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Jazz fusion or jazz rock is a musical genre that merges jazz with elements of other styles of music, particularly funk, rock, R&B, ska, electronic, and world music, but also pop, classical, and folk music, or sometimes even metal, reggae, country, hip hop, etc. Fusion albums, even those that are made by the same group or artist, may include a variety of styles. Musical genres are categories which contain music which share a certain style or which have certain elements in common. ... For other uses, see Jazz (disambiguation). ... For other uses, including related musical genres, see Funk (disambiguation). ... Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... This article is about the genre. ... For other uses, see Electronic music (disambiguation). ... World music is, most generally, all the music in the world. ... This article is about the genre of popular music. ... This article is about Western art music from 1000 AD to the present. ... Folk song redirects here. ... Heavy metal redirects here. ... Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. ... Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. ... Hip hop music is a style of music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ...

In the late 1960s, jazz musicians began mixing the forms and improvisational techniques of jazz with the electric instruments of rock and the rhythms of soul and rhythm and blues. At the same time, some rock artists began adding jazz elements to their music. The 1970s were the most visible decade for fusion, but the style has been well represented during more recent times. Rather than being a codified musical style, fusion can be viewed as a musical tradition or approach. Some progressive rock music is also labeled as fusion.^[1] The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969. ... For other uses, see Soul music (disambiguation). ... R&B redirects here. ... For the Swedish political music movement, see progg. ...

Fusion music is typically instrumental, often with complex time signatures, metres, rhythmic patterns, and extended track lengths, featuring lengthy improvisations. Many prominent fusion musicians are recognized as having a high level of virtuosity, combined with complex compositions and musical improvisation in metres rarely seen in other Western musical forms, perhaps best recognized in the work of jazz composers Dave Brubeck and Don Ellis.
The time signature (also known as meter signature) is a notational device used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each bar and which note value (minim, crotchet, eighth note and so on) constitutes one beat. ... Metre or meter (US) is the measurement of a musical line into measures of stressed and unstressed beats, indicated in Western music notation by a symbol called a time signature. ... For other uses, see Virtuoso (disambiguation). ... Musical improvisation is the spontaneous creative process of making music while it is being performed. ... Metre or meter (US) is the measurement of a musical line into measures of stressed and unstressed beats, indicated in Western music notation by a symbol called a time signature. ... David Warren Brubeck (born December 6, 1920 in Concord, California[1]), better known as Dave Brubeck, is a U.S. jazz pianist. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

Fusion music generally receives little radio broadcast airplay in the United States, owing perhaps to its complexity, usual lack of vocals, and frequently extended track lengths. European radio is friendlier to fusion music, and the genre also has a significant following in Japan and South America. A number of Internet radio stations feature fusion music, including dedicated channels on services such as AOL Radio and Yahoo! Launchcast. This article or section reads like an advertisement. ...

Origins

Trumpeter and composer Miles Davis had the greatest influence on the development of jazz fusion by a single individual. His recording career starting in 1946 as a sideman for Charlie Parker, between 1949 and 1962 he recorded a slew of records and albums under his own leadership, popularizing several genres of jazz, most notably cool jazz, hard bop, and modal jazz. Prominent musicians who had passed through the ranks of Davis' bands during this time included Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans, and Hank Mobley. Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991) was an American jazz musician, widely considered to be one of the most influential of the 20th century. ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other persons of the same name, see Charles Parker. ... Year 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... A 12-inch record (left), a 7-inch record (right), and a CD (above) Two 7 singles (left), two colored 7 singles (middle), and two 7 singles with large spindle holes (right). ... An LP Long playing (LP), either 10 or 12-inch diameter, 33 rpm (actually 33. ... CD reissue of Daviss 1957 LP Birth of the Cool, collecting much of his 1949 to 1950 work. ... Hard bop is an extension of bebop (bop) music which incorporates influences from rhythm and blues, gospel music, and blues, especially in the saxophone and piano playing. ... Modal jazz is jazz played using musical modes rather than chord progressions. ... Theodore Walter Sonny Rollins (born September 7, 1930 in New York City) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist. ... Coltrane redirects here. ... Julian Edwin Cannonball Adderley (September 15, 1928 – August 8, 1975), originally from Tampa, Florida, was a jazz alto saxophonist of the small combo era of the 1950s and 1960s. ... William John Evans (better known as Bill Evans) (August 16, 1929 – September 15, 1980) was an American jazz pianist and one of the most famous of the 20th century; he remains one of the major influences on post-1950s jazz piano. ... Henry (Hank) Mobley (July 7, 1930 – May 30, 1986) was an American hard bop and soul jazz tenor saxophonist. ...

