Fusion Music (50s-90s) That still hold up today.

[Roland51]

And when I mean fusion, I mean Chamber Jazz, World Jazz, Jazz Rock, Jazz Funk, Latin Jazz, European Jazz, Third Stream etc.

We all know one of the down sides of "Fusion" music is the likely chance of it becoming dated/ cheesy (Synths, Strings, Vocals, Overplaying). But there are some gems that still sound like it could be released today. What are some albums that you all think still stand the test of time?

[Pete C]

Does the Giuffre trio with Bley & Swallow fit?

The original Mahavishnu Orchestra, Soft Machine 3-5, Beaver Harris's 360 Degree Music Experience, Gato Barbieri's "Latino America" albums, Coltrane's Kulu Se Mama, Archie Shepp's Magic of Juju, Bitches Brew, On the Corner, Agartha, Herbie Hancock's Mwandishi band, the Airto-Flora Purim-Joe Farrell edition of RTF, etc. etc.

Latin Jazz is such a rich and established genre it doesn't make sense to consider it in this context.

[Roland51]

I never listened to the Giuffre Trio yet, but if they incorporated classical elements into their music then sure. Latin Jazz is a fusion of music the same as Indo Jazz fusion a la Shakti and John Mayer.

To add to it the already mentioned list. Freddie Hubbard's CTI outings still kick ass today. First Light could be considered but i feel Sebesky's string arrangements make it kind of dated. And although many people say its a classic, I feel Billy Cobham's "Spectrum" sounds dated in some parts.

[BlueMiles]

A couple ones I would recommend (in Third Stream mode) are Wayne Shorter's "Alegria," which came out something like 6 or 7 years ago, and Jim Hall's "Textures." Also, Joe Lovano's work with Gunther Schuller has a Third Stream kind of sound.

[LutherBlissett]

60s :

I'd second the Giuffre trio Free Fall
G.Schuller Jazz Abstractions still an interesting listen in parts but a bit time worn
Don Ellis Electric Bath

70s :

Ellington Afro Eurasian eclipse - definitely world jazz
J.McLaughlin Extrapolation - the earliest and best of electric jazz before it became "fusion"
M.Davis Live Evil
Ornette Body Meta
Hermeto P. Slave's Mass


80s

Fuzak takes over - everything is totally dated !

90s

Threadgill Too Much Sugar For a Dime
R.Abou Kahlil Sultans Picnic
Don Pullen Afro Brazilian Connection
Zorn Bar Kohba - a chamber sextet or Circle Maker
S.Sharrock Ask the Ages


Fusion as a genre like Third stream is dated but the concept is valid and continues ,all musicians fuse ideas from everywhere

[Pete C]

90s

Threadgill Too Much Sugar For a Dime

S.Sharrock Ask the Ages

Yes, and probably Laswell's two greatest albums as producer.

[bigtiny]

50s-60s:

-mingus - ysabel's table dance
-yusef lateef - eastern sounds (and others)
-stan kenton - city of glass (and this modern world) graettinger

70s:

-miles - you know the ones
-weather report
-Return to Forever
-Mahavishnu Orch.
-Don Ellis
-herbie hancock
-ornette coleman - dancing in your head
-mingus - cumbia and jazz fusion

80s-90s:

-ornette coleman - prime time
-john zorn - naked city
-jon hassell

There's more....

bigtiny

[Tom Storer]

The bassist and vocalist (in the Hindustani tradition) Warren Senders had a great Indian/jazz fusion band called Anti Gravity. Their album "Boogie for Hanuman" (1997) stands the test of time IMHO.

[Pete C]

The bassist and vocalist (in the Hindustani tradition) Warren Senders had a great Indian/jazz fusion band called Anti Gravity. Their album "Boogie for Hanuman" (1997) stands the test of time IMHO.

You reminded me of Joe Harriott:



and that further reminded me of:

[phlppo]

I still listen to: Marion Brown, Vista; Lonnie Liston Smith, Astral Traveling.

I still think about buying a turntable, just to listen to a copy of Sam Rivers, Sizzle I hung onto.

I'm probably on my own when it comes to Lonnie Liston Smith...

[steve(thelil)]

I think the Turtle Island Quartet stuff holds up well. (They've been around since 1985 and are still around). They are an acoustic string quartet with the traditional classical sting quartet instrumentation. They play jazz fused with all kinds of other non-classical forms. They recently did a Hendrix project.

[bigtiny]

The bassist and vocalist (in the Hindustani tradition) Warren Senders had a great Indian/jazz fusion band called Anti Gravity. Their album "Boogie for Hanuman" (1997) stands the test of time IMHO.

Warren is an awesome musician. He used to (maybe still does) spend about 6 months of the year here and the other half in India. AntiGravity were great...

bigtiny

[Pete C]

I'm probably on my own when it comes to Lonnie Liston Smith...

No, I love that album. Not so much the later ones.

[LutherBlissett]

always found that one pretty dated myself

[Roland51]

I think this album is a true testament to the potential fusion had back in the day.

[baksheesh]

60s :

I'd second the Giuffre trio Free Fall


80s

Fuzak takes over - everything is totally dated !

Totally with you on the Giuffre Trio - I have everything these guys put out, including the live set - which is intriguing to compare to the earlier two records Fusion and Thesis, featuring performances of tracks from these albums, but with a somewhat more direct, less abstract feel.

I think it was a phenomenal group, and doesn't seem to get the reps it ought.

