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A Question of Crazy Jazz Rock/Fusion

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@minibreakfast ‘s https://theafterword.co.uk/a-question-of-jazz/ thread has been a goldmine of alien jazz recommendations.

But it’s largely in the classic, dudes in suits, vein.

Recently I have been wandering through the forests of classic fusion – I’m not an expert but have been stopping to think whether or not I like Mahavishnu or Weather Report (a bit too ‘dry’ particularly Weather Report?) or Billy Cobham.

Then I got Agharta – this could possibly be the peak of all musical existence , well unless you’re having a dinner party. Stupendous.

And I have now continued my journey, with a bit more groove in my step, to find anything else that hits that vein. So please assume the alien is a groovy one – let me have your wig-outs.

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    • I recognise that my WR position needs further research…(are they to fusion what Dream Theater are to modern prog?)

      4 mins in we get some craziness, like the build at 7’30” – will try that album..

  10. That trio of Herbie Hancock albums, Mwandishi, Crossings and Sextant are all fantastic examples of early fusion at its most adventurous. Don’t think he ever sounded quite as out there, or compelling, again, once he went down the Headhunters route.

  11. You might enjoy the legendary Brit jazz big band maestro Michael Gibbs, Tim. I’ve been involved in a couple of recent archive releases with Mike and the Dusk Fire and RPM/Turtle labels – including the just-released ‘Festival 69’ 3CD set. Here’s a track from his 1970 debut album:

      • I’m not sure what the digital policy is re the two releases I’m talking about (‘Birmingham Symphony Hall 1991’ and ‘Festival 69’). Neither is ‘my’ label. Mostly from a cheerleading standpoint, I just do the crate-digging, audio digitising and sometimes sleeve-noting (eg. 5000 wds in ‘Festival 69; someone else annotated ‘Birmingham 91’). I don’t think it’s breaking a confidence to say that further releases of high-quality archive gems are likely from both labels in collaboration with Mike (and me)…

        Several of Mike’s albums can be heard in full on YouTube. The first two – ‘Michael Gibbs’ and ‘Tanglewood ’63’ are great starting points, with great players involved. Fuzz guitar from Chris Spedding.

    • Cheers Mike – I’ve seen Electric Masada mentioned, need to try further – I always though John Zorn was a bit hard and inaccessible, guess wrongly.
      Following up on Lydian Collective I saw they are supporting Billy Cobham, whi I’d love to see – but i have Nils Frahm that night…

  15. I think this is officially free jazz – but some of it has a jazz-rock feel….and I would particularly recommend Spirit of Peace (for Elvin Jones), which starts around the 19 minute mark….

      • Finally, from me, I’m not sure that this is “fusion” but there are elements of jazz and elements of rock and it’s bloody brilliant, so here it is:

        Charlie Haden, Joe Lovano, Jack DeJohnette and John Scofield. Can’t get better.

        • OK. Maybe not “finally from me” as I’ve just remembered this, which might fit the bill:

          But really it’s an excuse to draw attention to the great, great talent that is Michael League and to introduce a slightly different take on “fusion” . . .

    • Love all those. Isotope guitarist Gary Boyle made some good albums of his own and ago played lead guitar on “In a broken dream” back in the day.

      • Hi @Twang
        Yep, Gary Boyle made some enjoyable albums in his own name – I only own “Triple Echo” which was released on Danny Thompson’s “Jazz Label” in ’94.

        He’s played with many great artists starting with Millie Small but, most notably for me, Eclection with Trevor Lucas (later of Fotheringay) and Georg Kajanus (who had hits with Sailor).

        He did play in Python Lee Jackson but not until 1972 which was 3 years after the Australian nucleus of the band recorded “In a Broken Dream” (produced by John Peel) with Rod the Mod in April ’69. I believe that means the guitarist on the track was probably Mick Liber, but you can never be sure in those days . . . it could have been Big Jim Sullivan or any other 60s session guy!

        It is commonly reported that Rod was paid for his session-man appearance with new set of seat covers for his car!

        Anyway, the pick of the tracks that I added above is Bokante. I love it and the album is equally enjoyable. As I get older I’m increasingly becoming a “Songlines” magazine kinda chap – there’s music being made to the east of here which is fresh (to my ears) and thrilling; here’s a couple of examples:

        Apologies to the OP that these aren’t jazz fusion, but . . . .