By 1963, the last link to Davis' original quintet, formed in 1955, left with the departure of bassist Paul Chambers, along with the rest of the quintet. Having to build from scratch, by year's end he settled upon a line-up of saxophonist George Coleman, pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Tony Williams. Wayne Shorter replaced Coleman in 1964 for what came to be known as the trumpeter's second great quintet, stable for four years until early 1968. This band recorded four studio albums, E.S.P. in 1965, Miles Smiles in 1966, and Sorcerer and Nefertiti in 1967. Their 1968 album Miles in the Sky is the first of Davis' albums to incorporate electric instruments, with Hancock and Carter playing electric piano and bass guitar respectively on the track "Stuff," and George Benson added on electric guitar to the quintet for "Paraphernalia." Davis furthered his explorations into the use of electric instruments on another 1968 album, Filles de Kilimanjaro, sessions for which had pianist Chick Corea and bassist Dave Holland substituting for Hancock and Carter, the latter of whom departed the quintet, at the time uninterested in Davis' new direction. Compositionally, both of these albums continued in the vein of the earlier four. For other uses, see 1963 (disambiguation). ... Year 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar). ... Paul Laurence Dunbar Chambers, Jr. ... George Coleman (born March 8, 1935 in Memphis, Tennessee) is an American jazz saxophonist, known chiefly for his work with Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock in the 1960s. ... Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois) is an Academy Award and Grammy award-winning American jazz pianist and composer. ... Ron Carter (born May 4, 1937, Ferndale, Michigan) is an American jazz bassist. ... Tony Williams (December 12, 1945 – February 23, 1997) was an African American jazz drummer. ... Wayne Shorter (born August 25, 1933) is an American jazz composer and saxophonist. ... Also Nintendo emulator: 1964 (emulator). ... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... E.S.P. is an album recorded in January 1965 by the Miles Davis quintet. ... Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ... Miles Smiles is an album recorded in October 1966 by the Miles Davis quintet. ... Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ... Sorcerer is an album recorded in May 1967 by the Miles Davis quintet. ... Nefertiti is an album recorded in June and July 1967 by the second Miles Davis quintet and is the groups last fully acoustic album. ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Miles in the Sky is an album recorded in January and May 1968 by the Miles Davis quintet. ... An electric piano (e-piano) is an electric musical instrument whose popularity started in the late 1960s, was at its greatest during the 1970s and still is big today. ... A sunburst-colored Fender Precision Bass The electric bass guitar (or electric bass[1][2]; pronounced , as in base) is a bass stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers (either by plucking, slapping, popping, or tapping) or using a pick. ... George Benson (b. ... Two different electric guitars. ... Filles de Kilimanjaro (French: Girls of Kilimanjaro) is a jazz album by Miles Davis. ... Armando Anthony Chick Corea (born June 12, 1941) is a multiple Grammy Award winning American jazz pianist/keyboardist and composer. ... Dave Holland (born October 1, 1946) is a jazz bassist and composer. ...

In 1969, Davis introduced the full-blown electric instrument approach to jazz with In a Silent Way, which can be considered Davis's first fusion album. Composed of two side-long suites edited heavily by producer Teo Macero, this quiet, static album would be equally influential upon the development of ambient music. It featured contributions from musicians who would all go on to spread the fusion evangel with their own groups in the 1970s: Shorter, Hancock, Corea, pianist Josef Zawinul, guitarist John McLaughlin, Holland, and Williams. Williams quit Davis to form his own fusion band soon after, and over the course of three days in August Davis recorded the sessions that would be released as the album Bitches Brew in 1970. In addition to the previous musicians, the sessions included Bennie Maupin on bass clarinet, Larry Young on electric piano, Harvey Brooks on bass guitar, and percussionists Lenny White, Jack DeJohnette, Don Alias, and Juma Santos. Bitches Brew abandoned traditional jazz in favor of a style of improvisation more typical of rock, with emphasis on the backbeat. The album gave Davis a gold record, and created consternation within the jazz community that remains to this day, many critics and musicians breaking with Davis after his forays into fusion. Davis would continue to work in the the genre until his temporary retirement in 1975, releasing the albums A Tribute to Jack Johnson, Live-Evil, In Concert, On the Corner, Dark Magus, Agharta, and Pangaea. Sessions from this period were fashioned by producer Macero and Davis into the compilation albums Big Fun and Get Up With It. Also: 1969 (number) 1969 (movie) 1969 (Stargate SG-1) episode. ... In a Silent Way is a 1969 album by jazz trumpeter Miles Davis. ... Teo Macero (Born October 30, 1925) is a jazz saxophonist and record producer. ... Ambient music is a musical genre in which sound is more important than notes. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... Categories: Musician stubs | 1932 births | Austrian musicians | Jazz musicians | Jazz pianists ... John McLaughlin John McLaughlin (aka pinyon)(born January 4, 1942), also Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is a jazz fusion guitar player from Doncaster, Yorkshire in England. ... The Tony Williams Lifetime was a jazz-rock fusion group led by jazz drummer Tony Williams. ... August is the eighth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... Bitches Brew is an album recorded by American jazz trumpeter Miles Davis in 1969. ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Bennie Maupin(born 29 August 1940) is a Detroit jazz multireedist. ... The bass clarinet is a musical instrument of the clarinet family. ... Larry Young (also known as Khalid Yasin (Abdul Aziz) (born October 7, 1940 in Newark, New Jersey-died March 30, 1978 in New York City) was an American jazz organist and occasional pianist. ... Harvey Brooks (born 1944, New York City) is an American bassist. ... Lenny White (born 1949) is a great American jazz-rock drummer, who is most famous for participating as one of the multiple drummers on Miles Daviss Bitches Brew sessions, and making himself well known as a member of Chick Coreas Return To Forever band. ... Jack DeJohnette (b. ... Don Alias is a jazz percussionist. ... This article or section seems not to be written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia entry. ... This article is about the genre. ... Backbeat can mean one of two things: Backbeat or Back beat is a style of rock music percussion Backbeat is a 1994 bio-pic of the early career of The Beatles, starring Stephen Dorff, Sheryl Lee, and Ian Hart Categories: Disambiguation ... The description Gold Album is applied to recorded music albums that have sold a minimum number of copies (in the US, currently 500,000 sales). ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... A Tribute to Jack Johnson is a jazz fusion album recorded in 1970 by Miles Davis. ... Live Evil is the first and only Ronnie James Dio-fronted live album by British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in 1982 (see 1982 in music). ... On the Corner is an album recorded in June and September 1972 by Miles Davis. ... Agharta is an album recorded by jazz trumpeter Miles Davis in 1975. ... Pangaea is an album recorded by jazz trumpeter Miles Davis in 1975. ... Big Fun is a double album recorded between 1969 and 1972 by Miles Davis. ... Get Up With It is an album collecting tracks recorded between 1970 and 1974 by Miles Davis. ...

