Club Nocturne
On their 14th album,Club Nocturne, The Yellowjackets explore nearly every facet of their personality with their most vocal-oriented offering to date. Heavyweight vocalists Kurt Elling, Brenda Russell, and Jonathan Butler guest on several tracks, and the band's ease at crafting suitable sonic auras to support the diverse set of guests is wonderful. With Elling, they concoct a bluesy drag on "Up from New Orleans" as he slurs the lyrics in a faux southern drawl. They shift gears dramatically on the beautifully impressionistic "All Is Quiet," which also features wonderful playing by saxophonist Bob Mintzer and pianist Russell Ferrante. On the wistful "Even the Pain," Butler croons a soulful ballad against a South African-inspired anthem. The ever-poised Brenda Russell graces the melancholy "Love and Paris Rain" with bewitching conviction. But it's in the instrumentals where The Yellowjackets have their finest moments. From the funky "The Evening News," which features drummer Will Kennedy and bassist Jimmy Haslip locking an air-tight groove in classic Mike Clark/Paul Jackson fashion, to the pastoral "Automat," which has Mintzer and Ferrante engaging in some Weather Report inspired telepathy, these are melodically rich compositions with burnished execution.--John Murph