Jazz fusion or jazz rock is a musical genre that merges jazz with elements of other styles of music, particularly funk, rock, R&B, electronic, and world music, but also pop, classical, and folk music, or sometimes even metal, reggae, country, hip hop, etc. A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States Funk is an American musical style that originated in the mid- to late-1960s when African American musicians blended Soul music, Soul Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African Electronic music is music that employs Electronic musical instruments and Electronic Music technology in its production The term world music includes Traditional music (sometimes called Folk music or roots music of any culture that are created and played by indigenous musicians Pop music as a genre features a noticeable rhythmic element catchy melodies and hooks, a mainstream style and conventional structure Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music Folk music can have a number of different meanings including Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous 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, also referred to as rap music, is a Music genre typically consisting of a rhythmic vocal style called rap which is accompanied with Fusion albums, even those that are made by the same group or artist, may include a variety of styles.

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. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 Soul music is a Music genre that combines Rhythm and blues and Gospel music, originating in the United States. 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. Progressive rock (often shortened to " progressive " " prog " or " prog rock " is a form of Rock music that evolved ^[1]

Fusion music is typically instrumental, often with complex time signatures, metres, rhythmic patterns, and extended track lengths, featuring lengthy improvisations. The time signature (also known as " meter signature" is a notational convention used in Western Musical notation to specify how many beats Meter or metre is a concept related to an underlying division of time characteristic of western music 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. A virtuoso (from Italian virtuoso, late Latin virtuosus, Latin virtus meaning skill manliness excellence is an individual Musical Improvisation is the creative activity of immediate Musical composition, which combines performance with communication of emotions and instrumental Meter or metre is a concept related to an underlying division of time characteristic of western music David Warren Brubeck (born December 6, 1920 in Concord California) better known as Dave Brubeck, is an American jazz pianist Don Ellis ( July 25, 1934 - December 17, 1978) was an American jazz trumpeter drummer composer and bandleader

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. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. A number of Internet radio stations feature fusion music, including dedicated channels on services such as AOL Radio and Yahoo! Launchcast.

Origins

Trumpeter and composer Miles Davis had the greatest influence on the development of jazz fusion by a single individual. Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26 1926 &ndash September 28 1991 was an American Jazz Trumpeter, Bandleader, and Composer. 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. Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 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 gramophone Long play (LP record albums are 33⅓  Rpm vinyl Gramophone records (phonograph records generally either 10- or 12- Inches in diameter Cool jazz is a Jazz style that emerged in the late 1940s in New York City. Hard bop is a style of Jazz that is an extension of Bebop (or "bop" music Modal jazz is Jazz using Musical modes rather than chord progressions as its harmonic framework 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. Theodore Walter "Sonny" Rollins (born September 7 1930 in New York City) is an American Jazz tenor Saxophonist Julian Edwin "Cannonball" Adderley ( September 15 1928 – August 8 1975) was a Jazz alto saxophonist of William John Evans (better known as Bill Evans) ( August 16, 1929 &ndash September 15, 1980) was one of the most famous and influential 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. Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) Paul Laurence Dunbar Chambers Jr ( April 22 1935 – January 4 1969) was one of the most influential Jazz bassists of the 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. George Edward Coleman (born March 8, 1935 in Memphis Tennessee) is an American Hard bop saxophonist, Bandleader Herbert Jeffrey Hancock ("Herbie" born April 12 1940 is a Jazz Pianist and Composer. Ron Carter (born May 4, 1937, Ferndale, Michigan) is an American Jazz Double-bassist. Anthony Tillmon "Tony" Williams ( December 12, 1945 &ndash February 23, 1997) was an American jazz drummer. 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. Wayne Shorter (born August 25 1933) is an American Jazz Composer and Saxophonist, commonly regarded as one of the Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. This band recorded four studio albums, E.S.P. in 1965, Miles Smiles in 1966, and Sorcerer and Nefertiti in 1967. ESP 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 a Studio album by Jazz musician Miles Davis, released in 1968 on Columbia Records. Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. 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. Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. An electric piano is an electric Musical instrument. The popularity of the electric piano began to grow in the late 1960s, reaching its greatest height during the The electric bass guitar (also called electric bass, or simply bass; ˈbeɪs as in "base" is a Stringed instrument played primarily with the George Benson (b March 22 1943, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania) is an American musician whose recording career began at the age of twenty-one An electric guitar is a type of Guitar that uses pickups to convert the vibration of its steel-cored strings into an electrical current which is made louder " 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. Filles de Kilimanjaro ("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 Dave Holland (born October 1, 1946) is a British Jazz Bassist and Composer who is a significant representative Compositionally, both of these albums continued in the vein of the earlier four.