        • I’m a big fan of Snarky Puppy. They are coming to NZ in 2019, looking forward to that. I hadn’t heard Bokante, but I’m intrigued by that clip. Will check them out later.

          A few selections from me that haven’t appeared here.

          Barry Miles played keyboards with Al Di Meola. He made some top quality fusion records in the 70s, the best of which is probably Sky Train (on RCA). His younger brother Terry Silverlight (great name) played some incredible drums, particularly on the track Relay.

          On a trip to Sydney a few years ago, I discovered a double live album (Live Oblivion Vol. 2) by Brian Augur’s Oblivion Express, recorded at the Whisky in Hollywood in 1974. It’s a great band including Jack Mills on guitar, Alex Ligertwood on vocals and Steve Ferrone on drums, just before he joined the AWB (Vol 1. contains a dedication to Robbie McIntosh, who had just died, Ferrone having followed him into Augur’s band). The album includes versions of Herbie’s Maiden Voyage, Marvin’s Inner City Blues and the classic Compared To What. Funky and jazzy in equal measure.

          John Abercrombie’s 1974 solo album Timeless, featuring a recently post-MO Jan Hammer plus Jack DeJohnette on drums, sounds like what a cross between the MO and Return To Forever might have sounded like, especially on the first tracks, Lungs.

          Jan Hammer and Jerry Goodman’s 1974 album Like Children is also worth checking out. Hammer handles the drums too while Goodman plays some decent rock guitar as well as his amazing violin.

          Someone mentioned Holdsworth. As well as his work with the late period Softs, he was also responsible for the distinctive sound of late-period Gong, otherwise known as Pierre Moerlen’s Gong. Check out Gazeuse.

          Better known but still worth a mention: John McLaughlin’s album Electric Guitarist, which features many of jazz rock’s finest at the time, although notably not Jan Hammer. Not sure those two ever made it up.

          And Crosswinds, the follow up to Billy Cobham’s Spectrum, is also excellent.

  27. Hi Mini. Agartha stupendous? Then continue with Pangaea, Dark Magus, On The Corner, Get Up With It, Big Fun, and Bill Laswell’s Panthalassa, that should keep you busy for a while. Peak of all musical existence? You’re a poet!

    And don’t discount this man, whatever your stereotype says. His band was good back in the early-mid 70s. Try this one:

    • Must listen to more of them – had a track on a recent afterword cd…

      I know they’re Japanese, so maybe something is lost on us – but that is one bad name

  31. Joe McPhee took some time out from his more, ahem, challenging material to deliver this, Shakey Jake. It is a brilliant piece of fusion – accessible, yet with something altogether wilder growing through the cracks.

  34. Joe Zawinul & The Zawinul Syndicate

    This looks like the Syndicate lineup I saw at Ronnie Scott’s one night, quite a few years back.
    Had the honour of shaking Joe’s hand and congratulating him on having such a great band.
    On that occasion Sabine sang a beautiful version of Duke Ellington/Mahalia Jackson’s “Come Sunday”, accompanied just by Joe.
    Also found myself at one point standing at the urinal in the Gents between Nigel Planer and Ade Edmondson. A memorable night.

  35. This doesn’t really fit my brief but it has got some of the right aspects – cool synth noises and that sort of syncopation.

    Great album – kind of went under the radar

    • There are three double-CD albums officially released by that band, in all.
      That one, “Yo Miles!”, another called “Upriver: Yo Miles!” and a third “Sky Garden: Yo Miles!”
      Plus a couple of free-to-download live concerts at the Internet Archive in excellent quality. There’s a 2-CD show from ’99 and a 3-CD one from ’00. Both recorded at the Fillmore in San Francisco.

      Another Electric Miles project on record is “Miles Remembered: The Silent Way Project” by Mark Isham.

      There’s also a good bootleg available of this band. Recorded for the BBC (Jazz On 3) at Ronnie Scott’s in ’99.

      • The Smith / Kaiser Yo Miles band are great, and the closest thing I have heard to the classic 1973 to 1975 Miles band. Some great electric trumpet work from Leo Smith and some fantastic percussion

    • Far out, JJ! Great discovery for me. Actually most surprised with Manring on bass, first as stretched-out riffer then doing a very growly solo, as I’d only ever known him on extremely polite, new-age albums by Michael Hedges and George Winston, house style of Windham Hill records I suppose. Very pleasant, mind.

      Yeah, Mike, these are my next acquisitions, thanks for the overview.

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