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 albumby | ||||
| Released | 1989 | |||
| Recorded | 1989 | |||
| Genre | Jazz fusion[1] | |||
| Length | 52:30 | |||
| Label | GRP[2] | |||
| Producer | Yellowjackets | |||
| Yellowjackets chronology | ||||
| ||||
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]
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]
| 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 9 is available on the CD release only.[24]
Yellowjackets
Guest Musicians
Studios