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. Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In a Silent Way is a 1969 album by Jazz Trumpeter Miles Davis. 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. Teo Macero ( October 30 1925 &ndash February 19 2008) born Attilio Joseph Macero, was an American Jazz Ambient music is a Musical genre in which sound is more important than notes 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. This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. Josef Erich Zawinul ( July 7 1932 &ndash September 11 2007) was a Jazz keyboardist and Composer. John McLaughlin (born January 4 1942 also Mahavishnu John McLaughlin is a Jazz fusion Guitarist and Composer from Doncaster, 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. The Tony Williams Lifetime was a jazz-rock fusion group led by Jazz Drummer Tony Williams. Other names In Arabic, the month is called أغسطسص ʾUġusṭuṣ or آب ʾĀb; usage varies from place to place and Bitches Brew is a studio Double album by Jazz musician Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 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. 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 ( October 7, 1940 in Newark New Jersey &mdash March 30, 1978 Harvey Brooks (born July 4 1944 New York City as Harvey Goldstein is an American Bassist. Leonard White III, better known as Lenny White (born December 19 1949) is an American jazz funk Drummer, who is best known for playing Jack DeJohnette (born 9 August 1942) is an American Jazz Drummer, pianist, and composer Charles 'Don' Alias (b December 25, 1939 New York City; d March 29, 2006 New York City) was an American jazz Juma Santos, also known as James P Riley and Dr Juma Santos ( January 15, 1948 - September 2007 was a Percussionist and Bitches Brew abandoned traditional jazz in favor of a style of improvisation more typical of rock, with emphasis on the backbeat. Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. In Music, back beat (also backbeat) is a term applied both to a specific style of Rhythmic Accentuation with accent on even 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. 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 Studio album by Jazz musician Miles Davis, released in 1971 in the United States and in 1970 in There is also a Black Sabbath album called Live Evil. Live-Evil is an album by Miles Davis, part of which In Concert Live at Philharmonic Hall is a double album recorded by trumpeter Miles Davis. On the Corner is a Studio album by Jazz musician Miles Davis, recorded in June and July of 1972 and released later that year on Columbia Dark Magus is a live album by Jazz artist Miles Davis recorded at Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 30, Agharta is an album recorded by jazz trumpeter Miles Davis in 1975 Pangaea is a Double album recorded by Jazz Trumpeter Miles Davis in 1975 Sessions from this period were fashioned by producer Macero and Davis into the compilation albums Big Fun and Get Up With It. 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. This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. The Tony Williams Lifetime was a jazz-rock fusion group led by Jazz Drummer Tony Williams. Weather Report was an influential Jazz fusion band of the 1970s and early 1980s combining Jazz and Latin jazz with Art music, The Mahavishnu Orchestra was a Jazz-rock fusion group led by John McLaughlin, that debuted in 1971 and dissolved in 1976 and reunited briefly from 1984 to 1987 Return to Forever was the name of a Jazz fusion band founded and led by keyboardist Chick Corea. The Headhunters are a popular Jazz-funk fusion band, best known for their albums they recorded as a backing band of Jazz keyboard 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. Larry Coryell (born April 2 1943) is an American Jazz fusion Guitarist. William C Cobham (born May 16 1944 in Panama) is a Panamanian American Jazz Drummer, Composer and Bandleader Spectrum is the debut album of fusion Drummer, Billy Cobham. Released in 1973 Spectrum is regarded as one of the most important and

