Tell me some groups to listen to of the following...

[Sammy_L_D]

Greetings forum!

So I'm a huge fusion fan. I love it. I love listening to it, and I love playing fusion basslines. Anything fusion, of just about any style.

However, it has just occured to me, that despite my love for the style, I have very little actual fusion bands in my playlist (most of it being independently electronic produced music that is very similar to some fusion styles).

Give me the names of some groups and albums to acquire.

Something with Latin influence would be sweet--nothing too heavy on the Latin, but enough to get the groove in there.

Regardless, I'm open on just about anything.

[Jameslar]

I recommend Weather Report and the Mahavishnu Orchestra

Bitches Brew by Miles Davis as well, though its not exactly Fusion (I don't even know what the word means)

[magicbus]

Jeff Beck Blow By Blow. Lots of John McLaughlin stuff.

The Eleventh House, Return to Forever, etc.

[Krabsworth]

Hmph Wired is better than Blow by Blow.

[flyguy]

Medeski, Martin, and Wood
Chick Corea (early return to forever, with airto, and flora purim.)
Carribbean Jazz Project

[Jazz Pirate]

Vital Tech Tones

[jazzfromhell]

Bitches Brew by Miles Davis as well, though its not exactly Fusion


Ummm....what? :confused:

Not only is Miles Davis's form of fusion nearly the first form of fusion that existed (and in my opinion, the best by far), therefore it technically should be the definition of fusion, but it does completely fit the definition of fusion. Fusion is, as I've always understood it, jazz song forms (i.e. focus on soloing) applied to rock and funk rhythms. This is why many jazz purists (hello, Stanley Crouch and Wynton Marsalis) don't believe that fusion is jazz, they think that the jazz rhythms are what define it as jazz. Considering that the improvisation was what seperated jazz from its first influences (ragtime, blues), I am with the crowd who believe that a focus on improvisation is what defines jazz.