RE the 80s - this may sound controversial but I really like some of the live stuff Miles put out in the 80s. Take a listen to the Montreux discs from 84 and 85 with Scofield. Badass stuff!

Speaking of Sco, he put out some great fusion albums during that period too - Still Warm, Blue Matter, the live album. Wonderful stuff.

And others here will agree that some of Wayne Shorter's stuff was pretty damn good too - Joy Ryders, Atlantis and Phantom Navigator all have some great tracks.

Oh, and Stuart Nicholson has a wonderful book about fusion in which he describes all the underground shit that was going on in the 80s, some of it hard to track down, but most of it seeming intriguing the way he describes it.
In sum then - the 80s, they weren't all bad!

[gonzo]

baksheesh welcome back bro.

[Pete C]

Totally with you on the Giuffre Trio - I have everything these guys put out, including the live set -

There are two live sets officially released by Hat Art: Bremen & Stuttgart. There are also a couple of other live dates that have had more bootlegish issues.

[clinthopson]

Unfortunately, to me, fusion connotes boring electronic music.

However, using the broader definition, I would nominate Jimmy Giuffre with many configurations, Don Ellis, Lenny Tristano, the MJQ and the Hot Club of France.

[Pete C]

Unfortunately, to me, fusion connotes boring electronic music.

[baksheesh]

There are two live sets officially released by Hat Art: Bremen & Stuttgart. There are also a couple of other live dates that have had more bootlegish issues.

When I referred to 'the live set' I meant the twofer of Bremen & Stuttgart I got my lucky paws on some time back.
Meanwhile, tell me more about these 'other live dates' if you would be so kind. I'm intrigued.

[baksheesh]

baksheesh welcome back bro.

Thanks buddy! Good to be back m'man.

[CraigP]

I'm listening to Fusion 101 radio via iTunes, and I can tell you some fusion that HASN'T stood the test of time: Michal Urbaniak's In the Wake of Awakening. Sounds like 5 cats in heat.

[Pete C]

Meanwhile, tell me more about these 'other live dates' if you would be so kind. I'm intrigued.

Date: 1961
Label: Unique Jazz

Jimmy Giuffre (ldr), Jimmy Giuffre (cl), Paul Bley (p), Steve Swallow (b)

a.		Flight (Jimmy Giuffre)
b.		Goodbye (Gordon Jenkins)
c.		Used To Be (Jimmy Giuffre)
d.		Ictus (Carla Bley)
e.		Venture (Jimmy Giuffre)
f.		That's True, That's True (Jimmy Giuffre)
All titles on:		Unique Jazz LP 12": UJ 18 — Jimmy Giuffre Trio Concert

Assumed that listed titles "Hiptus" and "This Time, This Time" are incorrect and known items from repertoire have been used. Additional selections #6 and #8 - titles unknown.

---

Date: October 27, 1961
Location: Großer Saal der Arbeiterkammer, Graz, Austria
Label: [radio broadcast]

Jimmy Giuffre (ldr), Jimmy Giuffre (cl), Paul Bley (p), Steve Swallow (b)

a.	01	Brief Hesitation - 5:54 (Jimmy Giuffre) Raretone LP 12": 5018-FC — Live In Europe 1961
b.	02	Asphalt [aka The Gamut] - 6:00 (Jimmy Giuffre) Raretone LP 12": 5018-FC — Live In Europe 1961
c.	03	Stretchin' Out [aka Suite For Germany] - 13:03 (Jimmy Giuffre, Paul Bley, Steve Swallow) Raretone LP 12": 5018-FC — Live In Europe 1961
d.	04	Ictus - 3:35 (Carla Bley) Raretone LP 12": 5018-FC — Live In Europe 1961
e.	05	Trudgin' - 8:03 (Jimmy Giuffre) Raretone LP 12": 5018-FC — Live In Europe 1961
f.	06	Cry, Want - 10:42 (Jimmy Giuffre) Raretone LP 12": 5018-FC — Live In Europe 1961
g.	07	Carla - 7:24 (Paul Bley) Raretone LP 12": 5019-FC — Live In Europe 1961, vol. 2
h.	08	Whirrrr - 5:47 (Jimmy Giuffre) Raretone LP 12": 5019-FC — Live In Europe 1961, vol. 2
i.	09	Temporarily - 5:41 (Carla Bley) Raretone LP 12": 5019-FC — Live In Europe 1961, vol. 2
j.	10	Scootin' About - 7:19 (Jimmy Giuffre) Raretone LP 12": 5019-FC — Live In Europe 1961, vol. 2
k.	11	That's True, That's True - 8:08 (Jimmy Giuffre) Raretone LP 12": 5019-FC — Live In Europe 1961, vol. 2

---

[tribalfusion]

Metheny, Tribal Tech, Allan Holdsworth, Wayne Krantz, John McLaughlin, Chick Corea, John Scofield, Dave Liebman, Mike Brecker all have great releases.

This board seems somewhat tepid at best on fusion unfortunately like most American dominated jazz circles are these days.

[Pete C]

This board seems somewhat tepid at best on fusion unfortunately like most American dominated jazz circles are these days.

You may not agree, but in the history of jazz, classic fusion (of the type you're referring to, and much of which I love) really had a rather brief heyday in the '70s, and IMO any new music in the genre worth listening to (e.g. the Abstract Logix releases) is basically working within the same vein, so I wouldn't expect a general jazz board to be heavily dominated by discussion of this subgenre. I think there are probably more specialized forums where there's more discussion of classic fusion.