Russell Ferrante | Yellowjackets, Wayne Shorter, Joni Mitchell & the Art of Music | You Dig?

Founding Yellowjackets pianist and composer Russell Ferrante joins Steve Wiest for a wide-ranging conversation about music, mentors, creativity and a remarkable life in jazz.

Russ takes us back to his gospel-soaked childhood in San Jose and the extraordinary Bay Area music scene that helped shape him. From there, the stories come fast: Robben Ford and the beginnings of Yellowjackets, Clifford Coulter, Wayne Shorter, Joni Mitchell, Bobby McFerrin, Lorraine Feather, Star Trek IV and legendary film composer Leonard Rosenman.

Along the way, Russell shares one of the great pieces of musical advice, given to him by Wayne Shorter: “Play the notes next to the note you want to play.”

Steve and Russ also take a deeper musical dive into Inflexion, Russell’s beautiful solo recording, including “We Shall Overcome,” reharmonization, voice leading and the elusive art of making extraordinary musicianship sound effortless.

Finally, Russell faces THE DIG YOU INQUISITION, revealing his thoughts on Spider-Man, Steph Curry, Sinatra and Jobim, vanilla ice cream, autumn—and the meaning of life.

Music, humility, curiosity, laughter and some truly wonderful stories with one of the most distinctive musical voices of the past four decades.

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Links From This Episode: The Yellowjackets

https://www.yellowjackets.com/

The Russell Ferrante Trio: Inflexion

https://www.bluecanoerecords.com/inflexion.html#/