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. Crossings is the twelfth 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 ( Groove) electrified sounds and often the presence of the first electronic Head Hunters is an album by Herbie Hancock, released in 1973 on Columbia Records. Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. Thrust is a Jazz fusion album by Herbie Hancock, released in 1974 on Columbia Records. Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. 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. Frederick Dewayne Hubbard (born April 7 1938 in Indianapolis, Indiana) is an American Jazz Trumpeter. Hancock was one of the first jazz musicians to use synthesizers.

At its inception, Weather Report was an avant-garde experimental fusion group, following in the steps of In A Silent Way. Weather Report was an influential Jazz fusion band of the 1970s and early 1980s combining Jazz and Latin jazz with Art music, 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". Horses is the debut album by Patti Smith, released in 1975 on Arista Records. Weather Report's albums were also influenced by different styles of Latin and African music, offering an early world music fusion variation. The term world music includes Traditional music (sometimes called Folk music or roots music of any culture that are created and played by indigenous musicians 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. John Francis Anthony "Jaco" Pastorius III (December 1 1951–September 21 1987 was a American Jazz Musician and Composer widely 830 is an Album by the Jazz fusion group Weather Report. It was recorded live except for tracks 9-12 which were studio recorded Heavy Weather is the top-selling album of the genre.

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. Nucleus were a pioneering Jazz-rock band from Britain who continued in different forms from 1969 to 1985 Ian Carr (born 21 April 1933) is a Scottish Jazz Musician, Composer, writer and educator Dr Karl William Jenkins OBE DMus FRAM ARAM LRAM FWCMD FTCC (born February 17, 1944) is a Welsh musician and composer John Marshall (September 24 1755 – July 6 1835 was an American statesman and jurist who shaped American constitutional law and made the Supreme Court a center of power Soft Machine was an English rock band from Canterbury, named after the book The Soft Machine by William S The Canterbury scene (or Canterbury sound) is a term used to loosely describe the group of Progressive rock, Avant-garde and jazz musicians many of whom 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. Third is a 1970 Double LP by Soft Machine, with each side of the original vinyl consisting of a single long composition 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. Blood Sweat & Tears (also known as " BS&T " is an American music group originally formed in 1967 in New York City. Chicago is a Rock band formed in 1967 in Chicago Illinois. The band began as a politically charged sometimes experimental rock band and later moved to a predominately If was a Jazz-rock band formed in Britain in 1969 In the period spanning 1970-1975 they produced 8 studio-recorded albums and did some 17 tours of Europe the

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Chick Corea formed his band Return to Forever in 1972. Return to Forever was the name of a Jazz fusion band founded and led by keyboardist Chick Corea. 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. Flora Purim (born in March 6 1942 in Rio de Janeiro) is a Brazilian jazz singer known mainly for her work in the Jazz fusion style Airto Moreira (born August 5, 1941) is a Brazilian Jazz percussionist and musician Psychedelic music is a term that refers to a broad set of popular music styles genres and scenes that may include Psychedelic rock, psychedelic folk, Psychedelic Progressive rock (often shortened to " progressive " " prog " or " prog rock " is a form of Rock music that evolved The new drummer was Lenny White, who had also played with Miles Davis. Leonard White III, better known as Lenny White (born December 19 1949) is an American jazz funk Drummer, who is best known for playing 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. Stanley Clarke (born 30 June 1951) is an American Jazz musician and composer known for his innovative and influential work on Double Guitarist Al Di Meola, who started his career with Return to Forever in 1974, soon became one of the most important fusion guitarists. Al Di Meola (born Al Laurence Dimeola July 22, 1954 in Jersey City New Jersey) is an Italian American Jazz fusion and Latin jazz 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. Shred guitar or shred refers to lead Electric guitar playing that relies heavily on fast passages the act of playing fast passages on an electric guitar is termed

