowjackets | |||
| Yellowjackets chronology | ||||
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The album was nominated for a Grammy Award, in the "Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group" category.[7] It peaked in the top 10 on Billboard's Jazz Albums chart.[8]
Production
Yellowjackets had originally hoped to record The Spin with Claus Ogerman.[9] Instead, the album was recorded in Oslo, Norway, in February 1989; it demonstrated a more acoustic sound than the band's previous efforts, relying less on synthesizers.[10][11][12] Completed in three weeks, it was engineered by Jan Erik Kongshaug.[13][14] The band sought to make the album as melodic as possible while still working within a traditional jazz setting.[15]
Alex Acuña played percussion on the album.[16]The Spin was the final album with saxophonist Marc Russo as a band member.[2]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [17] |
| Chicago Tribune |  [18] |
| The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music | [19] |
The Chicago Tribune wrote that The Spin "includes a few especially engaging cuts—'Storytellers' and a bebopish 'Whistle While You Walk', to name two—and some credible soloing by saxophonist Marc Russo."[18] The Star Tribune noted the "more personal and more improvisational sound."[20]
The Vancouver Sun concluded that "there is an intellectual coolness to some of this talented quartet's jazz instrumentals that is almost cold."[21] The Austin American-Statesman determined that The Spin "won't be mistaken for classic acoustic jazz, but it is solidly rooted in a mainstream jazz sound, stressing its melodic elements over its rhythmic ones."[22] The Houston Chronicle considered the album to be the band's best.[23]
Track listing
- "Geraldine" (Russell Ferrante) - 6:00
- "The Spin" (Ferrante, Jimmy Haslip, Marc Russo, Will Kennedy) - 4:22
- "Storytellers" (Ferrante) - 6:10
- "Prayer for El Salvador" (Ferrante) - 5:29
- "Whistle While You Walk" (Ferrante) - 4:47
- '"Enigma" (Ferrante, Haslip) - 4:23
- "Dark Horses" (Barry Coates, Ferrante, Haslip) - 4:33
- "Blues for Nikki" (Russo) - 3:56
- "A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing/Hallucinations" (Billy Strayhorn/Bud Powell) - 8:01
Track 9 is available on the CD release only.[24]
Personnel
Yellowjackets
- Russell Ferrante – keyboards
- Jimmy Haslip – bass
- Will Kennedy – drums, percussion
- Marc Russo – saxophones
Guest Musicians
- Alex Acuña – percussion arrangements
Production
- Yellowjackets – producers
- Jan Erik Kongshaug – engineer
- Stephen Marcussen – mastering at Precision Lacquer (Hollywood, California, USA)
- Dick Bouchard – design
- Jeff Lancaster – design
- Robin Ghelerter – illustrations
- Jim Bengston – photography
- Gary Borman – management