The Spin is the seventh studio album from the jazz group Yellowjackets

Yellowjackets

Yellowjackets is an American jazz fusion/smooth jazz quartet.-History:The original group, called The Robben Ford Group, was formed in 1977, and consisted of Robben Ford, Russell Ferrante, Jimmy Haslip and Ricky Lawson, all top-notch L.A. session musicians...

, and their fourth and final release for the MCA

MCA Records

MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...

 label. The album was nominated for "Best Jazz Fusion Performance" Grammy Award.

The album, recorded in Oslo, Norway, demonstrates a more acoustic sound than the band's previous efforts, relying less on the use of synthesizers. It is also the last album with saxophonist Marc Russo as a band member.

Track listing

1. "Geraldine" (Ferrante) – 6:00
2. "The Spin" (Ferrante, Haslip, Russo, Kennedy) – 4:22
3. "Storytellers" (Ferrante) – 6:10
4. "Prayer for El Salvador" (Ferrante) – 5:29
5. "Whistle While You Walk" (Ferrante) – 4:47
6. "Enigma" (Ferrante, Haslip) – 4:23
7. "Dark Horses" (Haslip, Ferrante, Barry Coates) – 4:33
8. "Blues for Nikki" (Russo) – 3:56
9. Medley: "A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing" (Billy Strayhorn
   Billy Strayhorn
   William Thomas "Billy" Strayhorn was an American composer, pianist and arranger, best known for his successful collaboration with bandleader and composer Duke Ellington lasting nearly three decades. His compositions include "Chelsea Bridge", "Take the "A" Train" and "Lush Life".-Early...
   
   ) / "Hallucinations" (Earl Bud Powell) – 3:58

(Track 9 available on CD release only)

Personnel

Yellowjackets

Yellowjackets

Yellowjackets is an American jazz fusion/smooth jazz quartet.-History:The original group, called The Robben Ford Group, was formed in 1977, and consisted of Robben Ford, Russell Ferrante, Jimmy Haslip and Ricky Lawson, all top-notch L.A. session musicians...

:

• Russell Ferrante
  Russell Ferrante
  Russell Keith Ferrante is a jazz pianist from San Jose, California who is a founding member of the group Yellowjackets. During his early career, Ferrante performed with American blues singer Jimmy Witherspoon and guitarist Robben Ford. He also toured with Joni Mitchell. The group Yellowjackets...
  
  , keyboards
• Jimmy Haslip
  Jimmy Haslip
  Jimmy Haslip is an American electric bass player and record producer best known as a founding and current member of the pioneering fusion group Yellowjackets...
  
  , bass
• Marc Russo, saxophones
• William Kennedy
  William Kennedy
  William Kennedy may refer to:* William Kennedy , Canadian sailor and part of the search for Sir John Franklin* William Kennedy , British admiral...
  
  , drums and percussion

Guest Musicians:

• Alex Acuna
  Alex Acuña
  Alejandro Neciosup Acuña aka Alex Acuña is a Peruvian drummer and percussionist, in the Afro-Cuban jazz style.Born in Pativilca, Peru, Acuña played in local bands from the age of ten, and moved to Lima as a teenager. At the age of eighteen he joined the band of Perez Prado, and in 1967 he moved...
  
  , percussion arrangements

Production

• Yellowjackets
  Yellowjackets
  Yellowjackets is an American jazz fusion/smooth jazz quartet.-History:The original group, called The Robben Ford Group, was formed in 1977, and consisted of Robben Ford, Russell Ferrante, Jimmy Haslip and Ricky Lawson, all top-notch L.A. session musicians...
  
  , producers
• Jan Erik Kongshaug, recording engineer
• Stephen Marcussen, mastering engineer
• Gary Borman, artist management
• Jeff Lancaster, Dick Bouchard (L-Shape Ltd.), design direction
• Robin Ghelerter, illustration
• Jim Bengston, photography

• Recorded at: Rainbow Studios, Oslo, Norway
• Mastered at: Precision Lacquer, Los Angeles, CA, USA