StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: An evening with Yellowjackets

This week, let's check in on the contemporary jazz group Yellowjackets, who will be back in St. Louis on Saturday, June 28 to headline the Chesterfield Wine and Jazz Festival at the Chesterfield Amphitheater.

Now featuring co-founder Russell Ferrante on keyboards, longtime members Bob Mintzer on saxophones and Will Kennedy on drums, plus the latest addition to the band, bassist Felix Pastorius, Yellowjackets have appeared at Jazz at the Bistro several times during the past decade, most recently in September 2013.

That was their first St. Louis gig with Pastorius, son of famed bassist Jaco Pastorius, who first subbed for founding member Jimmy Haslip on tour in 2012 and subsequently was named his permanent replacement. Their most recent album, A Rise In The Road, was released a year ago and was Pastorius' recorded debut with the band.

Given Yellowjackets' extensive performance history in St. Louis, we'll skip any further introductory material, and simply note that today's clips all were recorded at a gig in April of this year in Catania, Italy, with saxophonist Bob Franceschini subbing for Mintzer.

(While Mintzer is scheduled to be on the St. Louis gig, another of his occasional subs, saxophonist Erik Marienthal, also will be on hand for the event, making a guest appearance with organizers Mike and Rob Silverman's band Bach to the Future.)

You can see the rest of today's videos after the jump...