Taking a cue from
Weather Report (not to mention a percussionist,
Alex Acuña),
the Yellowjackets created more exotic textures for
Four Corners, often with the use of Zawinul-like synthesizers from
Russell Ferrante. The album otherwise represents a shift toward more traditional jazz, felt profoundly in the rhythm section of
Jimmy Haslip and new drummer
William Kennedy. The change in strategy is made plain on the opening "Out of Town," which finds everyone rethinking their instrument beyond the smooth jazz of
Shades. While the atmospheric production of
David Hentschel and the band lends an ominous air to the music, fans may see it as a poor tradeoff for the readily identifiable (and often instantly likeable) melodies of their previous work. Though nothing leaps off of
Four Corners screaming "Hum me," sections of it are mesmerizing. "Past Ports" and "Wildlife" in particular absorb the listener into a breathing musical world. The disc isn't a full conversion from smooth jazz;
Marc Russo's sax is still as sweet as ever, but on a track like "Open Road" the effect is icing on a spice cake.
Haslip provides some noisy patterns that suggest he was striving for more substance; in fact, he and
Ferrante seem to duke it out for control of "Postcards," while everyone throws their own wrench into "Room With a View."
Four Corners is the product of four separate musicians striving to cultivate their own voice, a journey that discovers some interesting music along the way. That
the Yellowjackets wanted to explore beyond the fringes of smooth jazz boded well for the band's future. ~ Dave Connolly