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.

Some of the most essential fusion artists and albums

• Stanley Clarke - Journey to Love (1975), School Days (1976)
• Billy Cobham - Spectrum (1973)
• Chick Corea - My Spanish Heart (1976), Elektric Band (1986)
• Return to Forever - Return to Forever (1972), Light as a Feather (1973), Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy (1973), Where Have I Known You Before (1974), No Mystery (1975), Romantic Warrior (1976)
• Larry Coryell - Spaces (1970), Barefoot Boy (1971), Introducing The Eleventh House (1974)
• Miles Davis - In a Silent Way (1969), Bitches Brew (1969), A Tribute to Jack Johnson (1970), Live-Evil (rec. Dec. 1970, released 1971), On the Corner (1972), Agharta (1975), Pangaea (1975), We Want Miles (1982)
• Al Di Meola - Elegant Gypsy (1978), Splendido Hotel (1980)
• Herbie Hancock - Fat Albert Rotunda (1969), Crossings (1972), Sextant (1973), Head Hunters (1973), Thrust (1974), Mr. Hands (1980)
• John McLaughlin - My Goals Beyond (1971)
• Mahavishnu Orchestra - The Inner Mounting Flame (1971), Birds of Fire (1972)
• Shakti - Shakti (1976)
• Pat Metheny - Bright Size Life (1976), Pat Metheny Group (1978), American Garage (1979)
• Jaco Pastorius - Jaco Pastorius (1976)
• Jean-Luc Ponty - Upon The Wings Of Music (1975), Enigmatic Ocean (1977)
• Weather Report - Weather Report (1971), I Sing the Body Electric (1972), Sweetnighter (1973) Mysterious Traveller (1974), Tale Spinnin (1975), Black Market (1976), Heavy Weather (1978), ' (1979)
• Tony Williams Lifetime - Emergency! (1969), Turn It Over (1970)
• Joe Zawinul - Zawinul (1970), Dialects (1986)