Fusion
Fusion developed in the late 1960's and early 1970's as an attempt to merge
Rock with Jazz. Miles Davis helped usher in the fusion of jazz and rock in the
mid to late 1960's through albums such as Bitches Brew.
Jazz/Rock Fusion Bands such as Chick Corea's Return to Forever flourished
largely by creating a crossover audience which included many fans of
Progressive Rock
, and featured players of extremely high technical proficiency. Tony
Williams formed a rock oriented band called Lifetime with John McLaughlin, who
also formed his own high energy group, the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Other groups
combined jazz and rock in a more popularly oriented manner, from the crossover
Top 40 of Spyro Gyra to the somewhat more esoteric guitarist Pat Metheny.
Other popular fusion bands include Weather Report, The Crusaders, and the
Yellowjackets. (After Marc Sabatella)
The following is an attempt to list important figures in Fusion, and their
primary instruments. This list is necessarily incomplete and always open
to debate! Also, many of these musicians have made contributions in other
styles of jazz. If you have anything to add,
let us know!)