The Jazz/Fusion list -

[x_OPETH_x]

I typed this list up for another forum, thought it might be of some use here -


Jean Luc Ponty - Enigmatic Ocean
this is one of the DEFINING jazz/rock fusion albums - with Allan Holdsworth on guitar, Steve Smith on drums (FTW!) , Allan Zavod on keys, and Ralphe Armstrong on bass
(search on Kerrazy or Isohunt, it's pretty easy to find)

older stuff -
Bill Bruford - One of a Kind (w/ Allan Holdsworth)
Tony Williams Lifetime - Believe It (feat. Allan Holdsworth and Allan Pasqua)
The Mahavishnu Orchestra - Visions of the Emerald Beyond (this is the "second" mahavishnu lineup - Ralphe Armstrong on bass, John McLaughlin on guitar, Jean Luc Ponty on violins, and Narada Michael Walden playing drums)
if you get ANY Mahavishnu Orchestra album, make it this one....perfect example of a 70's jazz/rock fusion band at their pinnacle.
Jeff Beck - Blow By Blow (1975) / Wired (1976)
Gong - Gazeuse! (they add a lot of bells and mallets to a fusion sound, w/ Holdsworth on guitar again)
Jean Luc Ponty - Cosmic Messenger (1979) - very ethereal and moody fusion...one of my favorites
Yes - Relayer (their foray into fusion...Sound Chaser is an amazing track)
Passenger - Cross Collateral
Dixie Dregs - Free Fall (Steve Morse on guitars...this stuff is killer)
Pat Metheny Group - (self titled) <<<highly recommended...extremely unique and original
Al Di Meola - Casino (get ANY of his stuff...absolutely stunning guitarist and songwriter)
Return to Forever - Romantic Warrior - (Chick Corea's project with Stanley Clarke and Al Di Meola)
Stanley Clarke - I Wanna Play for you / Journey to Love (excellent bass player with lots of good fusion all-star guests)
Billy Cobham - Spectrum (drummer for the Mahavishu Orchestra's first 2 albums...fantastic!)



Newer stuff
CAB (any of 3 albums) - features Tony MacAlpine on guitar and Dennis Chambers on skins
Cosmosquad - Live @ the Baked Potato / Squadrophenia (very well written and technically impressive metal/rock fusion)
Greg Howe - Extraction (AMAZING album...Dennis Chambers/Victor Wooten make an awesome complement to Greg's talent)
Estradasphere - Buck Fever / Palace of Mirrors (really strange, eclectic blend of ALL types of music...definitely check this one out)
Gordian Knot - Gordian Knot (the master, Ron Jarzombek on guitars)
Jaga Jazzist - A Livingroom Hush / Styx (very modern mix of jazz and electronic music)
Planet X - Universe / Moonbabies (probably some of the most TECHNICAL fusion out there...lots of metal influence)
On The Virg - Serious Young Insects - (Features Virgil Donati on drums, metal/fusion)
Frank Gambale, Stuart Hamm & Steve Smith - GHS3 ( modern fusion quite similar to Vital Information)
Stanley Clarke, Al Di Meola & Jean Luc Ponty - The Rites Of Strings (all acoustic, very intricate and relaxing!)



there ya go

that should get just about ANY potential fusion fan started!

feel free to add anything i may have omitted!

 

[Liquid Tension]

7 for 4
Karcius
Hellborg/Lane/Sipe

 

[Botfly]

in no real particular order:

Miles Davis - Bitches Brew
Mahavishnu Orchestra - The Inner Mounting Flame
Herbie Hancock - Head Hunters
Return to Forever - Romantic Warrior
Weather Report - Black Market
Pharoah Sanders - Karma
John McLaughlin - Devotion
The Tony Williams Lifetime - Emergency!
Jimmy Smith - Root Down
Billy Cobham - Spectrum
Jonas Hellborg - Octave of the Holy Innocents

 

[JoeVice]

pat methany group - the way up

 

[AFairJudgement0]

^^ yea \m/ a goodie =)

 

[dcat]

Yes, some good stuff listed above.

My first intro to Jazz fusion was Mahavishnu Orchestra's "Birds of Fird" waay back in 1973.

Checkout a band called "Casiopea" they're an awesome bunch of fine muso's!!

I care little for other jazz genre's and as for trad jazz, uke:

 

[Albatros]

Vital Tech Tones

 

[Travis]

Like I said in the last thread, Steve Digiorgio's Dark Hall

 

[naboo]

My favorites:

Al Di Meola - Land of the Midnight Sun
Al Di Meola - Elegant Gypsy
Al Di Meola - Casino
Billy Cobham - Spectrum
This Chick Corea box set
Mahavishnu Orchestra - Birds of Fire

I just saw Al Di Meola (by far my favorite of all these) last October. He was incredible.

 

[LightningLixxx]

All I've really heard is Al Di Meola and Mahavishnu Orchestra. I really need to get some Alan Holdsworth and some of the others in this thread.

 

[Caesar Metallius]

Anybody listened to Dark Hall? The bassist from Death is in it, and they have a few cool songs. I think only a demo so far...

 

[x_OPETH_x]

Anybody listened to Dark Hall? The bassist from Death is in it, and they have a few cool songs. I think only a demo so far...

i have 4 songs or so by them, and gave it a thorough listen...it didn't really jump out at me unfortunately...woodwind/brass solos are actually kind of a turnoff personally....
i prefer more enigmatic, mysterious, ethereal qualities in my fusion...minor keys, etc..

 

[RedinTheSky]

Mahavishnu Orchestra : Inner mounting flame is my favorite by them.

 

[x_OPETH_x]

California Guitar Trio (with Tony Levin) do a pretty kickass cover of the Mahavishnu Orchestra's song "The Dance of Maya"

 

[Caesar Metallius]

Also, Ben Lacy is amazing. Anyone heard of him?