Jazz Fusion Rock
tagStarted 1970Peak 1972-1977Last big hit still active
Located in 1 route
Electric, high-velocity fusion: distorted guitar and violin trading lightning lines over Fender Rhodes, Moog and ARP synth, with drummers churning 7/8 and 9/8 polyrhythms. Solos are extended and combustible, harmony is dense and modal, dynamics swing from whisper to wall-of-sound. Virtuosity worn openly, riffs as heavy as hard rock.
History
Crystallized from Miles Davis's electric bands; sidemen John McLaughlin, Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter and Joe Zawinul launched Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever and Weather Report around 1971-72. Herbie Hancock's Head Hunters (1973) added funk firepower. The style defined fusion's mainstream and fed every later jazz-rock branch.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz_fusion
- https://jazzfuel.com/headhunters-herbie-hancock/
- https://333sound.com/10-essential-jazz-fusion-tracks/