Fusion

Hybrid form of jazz-rock

In the late 1960s and early 1970s the hybrid form of jazz-rock fusion was developed. Although jazz purists protested the blend of jazz and rock, some of jazz' significant innovators crossed over from the contemporary hardbop scene into fusion. Jazz fusion music often uses mixed meters, odd time signatures, syncopation, and complex chords and harmonies, and fusion includes a number of electric instruments, such as the electric guitar, electric bass, electric piano, and synthesizer keyboards.

Notable performers of jazz fusion included Miles Davis, keyboardists Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock, drummer Tony Williams, guitarists Larry Coryell and John McLaughlin, Frank Zappa (and his drummers Terry Bozzio, and Vinnie Colaiuta), Al Di Meola, jazz violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, Sun Ra, Narada Michael Walden, Wayne Shorter, and bassist-composer Jaco Pastorius.

Miles Davis recorded the fusion albums In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew in 1968 and 1969. Chick Corea performed and recorded with his Return to Forever band. Ex- Miles Davis drummer Tony Williams had a band called Lifetime with Larry Young and John McLaughlin which later featured Jack Bruce. A second version of the group featured Allan Holdsworth on guitar. Herbie Hancock lead a funk-infused band called the Headhunters. Guitarist Larry Coryell had a band called "The Eleventh House," which featured drummer Alphonse Mouzon. John McLaughlin founded "The Mahavishnu Orchestra," which featured fusion drumming pioneer Billy Cobham. Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter joined forces to launch the long-lived and very successful Weather Report. Soft Machine influenced the development of fusion in the UK.