The Spin

The Spin is an album by the American jazz band Yellowjackets, released in 1989.^[3][4] The album title refers to the Earth's rotation.^[5] The band supported the album with a North American tour.^[6]

The Spin
Studio album by Yellowjackets
Released	1989
Recorded	1989
Studio	Rainbow Studios (Oslo, Norway)
Genre	Jazz fusion[1]
Length	52:30
Label	GRP[2]
Producer	Yellowjackets
Yellowjackets chronology
Politics (1988) The Spin (1989) Greenhouse (1991)

The album was nominated for a Grammy Award, in the "Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group" category.^[7] It peaked in the top 10 on Billboard's Jazz Albums chart.^[8]

Production

Yellowjackets had originally hoped to record The Spin with Claus Ogerman.^[9] Instead, the album was recorded in Oslo, Norway, in February 1989; it demonstrated a more acoustic sound than the band's previous efforts, relying less on synthesizers.^[10][11][12] Completed in three weeks, it was engineered by Jan Erik Kongshaug.^[13][14] The band sought to make the album as melodic as possible while still working within a traditional jazz setting.^[15]

Alex Acuña played percussion on the album.^[16]The Spin was the final album with saxophonist Marc Russo as a band member.^[2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[17]
Chicago Tribune	[18]
The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music	[19]

The Chicago Tribune wrote that The Spin "includes a few especially engaging cuts—'Storytellers' and a bebopish 'Whistle While You Walk', to name two—and some credible soloing by saxophonist Marc Russo."^[18] The Star Tribune noted the "more personal and more improvisational sound."^[20]

The Vancouver Sun concluded that "there is an intellectual coolness to some of this talented quartet's jazz instrumentals that is almost cold."^[21] The Austin American-Statesman determined that The Spin "won't be mistaken for classic acoustic jazz, but it is solidly rooted in a mainstream jazz sound, stressing its melodic elements over its rhythmic ones."^[22] The Houston Chronicle considered the album to be the band's best.^[23]

Track listing

1. "Geraldine" (Russell Ferrante) - 6:00
2. "The Spin" (Ferrante, Jimmy Haslip, Marc Russo, Will 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" (Barry Coates, Ferrante, Haslip) - 4:33
8. "Blues for Nikki" (Russo) - 3:56
9. "A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing/Hallucinations" (Billy Strayhorn/Bud Powell) - 8:01

Track 9 is available on the CD release only.^[24]

Personnel

Yellowjackets

• Russell Ferrante – keyboards
• Jimmy Haslip – bass
• Will Kennedy – drums, percussion
• Marc Russo – saxophones

Guest Musicians

• Alex Acuña – percussion arrangements

Production

• Yellowjackets – producers
• Jan Erik Kongshaug – engineer
• Stephen Marcussen – mastering at Precision Lacquer (Hollywood, California, USA)
• Dick Bouchard – design
• Jeff Lancaster – design
• Robin Ghelerter – illustrations
• Jim Bengston – photography
• Gary Borman – management