Chapter 13 Jazz/Rock Fusion

© 2009 McGraw-Hill All Rights Reserved 2 Early Jazz Rock The term fusion became associated with the jazz/rock crossover in the 1960s Miles Davis proved to be the central figure in the movement –Who’s who of fusion players were part of Miles’s groups from this period Use of electronic instruments and intense rhythmic drive was typical

© 2009 McGraw-Hill All Rights Reserved 3 Rhythm section developments Straight eighth note feel is often used Electric bass guitar replaces acoustic bass –Could play faster and use effects Time keeping responsibilities move from cymbals to bass and snare drum Guitar comps as piano Multiple electronic keyboards provide new and interesting textures

© 2009 McGraw-Hill All Rights Reserved 4 Miles Davis: Bitches Brew Rhythm section is central as in rock –3 drummers, 3 keyboard players, 2 bassists, and one guitar Horn players sometimes used in support role Slow, modal harmonies Collectively improvised Listen to “Bitches Brew” CD 2, track 9

© 2009 McGraw-Hill All Rights Reserved s Fusion New groups spawned from Davis’s groups –Weather Report, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever Some preferred tighter compositional approach Melodic angularity Highlighted individual virtuosity

© 2009 McGraw-Hill All Rights Reserved 6 John McLaughlin (b. 1942) Began as British rock guitarist Joined bands with Tony Williams and Miles in 1969 Founded Mahavishnu Orchestra and recorded several high energy albums Also a master of acoustic guitar Contributed the sound of rock to the jazz idiom

© 2009 McGraw-Hill All Rights Reserved 7 Chick Corea (b. 1941) Return to Forever most prominent and popular fusion band of the 1970s and 80s Virtuoso pianist and keyboard player Blends many styles –Latin, mainstream, rock, classical, even free Multi-Grammy winner Angular but accessible melodies

© 2009 McGraw-Hill All Rights Reserved 8 Chick Corea -continued- Forays into more commercial music Music attempts to capture a live spontaneous sound Listen to “Stretch It, Part 1” CD 2, track 10

© 2009 McGraw-Hill All Rights Reserved 9 Weather Report Founded by ex-Davis sidemen –Joe Zawinul ( ), keyboards –Wayne Shorter –(b. 1933), saxophones Thematically complex rhythmic style The album “Heavy Weather” was a beacon of 1970s fusion Listen to “Birdland” CD 2, track 11

© 2009 McGraw-Hill All Rights Reserved 10 Others Michael Brecker ( ) saxophone and wind synthesist –Diverse career from r&b and jazz rock, to mainstream and free –Epitomized the Coltrane technical legacy David Sanborn (b. 1945) –Strong r&b influence –Widely imitated pop alto sax sound Listen to Brecker on “Itsbynne Reel” CD 2, track 13

© 2009 McGraw-Hill All Rights Reserved 11 Others -continued- Pat Metheny (b. 1954) –Eclectic jazz guitar –Collaborated with players from many genres Spyro-Gyra, Yellowjackets –Popular jazz/rock Latin fusion Metheny –Less complex than groups like Weather Reoprt Listen to “Out of Town” CD 3, track 5

© 2009 McGraw-Hill All Rights Reserved 12 Quincy Jones (b. 1933) At the forefront of jazz/pop, fusion Also performed and wrote for Basie, Ray Charles, Frank Sanatra, Multi Grammy winning producer

© 2009 McGraw-Hill All Rights Reserved 13 Herbie Hancock (b. 1940) Diverse career from hard bop with Miles in the early 1960s, to breaker music in the mid- 80s and beyond Multi-Grammy winner Outstanding keyboard/pianist and composer 1970s group Headhunters and the tune “Chameleon” were well known

© 2009 McGraw-Hill All Rights Reserved 14 Jazz/Pop Some musicians have sought to blur the lines in order to garner commercial acceptance Popular crossover artists have included guitarist George Benson, trumpeter Chuck Mangione, Herbie Hancock, and Joe Zawinul

© 2009 McGraw-Hill All Rights Reserved 15 Latin Jazz Fusion Latin percussionists have been featured in some mainstream groups since the 1940s Role became more prominent since the 70s fusion movement Irakere, Eddie Palmieri and others have fostered a return to a more authentic Afro- Cuban style - salsa

© 2009 McGraw-Hill All Rights Reserved 16 Jazz in Rock Early rock shared some basic tendencies with jazz i.e. blues forms 1960s horn bands (Blood, Sweat and Tears, Chicago) began to consciously include jazz and classical idioms Other artists e.g. Sting, also began to import top jazz players into the rock medium

© 2009 McGraw-Hill All Rights Reserved 17 Jam Bands Other groups attempted to borrow the concept of extended improvisation over rhythmic patterns –Jimi Hendrix, Grateful Dead, Cream etc. The similarity to jazz may end there Though not from the jazz tradition, such bands have obvious respect for the jazz tradition