One of the premiere fusion groups, the Mahavishnu Orchestra was considered by most observers during its prime to be a rock band, but its sophisticated improvisations actually put its high-powered music between rock and jazz. Founder and leader John McLaughlin had recently played with Miles Davis and Tony Williams' Lifetime. The original lineup... [+] Read More

Yes No

2 out of 2 people agree

In the '70s, brothers Michael and Randy Brecker co-led a band of New York session big shots that included, at various times, David Sanborn, Don Grolnick, Will Lee, and George Duke, among others. When they chose, the Brecker Brothers Band could be one of the most intelligent and creative fusion outfits. Chief composer/trumpeter Randy's best tunes... [+] Read More

Yes No

1 out of 1 people agree

Herbie Hancock will always be one of the most revered and controversial figures in jazz -- just as his employer/mentor Miles Davis was when he was alive. Unlike Miles, who pressed ahead relentlessly and never looked back until near the very end, Hancock has cut a zigzagging forward path, shuttling between almost every development in electronic... [+] Read More

Yes No

1 out of 1 people agree

Jaco Pastorius was a meteor who blazed on to the scene in the 1970s, only to flame out tragically in the 1980s. With a brilliantly fleet technique and fertile melodic imagination, Pastorius made his fretless electric bass leap out from the depths of the rhythm section into the front line with fluid machine-gun-like passages that demanded... [+] Read More

Yes No

1 out of 1 people agree

To pop music fans, keyboardist Jan Hammer is best known for his work on the soundtrack of the stylish '80s cop series Miami Vice. But Hammer also achieved considerable success in the jazz fusion world, both on his own and as a charter member of John McLaughlin's legendary Mahavishnu Orchestra. Though jazz purists often decry major portions of... [+] Read More

Yes No

1 out of 1 people agree

It has been a long, fascinating odyssey for Jean-Luc Ponty, who started out as a straight jazz violinist only to become a pioneer of the electric violin in jazz-rock in the '70s and an inspired manipulator of sequencers and synthesizers in the '80s. At first merely amplifying his violin in order to be heard, he switched over to electric violin... [+] Read More

Yes No

1 out of 1 people agree

Over the course of their decades-spanning career, the Canadian power trio Rush emerged as one of hard rock's most highly regarded bands; although typically brushed aside by critics and although rare recipients of mainstream pop radio airplay, the group nonetheless won an impressive and devoted fan following while their virtuoso performance... [+] Read More

Yes No

1 out of 2 people agree

Let's All Feed The Electronic Addiction!!! Hello. My name is Stefan Lane, and I make music and DJ under the name Styk Shift. I have been making music for most of my life so far, and started releasing Styk Shift tunes and remixes for 10 years now. I'm releasing four new albums soon called 'Left Behind', 'Intoxicate', 'A Hidden Love', and the... [+] Read More

Yes No

0 out of 1 people agree

As one of the pioneers of jazz-rock -- perhaps the pioneer in the ears of some -- Larry Coryell deserves a special place in the history books. He brought what amounted to a nearly alien sensibility to jazz electric guitar playing in the 1960s, a hard-edged, cutting tone, phrasing and note-bending that owed as much to blues, rock and even... [+] Read More

Yes No

When Lonnie Liston Smith made the transition from sideman to leader in 1973, it was the beginning of a fusion/crossover/post-bop band he dubbed Lonnie Liston Smith & the Cosmic Echoes. The acoustic pianist/electric keyboardist, who was born in Richmond, VA, on December 28, 1940, should not be confused with soul-jazz/hard bop organist Lonnie... [+] Read More

Yes No

Early jazz-fusion rock. Guitarist Larry Coryell's pioneering fusion band of the early to mid 70s. Hard-edged sound -- penetrating and loud. A great vehicle for Coryell. First three albums show most potential. Includes drummer Alphonse Mouzon, keyboardist Mike Mandel. ~ Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide

Yes No