Jazz fusion

Jazz fusion (sometimes referred to simply as fusion) is a musical genre that loosely encompasses the merging of jazz with other styles, particularly rock, funk, R&B, and world music. It basically involved jazz musicians mixing the forms and techniques of jazz with the electric instruments of rock, and rhythmic structure from African-American popular music, both "soul" and "rhythm and blues". The 1970s were the most important decade for fusion, but the style has been well represented also during later decades. Fusion albums - often even those that are made by the same artist - include a variety of musical styles. It can be argued that rather than being a coherent musical style, fusion is a musical tradition and approach.

Of controversies and musical directions

While jazz fusion is criticised in some quarters for being a watering down of more conventional swing-based jazz for pop audiences, and further criticised by others for being pretentious or too concerned with musical virtuosity, it has helped to break down boundaries between different genres and led to developments such as acid jazz.

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For the most part the genre has been subsumed into other branches of jazz and rock, but some traces of the form remain. The merging of jazz and pop/rock music took a more commercial direction in the early 1980s, in the form of shorter, more melodic compositions that could fit comfortably in a soft rock radio playlist. Bob James and David Sanborn were leading purveyors of this smooth jazz style. Other acts have retained some of the more challenging aspects of fusion; although few describe their music as "fusion", current artists like John Scofield, Tom Coster, Michael Brecker / Steps Ahead, Mike Stern, and the Yellowjackets continue to integrate aspects of rock and funk music into jazz forms. The influences of avant-garde jazz and psychedelic rock that were strongly present in the fusion groups of 1970s have long been absent and replaced by lighter jazz-rock sound that often incorporates elements from funk.

Related Topics:
Soft rock - Bob James - David Sanborn - Smooth jazz - John Scofield - Tom Coster - Michael Brecker - Steps Ahead - Mike Stern - Yellowjackets

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