How has jazz-rock fusion affected today's players?

[xricci]

For a related topic, see AAJ's archived thread: "Has fusion changed in the last twenty years, and if so, how?" at http://www.allaboutjazz.com/threads/newfusion.htm.

[Coypu]

Jazz-rock fusion was only a pre step to evolving further into jazz-metal fusion and even death/jazz. I think that jazz often lack in power and raw emotion and only is a comfortable listen but when we bring it together with more powerfull genres it becomes very more complete and offers so much more to the listener.

[GA Russell]

My idea of jazz-rock was the albums Steve Marcus made with Larry Coryell.

I'm not aware of anyone doing this sort of music today. So my guess is that it had no effect.

I'd be happy to hear suggestions of examples proving I'm wrong!

[Giant Steps]

Originally posted by Coypu
Jazz-rock fusion was only a pre step to evolving further into jazz-metal fusion and even death/jazz. I think that jazz often lack in power and raw emotion and only is a comfortable listen but when we bring it together with more powerfull genres it becomes very more complete and offers so much more to the listener.

Have you ever heard of Dave Martone? I bet you'd like him, he plays something along the lines of progresive jazz fusion metal. He was a one of my teachers at Berklee for a week long course. I'm deviating more and more from fusion but I still dig his stuff. It's pretty self-indulgent though..

Good Cheese,
-GS-

[Coypu]

Originally posted by Giant Steps
Have you ever heard of Dave Martone? I bet you'd like him, he plays something along the lines of progresive jazz fusion metal. He was a one of my teachers at Berklee for a week long course. I'm deviating more and more from fusion but I still dig his stuff. It's pretty self-indulgent though..

Good Cheese,
-GS-

I have just listened through his tracks on mp3.com and some of thoose songs where pretty damn good. Maybe a little to much focus on the guitar play since the other instruments wheren't taken to the same level. I'm most likely going to add his stuff to my purchase list.

Are you familiar with Spastic Ink? They are the shit in this style as far as what I have heard so far.

[Giant Steps]

No I've never heard Spastic Ink but I'm not too into the jazz-metal thing. I just thought you might like Dave. :) But yeah his music is very guitar oriented and in my opinion too self-indulgent. Of course what do you expect from a chops-obsessed guitar player?

Good Cheese,
-GS-

[Coypu]

Originally posted by Giant Steps
No I've never heard Spastic Ink but I'm not too into the jazz-metal thing. I just thought you might like Dave. :) But yeah his music is very guitar oriented and in my opinion too self-indulgent. Of course what do you expect from a chops-obsessed guitar player?

Good Cheese,
-VIG-

Too bad that you aren't into that style, there are just so many great bands in it. But if you ever feel like giving spastic a try the album is downloadable here:
Ink Complete (http://galaxen.net/~coypu/musik/MX/Spastik%20Ink%20-%20Ink%20Complete%20(1997)/) , its not even jazz-metal really but more technical metal fusion...

Well I shall stop promotic spastic and do something else for a while, take care.

[Giant Steps]

I checked out some of that Spastic Ink stuff and I really don't like it...:) Just not my thing but thanks for the link anyway! It'd be interesting to hear fusion metal with a sax or trumpet if you could point me to any of that!

If you're into fusion with less of a rock emphasis at all you might like John McLaughlin and some of the stuff he did with Mahavishnu Orchestra. You might dig Vernon Reid too if you can find his stuff.

I don't know, just throwin' out names. :)

Good Cheese,
-GS-

[Coypu]

Originally posted by Giant Steps
I checked out some of that Spastic Ink stuff and I really don't like it...:) Just not my thing but thanks for the link anyway! It'd be interesting to hear fusion metal with a sax or trumpet if you could point me to any of that!

If you're into fusion with less of a rock emphasis at all you might like John McLaughlin and some of the stuff he did with Mahavishnu Orchestra. You might dig Vernon Reid too if you can find his stuff.

I don't know, just throwin' out names. :)

Good Cheese,
-GS-

Spastic ink may not be for everyone to like i guess. It can take a while to get through the mathematical fasade though.

The only fusion band with sax I could think of is this:
Dark Hall - Changing Weather (http://galaxen.net/~coypu/musik/MX/Mixed%20Mp3/Dark%20hall%20-%20Changing%20Weather.mp3) , it has the death metal bass legend Steve DiGiorgio on bass. Could be worth checking out.

I love Mahavishnu Orchestra! I'm going to check out Vernon and see if I like his stuff.

[Akasha]

I liked "Motorpsycho"'s live-version of "Grindstone" with "The Source"

[Sjonesmusic]

I think that fusion is a natural part of the evolution of jazz...

Every jazz artist, no matter what their ultimate preference in style, should always be seeking ways of expanding, and extending the language; finding new contexts, new approaches...

Tradition is best honored when it is not stifled but re-born; not elevated beyond its potential; when it’s a foundation for a multi-faceted, multi-layered, and diverse amalgam...

Charlie Parker himself, did not create be-bop by treating Lester Young and Ben Webster as boundaries, rather, as springboards...

So, it was only a natural part of the process for artists to look for ways of incorporating the language of jazz into the raw energy of rock, the back beat of funk, the spiritual passion from other cultures, and the random chaos of nature itself...into that which can be utilized as pivotal junctures, springboards, prisms through which even the most traditional, to the most radical, to the most commercial can create the music they hear...

Fusion has affected today’s jazz musicians as it has open new doors for context, texture, orchestration, and means to each end...

To play a standard in the most traditional sense, is a sacred approach, one filled with reverence and respect for the given stylistic parameters...however, to give a standard a new world in which to exist, can be as sacred and reverent, as the whole idea of jazz was enveloped in making the familiar somehow surprising, through improv’ and re-harmonization, through alterations in time, tempo, and individual interpretation...which is what those we now consider “traditional” were doing all along...the cycle is thus complete...

Jazz, in a sense, WAS fusion, before “fusion” even existed...

Peace,

Scott Jones

-------------------------------------------

My
Fusion C.D. on Holdsworth's label, Gnarly
Geezer-w/soundclips (http://www.gnarlygeezer.com/artists.asp?artist
=18)

My Fusion C.D., to be re-released on Progressive Arts
this winter-w/partial soundclips (http://www.progressiveartsmusic.com/scottjones_main.
htm)


My VIDEO page (http://www.scottjonesmusic.com/demos/videoclips.htm)-clips of me playing

[omar zamora]

It has extended the available palette for creative musicians. Many musicians, such as Tim Berne and Ellery Eskelin (to name two), do not play "jazz-rock fusion", but they're music is still very highly influenced by rock rhythms and energy.

[jazzypaul]

I think fusion's hey day is long gone. And considering the drek that most fusion turned into by the late 70's, can you blame anyone for not buying it, and also for not expounding on it? It's truly sad too, because after re-listening to a bunch of late 60's/ early 70's Larry Coryell stuff, it's easy to see that he had the fire early on, and he had great ideas and terrific bands to back him up. Add to that plenty of hippie idealism, and you've got a potent punch there. But to see the weak half hearted attempt that Coryell is making these days at playing straight ahead, it's just depressing.