software

All,
I have a question about the Tone Wizard. Can someone tell me what style of music quot;Fusionquot; is, and what artists fit into this category? Google isn't being much help...

Fusion first came about really in the late 50's with Miles Davis. But, the Fusion we all know and love or loathe depending who you are, was done mainly in the 70's and 80's. It's really a mix of Rock and Jazz. Some notable artists are:

Chick Corea
Al DiMeola
Lenny White
Stanley Clark
Allan Holdsworth
Scott Henderson
Jean-Luc Ponty

Fusion ended up morphing into Smooth Jazz in the 90's. That's a short synopsis. Someone may come in and give a more detailed description.

You hit it, Butch. I was gonna throw Santana in there too. Even though he's Latin rock, he does some Fusion type stuff too, especially live.

All,

Thanks, I'm not really into fusion, so this helped me figure things out! (But I like Santana sorta)


Originally Posted by ErikHI was gonna throw Santana in there too. Even though he's Latin rock, he does some Fusion type stuff too, especially live.

Yep, Santana was doing some Fusion stuff with John McLaughlin back in the Mahavishnu days. I have an album that the two did. It sux IMO. Just the two of them shredding their heads off. Musical masturbation if you ask me. There are some that come to mind that actually formed with the idea of being Fusion. Here are a few.

Mahavishnu Orchestra
Spyro Gyra (although sax-driven)
Jeff Lorber Project
Billy Cobham
Return to Forever

Shouldn't we be mentioning Jeff Beck if we're discussing Fusion? To me, quot;Blow By Blowquot; would be one of the earlier releases and a quintessential example of the style.


Originally Posted by Butch SnyderYep, Santana was doing some Fusion stuff with John McLaughlin back in the Mahavishnu days. I have an album that the two did. It sux IMO. Just the two of them shredding their heads off. Musical masturbation if you ask me. There are some that come to mind that actually formed with the idea of being Fusion. Here are a few.

Mahavishnu Orchestra
Spyro Gyra (although sax-driven)
Jeff Lorber Project
Billy Cobham
Return to Forever

I didn't like that stuff either. I much prefer seeing him play live. That's where the musical genius in him comes out. It's great seeing him start one song, then halfway through it go off in to some fusion style jam for a bit, then come back to the song and finish it off.


Originally Posted by HamerPlyrShouldn't we be mentioning Jeff Beck if we're discussing Fusion? To me, quot;Blow By Blowquot; would be one of the earlier releases and a quintessential example of the style.

Even though I have the deepest respect for Jeff Beck, my definition of Fusion didn't really include him. It should have....

He could have fit right in with Return to Forever. Though not in the same vain as Al DiMeola, he would do well anyway....

You may be surprised but 'fusion' in Europe is used for bands like deftones, limp bizkit, orgy, tool and even primus. I witnessed this in France a few years ago.

Deftones are probably one of the more sophisticated modern day metal bands. Their music has some complexity in it. Some Santana songs have fusion in them, but i wouldn't say its his main thing.


Originally Posted by Butch SnyderFusion first came about really in the late 50's with Miles Davis. But, the Fusion we all know and love or loathe depending who you are, was done mainly in the 70's and 80's. It's really a mix of Rock and Jazz. Some notable artists are:

Chick Corea
Al DiMeola
Lenny White
Stanley Clark
Allan Holdsworth
Scott Henderson
Jean-Luc Ponty

Fusion ended up morphing into Smooth Jazz in the 90's. That's a short synopsis. Someone may come in and give a more detailed description.Fusion didn't really come about til the late sixties. Miles set the standard for what became fusion with '*****es Brew' in 70 and its predecesor 'In a Silent Way' in 69 but that was much later in his career. In the 50's bop was where Miles was at. The band he had in the late 50's with Paul Chambers, Coltrane, Bill Evans, and Jimmy Cobb that did 'Kind of Blue' is unmatched with the possible exception of the later Miles groups with Tony Williams, Ron Carter, Chick Corea et al.

Fusion really picked up steam in the 70's with groups like McLaughlins' Mahavishu Orchestra, Chick Corea's Return to Forever and Weather Report with Jaco P. There were other. Fusion had its heydey in the seventies. If you are into guitar playing ahead of its time checkout the album Spectrum by Billy Cobham. You will hear a few familiar sounding licks from Tommy Bolin a decade before it was commonplace.

Modern day fusion is found by bands like Scott Henderson's Tribal Tech, Chick Corea's Electric Band, collaberations by Frank Gambale, Stu Hamm and Steve Smith and Scott Henderson, Steve Smith and Victor Wooten. Other artist in the area of fusion include John Scofield, John McLaughlin, Allan Holdsworth, Al DiMeola and Frank Gambale solo material

I have a hard time accepting a link from fusion to smooth jazz as they are completely different animals but smooth jazz as a genre certainly was next in the progression no matter how vanilla it is.

from : localhost/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz_fusion

Wikipedia's take on it. Helpful place, that. I always learn something new.