1970s

Much of 1970s fusion was performed by by bands started by the Davis alumni, including The Tony Williams Lifetime, Weather Report, The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever, and Herbie Hancock's Headhunters band. In addition to Davis and the musicians who worked with him, additional important figures in early fusion were Larry Coryell and Billy Cobham with his album Spectrum. The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... The Tony Williams Lifetime was a jazz-rock fusion group led by jazz drummer Tony Williams. ... For the song Weather Report by The American Analog Set, see The Golden Band. ... The Mahavishnu Orchestra was a jazz-rock fusion group that debuted in 1970 and dissolved in 1976, only to reunite briefly from 1984 to 1986. ... For the album, see Return to Forever (album). ... The Headhunters are a popular jazz-funk fusion band, best known for their albums they recorded as a backing band of jazz keyboard player Herbie Hancock during the 1970s. ... Larry Coryell Larry Coryell (April 2, 1943-) is an American jazz guitarist. ... Billy Cobham performing on Réunion in October 2006. ... Spectrum is the debut album of fusion drummer, Billy Cobham. ...

Herbie Hancock first continued the path of Miles Davis with his experimental fusion albums, such as Crossings in 1972, but soon after that he became an important developer of "jazz-funk" with his seminal albums Head Hunters 1973 and Thrust in 1974. Later in the 1970s and early 1980s Hancock took a yet more commercial approach, though he also recorded acoustic jazz with a reunion of the mid-sixties Davis quintet with trumpeter Freddie Hubbard in place of Davis. Hancock was one of the first jazz musicians to use synthesizers. Crossings is the twelth album by jazz pianist Herbie Hancock, released in 1972. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jazz-funk is a sub-genre of jazz music characterized by a strong back beat, electrified sounds. ... Head Hunters is an album by Herbie Hancock, released in 1973 (see 1973 in music) on Columbia Records. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... Frederick Dewayne Hubbard (born April 7, 1938 in Indianapolis, Indiana) is an American jazz trumpeter. ...

At its inception, Weather Report was an avant-garde experimental fusion group, following in the steps of In A Silent Way. The band received considerable attention for its early albums and live performances, which featured songs that might last 30 minutes or more. The band later introduced a more commercial sound, most noted in the hit song "Birdland". Weather Report's albums were also influenced by different styles of Latin and African music, offering an early world music fusion variation. Jaco Pastorius, an innovative electric bass player, joined the group in 1976 on the album Black Market, and is prominently featured on the 1979 live recording 8:30. Heavy Weather is the top-selling album of the genre. For the song Weather Report by The American Analog Set, see The Golden Band. ... Birdland is an instrumental composition by keyboardist Joe Zawinul which debuted on the Weather Report album Heavy Weather in 1977. ... World music is, most generally, all the music in the world. ... John Francis Anthony Jaco Pastorius III (December 1, 1951 – September 21, 1987) was an American jazz musician and composer widely acknowledged for his virtuosity of the fretless bass,[1][2] as well as his command of varied musical styles. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into underground economy. ... 8:30 is a live (with occasional studio overdub) album by the jazz fusion group Weather Report. ... The term Heavy Weather could refer to any of the following: As a phrase, heavy weather is of nautical derivation and refers to something that is more difficult than it should be. ...

In England, the jazz fusion movement was headed by Nucleus led by Ian Carr and whose key players Karl Jenkins and John Marshall both later joined the seminal jazz rock band Soft Machine, oft-acknowledged leaders of what became known as the Canterbury scene. Their best-selling recording, Third (1970), was a double album featuring one track per side in the style of the aforementioned recordings of Miles Davis. A prominent English band in the jazz-rock style of Blood, Sweat & Tears and Chicago was If, who released a total of seven records in the 1970s. Nucleus were a pioneering British jazz-rock band that continued in different incarnations from 1969-85. ... Nucleus (1985) Ian Carr (born 21 April 1933) is a Scottish jazz musician, composer, writer, and educator. ... Karl William Jenkins OBE (born February 17, 1944) is a Welsh musician and composer. ... For other persons named John Marshall, see John Marshall (disambiguation). ... For the book by William S. Burroughs, see The Soft Machine. ... The Canterbury Scene (or Canterbury Sound) is a term used to loosely describe the group of progressive rock musicians that were based around the city of Canterbury, Kent, England during the late 1960s and early 1970s. ... This article is about the band. ... This article is about the American pop-rock-jazz band. ... If (1st album) (1970) IF was a Jazz-Rock band formed in Britain at the end of the 60s and especially active in the early 1970s. ...

 Audio samples:

Spain - Chick Corea Image File history File links Chick_Corea_Spain. ...