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. An organ trio, in a Jazz context is a group of three jazz musicians typically consisting of a Hammond organ player a Drummer, and either a Jazz The Mahavishnu Orchestra was a Jazz-rock fusion group led by John McLaughlin, that debuted in 1971 and dissolved in 1976 and reunited briefly from 1984 to 1987 William C Cobham (born May 16 1944 in Panama) is a Panamanian American Jazz Drummer, Composer and Bandleader Jerry Goodman ( Chicago Illinois, March 16 1949) is an American violinist best known for playing electrically amplified violin in the bands Richard Quentin 'Rick' Laird is a Jazz musician born on February 5, 1941. Jan Hammer (jan hamɘ (born 17 April 1948, in Prague, then Czechoslovakia, today part of the Czech Republic) is a 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. James Patrick Page, OBE (born 9 January 1944 is an English Guitarist, Composer and record producer Jerry Goodman ( Chicago Illinois, March 16 1949) is an American violinist best known for playing electrically amplified violin in the bands Hammer pioneered the Minimoog synthesizer with distortion effects making it sound more like an electric guitar. The Minimoog is a monophonic Analog synthesizer, invented by Bill Hemsath and Robert Moog. 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. Sri Chinmoy Kumar Ghose ( August 27, 1931 &ndash October 11, 2007) was an Indian spiritual teacher and philosopher who emigrated to "

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. Jean-Luc Ponty (born September 29, 1942, Avranches, France) is a virtuoso French Violinist and Jazz Composer Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21 1940 – December 4 1993 was an American Composer, Electric guitarist Record producer and Film director Michael Walden (born April 23, 1952, in Kalamazoo, Michigan U Gayle Moran is a vocalist keyboard player (piano organ and synthesizer and songwriter 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. The London Symphony Orchestra ( LSO) is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom. 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. Anthony Tillmon "Tony" Williams ( December 12, 1945 &ndash February 23, 1997) was an American jazz drummer. The Tony Williams Lifetime was a jazz-rock fusion group led by Jazz Drummer Tony Williams. Cream were a 1960s British rock band John Symon Asher "Jack" Bruce (born 14 May 1943 is a Scottish -born musician composer and Singer. Allan Holdsworth (born August 6, 1946 in Bradford, West Yorkshire) is a British Jazz / rock Guitarist

McLaughlin also worked with Latin-rock guitarist Carlos Santana in the early 1970s. For the Costa Rican football player see Carlos Santana (footballer; for the Mexican academic see Carlos Santana Morales. 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. Salsa music is a diverse and predominantly Latin American Caribbean genre that is popular across Latin America and among Latinos abroad Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles Latin music, includes the music of all countries in Latin America (and the Caribbean) and comes in many varieties Timbales (or tymbales) are shallow single-headed Drums shallower in shape than single-headed tom-toms, and usually much higher tuned The conga is tall narrow single-headed Cuban Drum of African origin probably derived from the Congolese Makuta drums or Sikulu 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. Tom Coster is an American Keyboardist and Composer. Detroit -born and San Francisco -raised Coster played Piano and 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. Lotus is a 1974 live Album by Santana. It was originally released as a triple vinyl LP and has seen CD releases as a double CD (track list as below Santana also studied under guru Sri Chinmoy, and was granted the title "Devadip".

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. Larry Coryell (born April 2 1943) is an American Jazz fusion 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 Lee's Summit Missouri) is an American Jazz Guitarist and Composer 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. Bernard "Buddy" Rich ( September 30 1917 &ndash 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

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. was a Japanese Jazz fusion band that was formed in 1976 by guitarist Issei Noro and bassist Tetsuo Sakurai. T-Square was an early drafting program written by Peter Samson assisted by Alan Kotok and possibly Robert A 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.

