ProJazz.net

Run for Your Life is an album by the American jazz group Yellowjackets, released in 1994. The album reached a peak position of number eight on Billboard’s Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart. It was nominated for a Grammy Award, in the “Best Contemporary Jazz Performance” category.

Reception

The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4.5 stars and stated:”This is one of The Yellowjackets’ most jazz-oriented sets. Roughly half of the music uses funky rhtyhms while the remainder is straightahead. “Jacket Town” sounds like it could have come from a good Eddie Harris record, Bob Mintzer’s tenor is heard on a rapid run-through of rhythm changes on “Runferyerlife,” keyboardist Russell Ferrante hints strongly at Chick Corea’s acoustic playing on “Muhammed” and Mintzer’s ballad “Sage” is memorable. This fine release is recommended both to The Yellowjackets’ longtime fans and those listeners who mistakenly think that this popular group is a mundane fusion band.”

Track listing
1. “Jacket Town” Russell Ferrante, William Kennedy 5:25
2. “Even Song” Ferrante, Jimmy Haslip, Kennedy 6:33
3. “Runferyerlife” Bob Mintzer 4:22
4. “The Red Sea” Mintzer 5:45
5. “Muhammed” Ferrante, Haslip 6:47
6. “City of Lights” Ferrante 6:56
7. “Sage” Mintzer 5:04
8. “Ancestors” Mintzer 5:01
9. “Wisdom” Ferrante, Haslip 7:29

Personnel
Yellowjackets:

Russell Ferrante – keyboards
Jimmy Haslip – bass, vocals
Will Kennedy – drums
Bob Mintzer – soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, EWI

Additional musicians:

Steve Croes – Synclavier
Judd Miller – synthesizer programming
Robben Ford – guitars

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Released: 1994
Recorded: O’Henry Sound Studios (Burbank, CA)
The Complex (Los Angeles, CA)
Length: 53:22
Label: GRP
Producer: Yellowjackets