Composed in 1971, a fusion of latin and modern jazz - 2.96 MB

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Chick Corea formed his band Return to Forever in 1972. The band started with Latin-influenced music (including Brazilians Flora Purim as vocalist and Airto Moreira on percussion), but was transformed in 1973 to become a jazz-rock group that took influences from both psychedelic and progressive rock. The new drummer was Lenny White, who had also played with Miles Davis. Return to Forever's songs were distinctively melodic due to the Corea's composing style and the bass playing style of Stanley Clarke, who is often regarded with Pastorius as the most influential electric bassists of the 1970s. Guitarist Al Di Meola, who started his career with Return to Forever in 1974, soon became one of the most important fusion guitarists. In Di Meola's influential solo albums, he was one of the first guitarists to perform in a "shred" style, a technique later used in rock and heavy metal playing which uses alternate-picking, tapping, and sweep-picking to perform very rapid sequences of notes. For the album, see Return to Forever (album). ... Flora Purim is a Jewish Brazilian jazz singer known mainly for her work in jazz fusion. ... Airto Moreira (born August 5, 1941) is a Brazilian Jazz percussionist and musician. ... Psychedelia in music (or also psychedelic music, less formally) is a term that refers to a broad set of popular music styles, genres and scenes, that may include psychedelic rock, psychedelic folk, psychedelic pop, psychedelic soul, psychedelic ambient, psychedelic trance, psychedelic techno, and others. ... For the Swedish political music movement, see progg. ... Lenny White (born 1949) is a great American jazz-rock drummer, who is most famous for participating as one of the multiple drummers on Miles Daviss Bitches Brew sessions, and making himself well known as a member of Chick Coreas Return To Forever band. ... Stanley Clarke (born 30 June 1951) is an American musician and composer known for his innovative and influential work on double bass and bass guitar as well as his numerous film and television scores. ... Al Di Meola (born Al Laurence Dimeola July 22, 1954 in Jersey City, New Jersey) is an American jazz fusion and Latin jazz guitarist. ... Shred guitar is a style of electric guitar playing in which rapid passages are performed using sweep-picking, hammer-ons, pull-offs, and other techniques. ... Heavy metals, in chemistry, are chemical elements of a particular range of atomic weights. ...

John McLaughlin formed a highly-regarded fusion band, the Mahavishnu Orchestra with drummer Billy Cobham, violinist Jerry Goodman, bassist Rick Laird and keyboardist Jan Hammer. The band released their first album, The Inner Mounting Flame in 1971. McLaughlin played Gibson EDS-1275 (also used by Jimmy Page), and frequently engaged in extended and fierce soloing duets with Cobham or violinist Jerry Goodman. Hammer pioneered the Minimoog synthesizer with distortion effects making it sound more like an electric guitar. The sound of Mahavishnu Orchestra was influenced by both psychedelic rock and classical Indian sounds that inspired McLaughlin since he discovered it on the radio at the age of 13. The eastern influence was furthered by McLaughlin's spiritual guru, Sri Chinmoy, who also granted McLaughlin the title "Mahavishnu." An organ trio, in a jazz context, is group of three jazz musicians, typically consisting of a Hammond organ player, a drummer, and either a jazz guitarist or a saxophone player. ... The original lineup in 1972, featuring Billy Cobham, John McLaughlin, Jerry Goodman, Jan Hammer and Rick Laird. ... Billy Cobham performing on Réunion in October 2006. ... Jerry Goodman is an American violinist, mostly known for playing in the fusion jazz band Mahavishnu Orchestra. ... Rick Laird is a jazz musician, born on February 5, 1940. ... Jan Hammer (IPA: ) (born 17 April 1948, in Prague, then Czechoslovakia, today part of the Czech Republic). ... For the Scottish football (soccer) player, see Jimmy Page (footballer). ... Jerry Goodman is an American violinist, mostly known for playing in the fusion jazz band Mahavishnu Orchestra. ... The Minimoog is a monophonic analog synthesizer, invented by David van Koevering and Robert Moog. ... Sri Chinmoy, c. ...

The band's first lineup split after two studio and one live albums, but McLaughlin formed another group under same name which included Jean-Luc Ponty, a jazz violinist, who also made a number of important fusion recordings under his own name as well as with Frank Zappa, drummer Narada Michael Walden, keyboardist Gayle Moran, and bassist Ralph Armstrong. This band also had a string trio to back Ponty and a vocalist whose rich voice complemented the strings. The first album by this lineup, Apocalypse, also included the London Symphony Orchestra. McLaughlin was also an original member of drummer Tony Williams' The Tony Williams Lifetime fusion band with organist Larry Young, which existed in several versions between 1969 and 1976 and later included Cream bassist Jack Bruce and guitarist Allan Holdsworth. Grappelli (left) and Jean-Luc Ponty (right). ... Frank Vincent Zappa[1] (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American composer, musician, and film director. ... Michael Walden (born April 23, 1952, in Kalamazoo, Michigan USA) is an American producer, drummer, singer, and songwriter. ... Gayle Moran is a vocalist, keyboard player (piano, organ, and synthesizer), and songwriter. ... The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom. ... Tony Williams (December 12, 1945 – February 23, 1997) was an African American jazz drummer. ... The Tony Williams Lifetime was a jazz-rock fusion group led by jazz drummer Tony Williams. ... There are different people named Larry Young: Larry Young, a jazz organist. ... Cream were a 1960s British rock band comprising guitarist Eric Clapton, bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker. ... John Symon Asher Jack Bruce (born May 14, 1943) is a Scottish-born musician, composer and singer. ... Allan Holdsworth (born August 6, 1946 in Bradford, West Yorkshire) is a British jazz guitarist and composer. ...

