AMG Review of Priceless Jazz

Thom Jurek
All Music Guide

First off, when considering anything from the "Priceless Jazz" product line, know that you will not be getting a definitive compilation by any artist. These are mid-price compilations that always cover recordings made by any artist for any of the Universal Music owned and operated labels. In the case of this comp, it covers the Yellowjackets recordings from MCA and "GRP" between 1988 and 1994; six very good years commercially for the band. Obvious hits are here: "Oz," "River Waltz" and the funky "Even Song." But there are a couple of surprises, too, including Bob Mintzer's moody and beautiful "Spirits," the haunting ballad "Peace," composed by Bill Gable, and the angular "1998" by Ferrante. The set ends on a sprightly note with his very memorable "Homecoming" with its keyboard emulating steel pan drums and the synths playing that nursery rhyme melody until you can't get it out of your head. In a bucket, these are all excellent examples of the best of the Yellowjackets in the late '80s and early '90s. There are more definitive comps, but for the money this one isn't a bad place to start.