Commercialization: 1980s

In the early 1980s much of the original fusion genre was subsumed into other branches of jazz and rock, especially smooth jazz. Smooth jazz, also sometimes referred to as new adult contemporary music is generally described as a genre of music that utilizes instruments (and at times improvisation 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. 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 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. allmusic (previously All Music Guide) is a Metadata database about music owned by All Media Guide. "^[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"). 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 Kenneth Gorelick (born June 5, 1956) better known by his Stage name Kenny G, is an American Saxophonist whose fourth Bob James may refer to Bob James (musician (born 1939 jazz keyboardist arranger and producer of music Bob James (baseball (born 1958 David Sanborn (born July 30, 1945) is an American alto Saxophonist. 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 is generally described as a genre of music that utilizes instruments (and at times improvisation

Music critic Piero Scaruffi has called pop-fusion music ". Piero Scaruffi (born in Trivero, Italy, in 1955 but based in California since 1983 is an Italian-American cultural historian . . 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 ". Randal "Randy" Brecker (b Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, November 27, 1945) is an American Trumpeter and David Sanborn (born July 30, 1945) is an American alto Saxophonist. . . 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. Kenneth Gorelick (born June 5, 1956) better known by his Stage name Kenny G, is an American Saxophonist whose fourth 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]

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. Smooth jazz, also sometimes referred to as new adult contemporary music is generally described as a genre of music that utilizes instruments (and at times improvisation 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. Swing music, also known as swing jazz, is a form of Jazz music that developed in the early 1930s and had solidified as a distinctive style by 1935 in the United Bebop or bop is a form of Jazz characterized by fast Tempos and Improvisation based on Harmonic structure rather than Melody Dixieland or Dixie is a name for the southeastern portion of the USA; see Southern United States, Dixie. 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. Acid jazz (also known as groove jazz in USA is a Musical genre that combines elements of Jazz, Funk and Hip-hop Most

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". Tribal Tech is a progressive fusion band originally formed in 1984 by guitarist Scott Henderson and bass player Gary Willis Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea (born June 12, 1941) is a multiple Grammy Award winning American Jazz Pianist Chick Corea Elektric Band is a Jazz fusion band led by pianist Chick Corea. ^[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.

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. Chick Corea Elektric Band is a Jazz fusion band led by pianist Chick Corea. Dave Weckl (born January 8, 1960) is a highly acclaimed Jazz Fusion Drummer. John Patitucci (born December 22, 1959) is an American Jazz Double bass and electric bass player specializing in Frank Gambale (born December 22, 1958) is an Australian Jazz fusion Guitarist. Eric Marienthal is a Los Angeles-based contemporary saxophonist best known for his work in the Jazz, Smooth jazz, and pop genres Joe Zawinul's new fusion band in the 1980s was The Zawinul Syndicate, which began adding more elements of world music during the 1990s. The term world music includes Traditional music (sometimes called Folk music or roots music of any culture that are created and played by indigenous musicians