McLaughlin also worked with Latin-rock guitarist Carlos Santana in the early 1970s. Santana's San Francisco-based band blended Latin salsa, rock, blues, and jazz, featuring Santana's clean guitar lines set against Latin instrumentation such as timbales and congas. Fusion influences can be heard in Santana's use of extended improvised solos and in the harmonic voicings of Tom Coster's keyboard playing on some of the groups' 1970s recordings. In 1973 Santana recorded a nearly two-hour live album of mostly instrumental music, Lotus, which was only released in Europe and Japan for more than twenty years. Santana also studied under guru Sri Chinmoy, and was granted the title "Devadip". For the Costa Rican soccer player, see Carlos Santana (footballer); for the Mexican academic, see Carlos Santana Morales. ... Salsa music is a diverse and predominantly Spanish Caribbean genre that is popular across Latin America and among Latinos abroad. ... This article is about the genre. ... Blues music redirects here. ... For other uses, see Jazz (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... Latin American music, or the music of Latin America, is sometimes called Latin music. ... Timbales (or tymbales) are shallow single-headed drums, shallower in shape than single-headed tom-toms, and usually much higher tuned. ... Conga is a drum, a type of music, and a type of dance (Conga Line). ... Tom Coster is an American keyboardist and composer. ... Track Listing Disc 1 Going Home A-1 Funk - (The New Santana Band) Every Step Of The Way - (Shrieve) Black Magic Woman - (Green) Gypsy Queen - (Szabo) Oye Como Va - (Puenta) Yours Is The Light - (Kermode) Batuka - (The Old Santana Band) Xibaba (She-Ba-Ba) - (Airto) Stone Flower (Introduction) - (Jobim) Waiting...

Other influential musicians that emerged from the fusion movement during the 1970s include fusion guitarist Larry Coryell with his band The Eleventh House, and electric guitarist Pat Metheny. The Pat Metheny Group, which was founded in 1977, made both the jazz and pop charts with their second album, American Garage (1980). Although jazz performers criticized the fusion movement's use of rock styles and electric and electronic instruments, even seasoned jazz veterans like Buddy Rich, Maynard Ferguson and Dexter Gordon eventually modified their music to include fusion elements. Larry Coryell Larry Coryell (April 2, 1943-) is an American jazz guitarist. ... The Eleventh House was an important jazz fusion group of the 1970s led by guitarist Larry Coryell. ... Patrick Bruce Metheny (born August 12, 1954 in Lees Summit, Missouri) is an American jazz guitarist and composer. ... Bernard Buddy Rich (September 30, 1917 Brooklyn, New York – April 2, 1987) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. ... Walter Maynard Ferguson (May 4, 1928 – August 23, 2006) was a Canadian jazz trumpet player and bandleader. ... Dexter Gordon (February 27, 1923–April 25, 1990) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, and an Academy Award-nominated actor. ...

The influence of jazz fusion did not only affect America. The genre was very influential in Japan in the late 1970s eventually leading to the formation of Casiopea in 1976 and T-Square(The Square) in 1978. The younger generations embraced this new genre of music and it gained popularity quickly approaching the early 1980s. T-Square's song Truth would later become the theme for Japan's Formula One racing events. Casiopea is a still-active Japanese jazz fusion band that was formed in 1976 by guitarist Issei Noro and bassist Tetsuo Sakurai. ... A T-square is a technical drawing instrument primarily a guide for drawing horizontal lines on a drafting table. ...

Commercialization: 1980s

In the early 1980s much of the original fusion genre was subsumed into other branches of jazz and rock, especially smooth jazz. The merging of jazz and pop/rock music took a more commercial direction in the late 1970s and early 1980s, in the form of compositions with a softer sound palette that could fit comfortably in a soft rock radio playlist. The Allmusic guide's article on Fusion states that "[u]nfortunately, as it became a money-maker and as rock declined artistically from the mid-'70s on, much of what was labeled fusion was actually a combination of jazz with easy-listening pop music and lightweight R&B."^[2] Artists like Lee Ritenour, Al Jarreau, Kenny G, Bob James and David Sanborn among others were leading purveyors of this pop-oriented fusion (also known as "west coast" or "AOR fusion"). This genre is most frequently called "smooth jazz" and is controversial among the listeners of both mainstream jazz and jazz fusion, who find it to rarely contain the improvisational qualities that originally surfaced in jazz decades earlier, deferring to a more commercially viable sound more widely enabled for commercial radio airplay in the United States. Smooth Jazz, also sometimes referred to as new adult contemporary music,[1] is generally described as a genre of music that utilizes instruments (and, at times, improvisation) traditionally associated with jazz and stylistic influences drawn from mostly R&B, but also funk and pop. ... Soft rock, also referred to as light rock or easy rock, is a style of music which uses the techniques of rock and roll to compose a softer, supposedly more ear-pleasing sound for listening, often at work or when driving. ... The All Music Guide (AMG) is a large, comprehensive and high quality metadata database about music. ... Lee Mack Captain Fingers Ritenour (born January 11, 1952) is an internationally acclaimed guitarist, recording artist, composer and producer. ... Alwyn Lopez Al Jarreau (born March 12, 1940) is an American singer. ... For the WFMU DJ, see Kenneth Goldsmith. ... Bob James can refer to: An actor Bob James A jazz musician Bob James An historian Bob James This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... For other persons named David Sanborn, see David Sanborn (disambiguation). ... Smooth Jazz, also sometimes referred to as new adult contemporary music,[1] is generally described as a genre of music that utilizes instruments (and, at times, improvisation) traditionally associated with jazz and stylistic influences drawn from mostly R&B, but also funk and pop. ...

Music critic Piero Scaruffi has called pop-fusion music "...mellow, bland, romantic music" made by "mediocre musicians" and "derivative bands." Scaruffi criticized some of the fusion albums of Michael and Randy Brecker as "trivial dance music" and stated that alto saxophonist David Sanborn recorded "[t]rivial collections" of "...catchy and danceable pseudo-jazz". ^[3] Kenny G in particular is often criticized by both fusion and jazz fans, and some musicians, while having become a huge commercial success. Music reviewer George Graham argues that the “so-called ‘smooth jazz’ sound of people like Kenny G has none of the fire and creativity that marked the best of the fusion scene during its heyday in the 1970s”.^[4] This article or section cites very few or no references or sources. ... Ronald Randy Brecker (b. ... For other persons named David Sanborn, see David Sanborn (disambiguation). ... For the WFMU DJ, see Kenneth Goldsmith. ...

