Yellowjackets: Casino Lights (Montreux Jazz Festival 1981) 2 of 2

This is a rare video of Yellowjackets at the 1981 Montreux Jazz Festival. The performances from this were released on the "Casino Lights" albums back in the early 80s. Personnel include Russell Ferrante on keyboards, Jimmy Haslip on bass, Ricky Lawson on drums, and the great Robben Ford on guitar. This was videotaped from a European television broadcast in 1981, so quality is early VHS at best. Part 2 of 2.

[@reginalawson2860]

My brother on drums 🥁 Ricky Lawson. I miss you so much Rick, but our nephew, Sean Lawson is with you now. You guys are together and playing for the LORD. ❤❤❤

[@lynnderks2011]

Russell Ferrante has been my hero from the beginning! Long live Russell Ferrante!!

[@HammondB200]

him doing that bassline and soloing over it (and playing crossrhythms) is just unparalelled.

[@ntesslafan]

Right you are! He wrote this wonderful material and it sounds like he was writing to the strengths of his band mates.

[@16davelle]

Man Ricky Lawson's passing has left a nice sized void, this brother was a beast on the drums and he played with so many heavyweights that you couldn't keep count of.59 is too damn young to die and plus he has other music that hasn't been released as of yet, my brother who is a professional drummer himself said Ricky got him gigs and was one of the nicest cats you could ever meet, may this brother have a peaceful journey and thanks for all that you have done in the music field

[@mpmmclaughlin]

16davelle beautifully said. I am lucky enough to now own Ricky's primary studio kit. Huge fan. What a loss and also what a legacy

[@ront4782]

Robben Ford as always, stole this festival.....he owned it! Sandborn and the Yellowjackets. Damn all from a guy from Ukiah High School.

[@gktde9874]

Without the the tunes and harmonies of Russell Ferrante… there is nothing to steal.

[@ront4782]

​@@gktde9874 Ferranti was alright, just alright, Robben was the best on the earth at this time.

[@stephanleo]

Robben told me that he played most of the Yellowjackets stuff by ear. That's astonishing!

[@yvesdevriendt928]

Robben is a genuine musician. Who needs paper music when it is all way deep inside of you ?

[@LTJR.]

only paper that little monster needs is to get paid at the end of the night!

[@vito356a]

My favorite fusion Guitarrist He “breaths” betwen solo lines 😎👍🏽👍🏽🙏🏼

[@markecampbell6817]

So good to see "Imperial Strut" live ..... A truly blessed set of musicians ....

[@VeriteProductions1]

I was there for this concert. It was totally cool. The sound was fresh and lit the place up. I had the good fortune to be playing a gig next door to Mountain Studios where the group along with Sanborn and others were laying down live tracks and rehearsing. What a treat to hang out for a while.

[@Confus-p2r]

Thank you for the Swiss Romandie television, who recorded all these great concerts...

[@rodneydaughtrey]

Imperial Strut at 7:45 is so unbelievably amazing! I can't stop listening to this one...

[@CBii11]

RIP Ricky Lawson

[@xavierlangreau5875]

fantastic drummer

[@Olivierinoz]

Thank you so much for posting this concert... i played "Casino lights" for years ... amazing performances ... a rare treat to see Robben Ford live from the Yellow Jackets years .....

[@ricardolacquan]

Real music!!!!!Awesome!!!!!!!

[@fusionfan6883]

Man I played that first Yellowjackets album to death🎸🤘🏻

[@mikasourd7722]

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@hahabass]

I love Jimmy's playing on a 4-string bass. It's just so... 'tatoes and gravy, and in-your-face kick-ass groove.

[@shushen5318]

I'm surprised at being able to view an video of Yellowjackets. This video did not include the official album. I like the Casiono Lights too much, but this video is rare very much for me. Thanks a lot !

[@sargentppeper]

"While Your Away" is on the 1983 Yellowjackets album Mirage a Trois renamed “Pass It On".

[@garygibson5983]

Marilyn Scott wrote Lyrics with Russell and performed it live many times and recorded it I think.

[@Robysommo]

First song is PASS IT ON from Mirage a Trois album (1983). Masterpiece

[@garygibson5983]

There were lyrics written by (and sung on her own album) for this song by Marilyn Scott. I used to see Russel & Marilyn (and Jimmy) working out these songs in a jazz club called Dontes in LA

[@AnandaSim]

Just saw Russell Ferrante with the current Yellow Jackets at Birds Basement - facebook.com/birdsbasement/?fref=ts OMG - the years have passed for us, he looks so different but he is as good as ever. If you get to see them on tour, rock up and Support Live Jazz.

[@htm1600]

Holy smokes, Russel!!!

[@adburger]

This gives me chills!

[@clifking]

Wow thanks for this upload love it :) x

[@abesul2]

Amazing

[@andercleydelimapadilha2291]

ESSE VIDEO É LEGENDARIO

[@Montialster]

European premiere of the Yellowjackets

[@john-zw9rw]

Rippin Robben.......9.00

[@danyelle8856]

robben !!!!

[@muffinspuffinsEE]

Yes... sickest strut there is...

[@MarcoTrivellato]

Which guitar amplifier is Robben Ford using? Is it perhaps a Roland JC-120? Thank you.

[@hetorio]

firs song comes from the mirage a trois album and the second is imperial strut name of first song is elamar or somethin oh man...the 80s..iguess i might be older than i am !!!

[@catboyzee]

While it does sound as if the 'Jackets a little of of sorts on this performance, WHILE YOU'RE AWAY(aka 'Pass it On') only SOUNDS easy to play. Its a bit tricky, the chord voicings are sort of like Gospel music turned inside/out. An amazing composition by Russell Ferrante. But they seriously redeemed themselves on Imperial Strut, they were str8 burning. Wonder what type of amps/pedals Robben Ford was plugging his Strat and ES-335 into for this set?

[@jaysteels]

He was most likely using a Yamaha G100. He's known to have used that amp around that time, before he got the Dumble in 1983.

[@fretbuzz59]

Marwin Moody Yup. Two of those Yamahas can be seen at 7:25.

[@stephanleo]

@@fretbuzz59 Time to sell these Dumbles ;-D

[@fretbuzz59]

Stephan Leo Actually, in an interview I recently saw, he said he sold one of them. ;)

[@oriomenoni7651]

I love "pass it on", it's a great composition, and it certainly didn't need "Imperial Strut" as a redemption.

[@958RNFWX29]

bleepin incredible-yep

[@soultalk1547]

We had the best era of music. Most people just create a load of washing machine bullshit now

[@clusha2]

I feel the pain for Robben guitar being out of tune....

[@narvul]

I feel your pain.

[@ront4782]

You my man are tone deaf.

[@lantose]

Robben’s guitar has never been out of tune!

[@xavierlangreau5875]

i dont think so

[@MicheledeFeo]

Grandi! Solo che il titolo poi è cambiato...

[@JetEarlewood]

Than Marc Russo joined and was replaced by Bob Mintzer

[@smip61]

Should have tuned up first though !

[@adburger]

It's the old recording.

[@heartpath1]

Nah, one string on the guitar (strat) is really out of tune on the first song. The video def has warble from the tape but that's not the sour I'm hearing.

[@SteveCOnTheTube]

Jimmy on a 4 string. Weird.

[@soultalk1547]

I'm a shit musician.