One of the notable bands that became prominent in the early 1990s is Tribal Tech, led by guitarist Scott Henderson and bassist Gary Willis. Tribal Tech is a progressive fusion band originally formed in 1984 by guitarist Scott Henderson and bass player Gary Willis Scott Henderson (born August 26, 1954, West Palm Beach, Florida) is a highly acclaimed fusion and Blues guitarist best Gary Willis is an American bassist and composer known foremost as the co-founder (with Scott Henderson) of the Jazz fusion band Tribal Tech. 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. Scott Kinsey is a keyboardist best-known for his work with the Jazz fusion group Tribal Tech and for his contributions to soundtracks for major motion pictures notably Kirk Covington is a drummer best-known for his work with the Jazz fusion group Tribal Tech. 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. Steve Smith (born on August 21 1954 in Whitman Massachusetts) is a famous American Drummer who has worked with hundreds of artists in his Steve Smith and Vital Information is an American Jazz fusion group led by Drummer Steve Smith. Victor Lemonte Wooten (born September 11, 1964) is an electric bass player Béla Fleck and the Flecktones is a multi- Grammy winning primarily instrumental group from the USA, that draws equally on bluegrass, fusion 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. Allan Holdsworth (born August 6, 1946 in Bradford, West Yorkshire) is a British Jazz / rock Guitarist Other prominent guitarists such as Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai and Yngwie Malmsteen have praised his fusion and rock playing. Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen (born January 26 1955 is a Dutch Guitarist, Keyboardist, Songwriter and producer Steven "Steve" Siro Vai (born June 6 1960 in Carle Place New York) is an American Instrumental rock Guitarist Yngwie Johann Malmsteen (ˈɪŋveɪ ˈmɑːlmstiːn in English (born Lars Johan Yngve Lannerbäck on June 30 1963 in Stockholm Sweden) is a Swedish 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. A SynthAxe is a Fretted Guitar -like MIDI controller created in 1986 by Bill Aitken and manufactured in England in the 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. Chad Wackerman (born March 25, 1960 in Long Beach California) is a Jazz, Jazz fusion and rock drummer Vincent Colaiuta (born February 5, 1956) is an American Drummer based in Los Angeles. Gary Husband (born 14 June 1960 in in Leeds) is a world-renowned jazz and rock English Drummer and composer who performs with artists Another former Soft Machine guitarist, Andy Summers of The Police, released several fusion albums in the early 1990s. Soft Machine was an English rock band from Canterbury, named after the book The Soft Machine by William S Andy Summers (born Andrew James Somers 31 December 1942) is an English guitarist and composer best known for his work in The Police The Police were a three-piece rock band consisting of Sting ( vocals, Bass guitar) Andy Summers ( Guitar,

Guitarists John Scofield and Bill Frisell have both made fusion recordings over the past two decades while also exploring other musical styles. John Scofield (born December 26 1951 in Dayton Ohio) is an American Jazz Guitarist and Composer, who has played and collaborated William Richard "Bill" Frisell (born March 18, 1951) is an American Guitarist and Composer. 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. 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. 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 A major player on the scene since his breakthrough days with Miles Davis 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. Dennis Chambers (born May 9, 1959) is an American Drummer who has recorded and performed with John Scofield, Carl Filipiak Chambers is also a member of CAB, led by bassist Bunny Brunel and featuring the guitar and keyboard of Tony MacAlpine. CAB is a Jazz fusion musical group featuring Bunny Brunel (bass Tony MacAlpine (guitar Brian Auger (keyboards Patrice Rushen Bunny Brunel is a French -born American Bass guitarist who has played with various jazz notables including Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock Tony Jeff MacAlpine (born August 29, 1960, in Springfield Massachusetts) is an American Guitarist and Keyboardist. 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. Planet X is an evolution of keyboardist Derek Sherinian 's 1999 solo album Planet X. Derek Sherinian (born August 25, 1966) is an American ‎ rock and Jazz fusion Keyboardist based in Los Angeles California Virgil Donati (born October 22 1957 is an Australian Drummer currently playing in the band Planet X alongside many side projects 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. Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26 1926 &ndash September 28 1991 was an American Jazz Trumpeter, Bandleader, and Composer. 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. Jack DeJohnette (born 9 August 1942) is an American Jazz Drummer, pianist, and composer Dave Holland (born October 1, 1946) is a British Jazz Bassist and Composer who is a significant representative Herbert Jeffrey Hancock ("Herbie" born April 12 1940 is a Jazz Pianist and Composer. Patrick Bruce Metheny (born August 12, 1954 in Lee's Summit Missouri) is an American Jazz Guitarist and Composer The Mellon Jazz Festival is a week long Jazz Music festival held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Jazz bassist Christian McBride released two fusion recordings drawing from the jazz-funk idiom in Sci-Fi (2000) and Vertical Vision (2003). Christian McBride (born May 31, 1972, Philadelphia Pennsylvania) is an American Jazz Bassist. 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. Mitchel Forman (born January 24, 1956 in Brooklyn, NY is a Jazz and fusion keyboard player currently residing in Southern California Metró was a very famous Hungarian rock band in the 1960s and early 1970s Jonas Hellborg (born June 7, 1958) is a Swedish Bass guitarist He has collaborated with John McLaughlin, Ustad Sultan Khan Shawn Lane ( March 21, 1963 &ndash September 26, 2003) was an American Musician. Tom Coster is an American Keyboardist and Composer. Detroit -born and San Francisco -raised Coster played Piano and