Jazz fusion has been criticized by jazz traditionalists who prefer conventional mainstream jazz (particularly when fusion was first emerging) and by smooth jazz fans who prefer more "accessible" music. This is analogous to the way swing jazz aficionados criticized be-bop in the mid-1940s, and the way proponents of Dixieland or New Orleans style "jass" reviled the new swing style in the late 1920s.^{[citation needed]} Some critics have also called fusion's approach pretentious, and others have claimed that fusion musicians have become too concerned with musical virtuosity. However, fusion has helped to break down boundaries between different genres of rock, jazz, and led to developments such as the 1980s-era electronica-infused acid jazz. Smooth Jazz, also sometimes referred to as new adult contemporary music,[1] is generally described as a genre of music that utilizes instruments (and, at times, improvisation) traditionally associated with jazz and stylistic influences drawn from mostly R&B, but also funk and pop. ... Swing music, also known as swing jazz, is a form of jazz music that solidified as a distinctive style during the 1930s in the United States. ... Bebop or bop is a form of jazz which uses a fast tempo and complex improvisational techniques. ... Dixieland music is a style of jazz which developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century, and was spread to Chicago and New York City by New Orleans bands in the 1910s. ... Acid jazz (sometimes groove jazz) is a musical genre that combines jazz influences with elements of soul music, funk, disco and hip hop. ...

Revival of genre

In the 1980s, "...the promise of fusion went unfulfilled to an extent, although it continued to exist in groups such as Tribal Tech and Chick Corea's Elektric Band".^[5] Although the meaning of "fusion" became confused with the advent of "smooth jazz", a number of groups helped to revive the jazz fusion genre beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s. Many of the most well-known fusion artists were members of earlier jazz fusion groups, and some of the fusion "giants" of the 1970s kept working in the genre. Rocket Science by Tribal Tech . ... Armando Anthony Chick Corea (born June 12, 1941) is a multiple Grammy Award winning American jazz pianist/keyboardist and composer. ... Chick Corea Elektric Band, led by renowned pianist Chick Corea, is one of the most critically acclaimed jazz fusion bands of the past two decades. ...

Miles Davis continued his career after having a lengthy break in the late 1970s. He recorded and performed fusion throughout the 1980s with new young musicians and continued to ignore criticism from fans of his older mainstream jazz. While Davis' works of the 1980s remain controversial, his recordings from that period have the respect of many fusion and other listeners.

In 1985 Chick Corea formed a new fusion band called the Chick Corea Elektric Band, featuring young musicians such as drummer Dave Weckl and bassist John Patitucci, as well as guitarist Frank Gambale and saxophonist Eric Marienthal. Joe Zawinul's new fusion band in the 1980s was The Zawinul Syndicate, which began adding more elements of world music during the 1990s. Chick Corea Elektric Band, led by renowned pianist Chick Corea, is one of the most critically acclaimed jazz fusion bands of the past two decades. ... Dave Weckl in July of 2004 Dave Weckl (born January 8, 1960) is a highly acclaimed jazz fusion drummer. ... John Patitucci (born 1959) is an American jazz double bass player, specializing in hard bop, contemporary and Brazilian jazz. ... Frank Gambale (born December 22, 1958) is an Australian jazz fusion guitarist. ... Eric Marienthal Eric Marienthal is a Los Angeles-based contemporary saxophonist best known for his work in the jazz, smooth jazz, and pop genres. ... World music is, most generally, all the music in the world. ...

One of the notable bands that became prominent in the early 1990s is Tribal Tech, led by guitarist Scott Henderson and bassist Gary Willis. Henderson was a member of both Corea's and Zawinul's ensembles in the late 1980s while putting together his own group. Tribal Tech's most common lineup also includes keyboardist Scott Kinsey and drummer Kirk Covington - Willis and Kinsey have both recorded solo fusion projects. Henderson has also been featured on fusion projects by drummer Steve Smith of Vital Information which also include bassist Victor Wooten of the eclectic Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, recording under the banner Vital Tech Tones. Rocket Science by Tribal Tech . ... Scott Henderson (born August 26th 1954, West Palm Beach, Florida) is a highly acclaimed fusion and blues guitarist best known for his work with the band Tribal Tech. ... Gary Willis is an american electric bass player most famouse for his work with Tribal tech. ... Scott Kinsey is a keyboardist best-known for his work with the jazz fusion group Tribal Tech. ... Kirk Covington is a drummer best-known for his work with the jazz fusion group Tribal Tech. ... Steve Smith. ... chowells 18:09, 25 September 2005 (UTC) Categories: Possible copyright violations ... Victor Lemonte Wooten (born September 11, 1964 in Hampton, Virginia) is an American electric bass guitar player. ... Béla Fleck and the Flecktones is a primarily instrumental group that draws equally on bluegrass, fusion and jazz band, sometimes dubbed blue_bop. ... The Vital Tech Tones were an American fusion supergroup formed in the mid-1990s. ...