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 following is a list of recurring characters from The Mighty Boosh, including characters from the television series the radio series, and The Mighty Boosh, colloquially referred to as The Boosh, is the collective name for the creators of the British television situation comedy written by and starring

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. Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26 1926 &ndash September 28 1991 was an American Jazz Trumpeter, Bandleader, and Composer. In a Silent Way is a 1969 album by Jazz Trumpeter Miles Davis. Bitches Brew is a studio Double album by Jazz musician 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. Weather Report was an influential Jazz fusion band of the 1970s and early 1980s combining Jazz and Latin jazz with Art music, 830 is an Album by the Jazz fusion group Weather Report. It was recorded live except for tracks 9-12 which were studio recorded Chick Corea's latin-oriented fusion band Return to Forever released influential albums such as 1973's Light as a Feather. Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea (born June 12, 1941) is a multiple Grammy Award winning American Jazz Pianist Return to Forever was the name of a Jazz fusion band founded and led by keyboardist Chick Corea. Light as a Feather ( 1972) is the second studio album of fusion band Return to Forever, led by keyboardist Chick Corea. In that same year, Herbie Hancock's Head Hunters infused jazz-rock fusion with a heavy dose of funk. Herbert Jeffrey Hancock ("Herbie" born April 12 1940 is a Jazz Pianist and Composer. Head Hunters is an album by Herbie Hancock, released in 1973 on Columbia Records. 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. John Francis Anthony "Jaco" Pastorius III (December 1 1951–September 21 1987 was a American Jazz Musician and Composer widely This self-titled Album was Pastorius ' solo debut and was originally released in 1976 Stanley Clarke (born 30 June 1951) is an American Jazz musician and composer known for his innovative and influential work on Double Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea (born June 12, 1941) is a multiple Grammy Award winning American Jazz Pianist 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). Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea (born June 12, 1941) is a multiple Grammy Award winning American Jazz Pianist Chick Corea Elektric Band is a Jazz fusion band led by pianist Chick Corea. Eye of the Beholder is a 1988 Album by the Chick Corea Elektric Band. In the early 1990s, Tribal Tech produced two albums, Tribal Tech (1991) and Reality Check (1995). Tribal Tech is a progressive fusion band originally formed in 1984 by guitarist Scott Henderson and bass player Gary Willis Canadian bassist-composer Alain Caron released his album Rhythm 'n Jazz in 1995. Alain Caron ( DMusic honoris causa - UQAR is a Canadian Jazz musician born 1955 in Saint-Éloi, Quebec, the youngest of Mike Stern released Give And Take in 1997. Mike Stern (born January 10 1953) is an American Jazz Guitarist A major player on the scene since his breakthrough days with Miles Davis In 2003, Christian McBride released Vertical Vision. Christian McBride (born May 31, 1972, Philadelphia Pennsylvania) is an American Jazz Bassist. For a longer list, see the List of notable jazz fusion recordings article.

See also

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

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. Guitar Player is a popular magazine for Guitarists It contains articles interviews reviews and lessons of an eclectic collection of artists genres and products
• BendingCorners a monthly non-profit podcast site of jazz and jazz-inspired grooves including fusion, nu-jazz, and other subgenres
• 100 Greatest Fusion Artists

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