Allan Holdsworth is a guitarist who performs in both rock and fusion styles. Other prominent guitarists such as Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai and Yngwie Malmsteen have praised his fusion and rock playing. He often used a SynthAxe guitar synthesizer in his recordings of the late 1980s, which he credits for significantly expanded his composing and playing options. Holdsworth has continued to release well-regarded fusion recordings and tour worldwide on a regular basis. He has often worked with drummers Chad Wackerman, Vinnie Colaiuta, or Gary Husband, who have all released fusion records under their own names. Another former Soft Machine guitarist, Andy Summers of The Police, released several fusion albums in the early 1990s. Allan Holdsworth (born August 6, 1946 in Bradford, West Yorkshire) is a British jazz guitarist and composer. ... Edward Lodewijk Eddie Van Halen (born January 26, 1955)[1], is a Dutch-American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer most famous for being the lead guitarist and co-founder of the rock band Van Halen. ... Steven Steve Siro Vai (born June 6, 1960 in Carle Place, New York) is an American instrumental rock guitarist, songwriter, vocalist and producer. ... Yngwie Johann Malmsteen (IPA pronunciation: //) (born Lars Johann Yngve Lannerbäck on June 30, 1963 in Stockholm, Sweden) is a Swedish guitarist, composer and bandleader. ... A promotional photo of the SynthAxe. ... Chad Wackerman (born March 25, 1960 in Long Beach, California) is a jazz, jazz fusion and rock drummer. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Gary Husband born in Yorkshire in 1960, is an English drummer who has played with, amongst others, the British jazz-funk band Morrissey Mullen and Level 42, and recorded with the likes of Allan Holdsworth, John McLaughlin and Mark King (to name a few). ... For the book by William S. Burroughs, see The Soft Machine. ... Andy Summers (born Andrew James Somers 31 December 1942) is an English guitarist and composer best known for his work in The Police. ... This article is about the rock band. ...

Guitarists John Scofield and Bill Frisell have both made fusion recordings over the past two decades while also exploring other musical styles. Scofield's Pick Hits Live and Still Warm are fusion examples, while Frisell has maintained a unique approach in drawing heavy influences from traditional music of the United States. Japanese fusion guitarist Kazumi Watanabe released numerous fusion albums throughout 1980s and 1990s, highlighted by his works such as Mobo Splash and Spice of Life. John Scofield (born December 26, 1951 in Dayton, Ohio)[1] is an American jazz guitarist and composer, who played and eventually collaborated with Miles Davis, Billy Cobham, Medeski Martin & Wood, and other important artists. ... William Richard Bill Frisell (born March 18, 1951) is a North American jazz guitarist, progressive folk musician and composer. ... Kazumi Watanabe (渡辺香津美) was born on October 14, 1953 in Tokyo, Japan. ...

The late saxophonist Bob Berg, who originally came to prominence as a member of Miles Davis' bands, recorded a number of fusion albums with fellow Miles band member and guitarist Mike Stern. Stern continues to play fusion regularly in New York City and worldwide. They often teamed with the world-renowned drummer Dennis Chambers, who has also recorded his own fusion albums. Chambers is also a member of CAB, led by bassist Bunny Brunel and featuring the guitar and keyboard of Tony MacAlpine. CAB 2 garnered a Grammy nomination in 2002. MacAlpine has also served as guitarist of the metal fusion group Planet X, featuring keyboardist Derek Sherinian and drummer Virgil Donati. Another former member of Miles Davis' bands of the 1980s that has released a number of fusion recordings is saxophonist Bill Evans, highlighted by 1992's Petite Blonde. Bob Berg, (April 7, 1951 - December 5, 2002) was a jazz saxophonist originally from Brooklyn, New York City. ... Mike Stern (born January 10, 1953) is an American jazz guitarist. ... Dennis Chambers is an American drummer who has recorded and performed with John Scofield, Carl Filipiak, Steely Dan, Santana, Parliament/Funkadelic, John McLaughlin, Niacin, Mike Stern, and many others. ... CAB is a jazz fusion musical group featuring Bunny Brunel (bass), Tony MacAlpine (guitar), Brian Auger (keyboards), Patrice Rushen (keyboards) and Dennis Chambers (drums). ... Bunny Brunel is a bassist who has played with various jazz notables including Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and numerous others. ... Tony Jeff MacAlpine (born August 29, 1960 in Springfield, Massachusetts) is an American guitarist and keyboardist with a unique style blending elements of neo-classical and jazz fusion. ... Planet X is an evolution of keyboardist Derek Sherinians 1999 solo album Planet X. Sherinian has stated in several interviews that his intention when forming Planet X was to create a band that played their instruments so fiercely, that they would strike fear in the hearts of all musicians... Derek Sherinian (born August 25, 1966 in Laguna Beach, California) is a ‎rock and fusion keyboardist based in Los Angeles, California. ... Virgil Donati is an Australia drummer currently playing in the band Planet X alongside many side projects. ... Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991) was an American jazz musician, widely considered to be one of the most influential of the 20th century. ... Bill Evans (born February 9, 1958 in Clarendon Hills, Illinois) is an American jazz saxophonist. ...

Drummer Jack DeJohnette's Parallel Realities band featuring fellow Miles' alumni Dave Holland and Herbie Hancock, along with Pat Metheny, recorded and toured in 1990, highlighted by a DVD of a live performance at the Mellon Jazz Festival in Philadelphia. Jazz bassist Christian McBride released two fusion recordings drawing from the jazz-funk idiom in Sci-Fi (2000) and Vertical Vision (2003). Other significant recent fusion releases have come from keyboardist Mitchel Forman and his band Metro, former Mahavishnu bassist Jonas Hellborg with the late guitar virtuoso Shawn Lane, and keyboardist Tom Coster. Jack DeJohnette (b. ... Dave Holland (born October 1, 1946) is a jazz bassist and composer. ... Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois) is an Academy Award and Grammy award-winning American jazz pianist and composer. ... Patrick Bruce Metheny (born August 12, 1954 in Lees Summit, Missouri) is an American jazz guitarist and composer. ... Every year in June, Mellon Bank sponsors a week long jazz festival held in Pittsburgh, known to be the Mellon Jazz Festival. ... Christian McBride (born May 31, 1972, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a jazz bassist. ... Mitchel Forman Mitchel Forman (born January 24, 1956 in Brooklyn, NY) is a jazz and fusion keyboard player currently residing in Southern California. ... Jonas Hellborg (born June 7, 1958) is a Swedish bass guitarist. ... Shawn Lane (March 21, 1963 – September 26, 2003) was an American musician. ... Tom Coster is an American keyboardist and composer. ...

Howard Moon, one of the main characters in the popular British comedy The Mighty Boosh, is a huge fan and player of jazz fusion. The Mighty Boosh, colloquially referred to as The Boosh,[1] is the collective name for the creators of the British television situation comedy. ...

Influential recordings

This section lists a few of the jazz fusion artists and albums that are considered to be influential by prominent jazz fusion critics, reviewers, journalists, or music historians. Albums from the late 1960s and early include Miles Davis' 1969 album In a Silent Way (1969) and his rock-infused Bitches Brew from 1970. Throughout the 1970s, Weather Report -released albums ranging from its 1971 self-titled disc Weather Report (1971) (which continues the style of Miles Davis album Bitches Brew) to 1979's 8:30. Chick Corea's latin-oriented fusion band Return to Forever released influential albums such as 1973's Light as a Feather. In that same year, Herbie Hancock's Head Hunters infused jazz-rock fusion with a heavy dose of funk. Virtuoso performer-composers played an important role in the 1970s. In 1976, fretless bassist Jaco Pastorius released Jaco Pastorius; electric and double bass player Stanley Clarke released School Days; and keyboardist Chick Corea released his latin-infused My Spanish Heart, which received a five star review from Down Beat magazine. Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991) was an American jazz musician, widely considered to be one of the most influential of the 20th century. ... In a Silent Way is a 1969 album by jazz trumpeter Miles Davis. ... Bitches Brew is an album recorded by American jazz trumpeter Miles Davis in 1969. ... For the song Weather Report by The American Analog Set, see The Golden Band. ... Weather Report may refer to either of two self-titled albums from jazz fusion group Weather Report: Weather Report (1971) Weather Report (1982) Category: ... 8:30 is a live (with occasional studio overdub) album by the jazz fusion group Weather Report. ... Armando Anthony Chick Corea (born June 12, 1941) is a multiple Grammy Award winning American jazz pianist/keyboardist and composer. ... For the album, see Return to Forever (album). ... Light as a Feather (1972) is the second studio album of fusion band Return to Forever. ... Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois) is an Academy Award and Grammy award-winning American jazz pianist and composer. ... Headhunter can refer to: Headhunter: a person who takes someones life in order to take their head. ... John Francis Anthony Jaco Pastorius III (December 1, 1951 – September 21, 1987) was an American jazz musician and composer widely acknowledged for his virtuosity of the fretless bass,[1][2] as well as his command of varied musical styles. ... This self-titled album was Pastorius solo debut and was originally released in 1976. ... Stanley Clarke (born 30 June 1951) is an American musician and composer known for his innovative and influential work on double bass and bass guitar as well as his numerous film and television scores. ... School Days is the title of several different works: School Days (song), a 1957 song by Chuck Berry School Days (1907 song), a popular song published in 1907 School Days (album), a 1976 album by Stanley Clarke School Days (game), an animation adventure game which spawned an anime adaptation. ... Armando Anthony Chick Corea (born June 12, 1941) is a multiple Grammy Award winning American jazz pianist/keyboardist and composer. ... My Spanish Heart is an album recorded by Chick Corea and released in 1976. ...

In the 1980s, Chick Corea produced well-regarded albums such as Chick Corea Elektric Band (1986) andEye of the Beholder (1987). In the early 1990s, Tribal Tech produced two albums, Tribal Tech (1991) and Reality Check (1995). Canadian bassist-composer Alain Caron released his album Rhythm 'n Jazz in 1995. Mike Stern released Give And Take in 1997. In 2003, Christian McBride released Vertical Vision. For a longer list, see the List of notable jazz fusion recordings article. Armando Anthony Chick Corea (born June 12, 1941) is a multiple Grammy Award winning American jazz pianist/keyboardist and composer. ... Chick Corea Elektric Band, led by renowned pianist Chick Corea, is one of the most critically acclaimed jazz fusion bands of the past two decades. ... Eye of the Beholder is a 1988 Album by the Chick Corea Elektric Band. ... Rocket Science by Tribal Tech . ... Alain Caron is a Canadian jazz musician born in Saint-Éloi, Quebec. ... Mike Stern (born January 10, 1953) is an American jazz guitarist. ... Christian McBride (born May 31, 1972, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a jazz bassist. ...

See also

• List of jazz fusion artists
• List of notable jazz fusion recordings

The following artists and bands have performed jazz fusion. ...

References

External links

• A History of Jazz-Rock Fusion by Al Garcia, a writer for Guitar Player Magazine’s Spotlight column who also performs in the group Continuum.
• BendingCorners a monthly non-profit podcast site of jazz and jazz-inspired grooves including fusion, nu-jazz, and other subgenres
• 100 Greatest Fusion Artists

Advertising pamphlet for Japanese & USA electric guitar & accessory manufacturers. ...

Video

• Miles Davis at the Isle Of Wight, 1970, excerpt From Call It Anything
• Don Ellis, Tanglewood, MA, playing an electric trumpet, excerpt from Indian Lady

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