The Jazz-Rock/Fusion Appreciation Thread

i think there is a very fine line between some fusion and prog. i would still consider return to forever prog. i mean, it is fusion, yet has elements of rock in it.

Andrea Cortese wrote: Jazz-rock is really interesting. There are tons of excellent stuff. These are the latest purchases for me:   - Return to Forever / Where Have I known You Before? - Jean Luc Ponty / Cosmic Messenger - Stanley Clarke / School Days - Iceberg / Sentiments - Iceberg / Arc en Ciel - Al Di Meola / Splendido Hotel     What do you think of these records?

Pretty good.

Can't comment on Iceberg - I only have one of their  albums, but it isn't  any one listed here.

I hear the DiMeola album as a blossoming out - it was a double vinyl release which gave  Al  a chance to express himself  with more than the usual Latin jazz rock,  however, my CD version doesn't have all the original LP's tracks.

Clarke's 4th album Schooldays was seen as the height of Clarke's early solo career, but has dropped back from being my favourite, in part because some tracks now seem  overstretched  - mind you the live version of the title track Schooldays is really overblown,  (i.e. on I Wanna Play For You.). I've gone back to preferring the eponymous second Stanley Clarke album, with  with its superstar cast of players: Jan Hammer, Bill Connors (the original RTF guitarist) and Tony Williams. Talking of which, I strongly recommend RTF with Bill Connors' Hymn Of The Seventh Galaxy - which has always been my favourite RTF album.

The J-L Ponty I have (i.e. it ain't bad) but I'm afraid it is one of those albums I can confuse with several of his others from that period - personally I prefer Ponty with guests to create some musical tension and so on. I would go for Enigmatic Ocean - Allan Holdsworth shines, Daryl Stuermer  also plays lead,and it is also Steve Smith's (now a very reputable fusion drummer e.g. Vital Information, Vital Tech Tones) first recording. Coincidentally a colleague bought Enigmatic Ocean this week, and I 'm surprised to discover the CD still hasn't been remastered; I've had my copy for over 15 years - we agreed that the treble end of the recording (e.g. cymbals) is right in your face (cf. the LP version) and can be distracting.


Edited by Dick Heath - April 12 2008 at 06:20

Nightfly wrote: On the subject of Jack Bruce i see he's just released an album with Robin Trower with Gary Husband on Drums which sounds pretty interesting. Anyone heard it yet and is it worth getting?

Edited by Dick Heath - April 10 2008 at 05:26

Just received HR Big Band and Jack Bruce Live In Concert album - inevitably the post Cream /Jack Bruce solo songs work very well with a big jazz band - but pleasantly surprised to report: so do the Cream classics.

Edited by Dick Heath - April 09 2008 at 06:04

Edited by Andrea Cortese - April 07 2008 at 12:55

Dick Heath wrote: Dick Heath wrote: Just read Scott McGill and Percy Jones have recorded and uploaded something on the web - claimed to cutting edge. Info please   A bit of digging reveals: Hello, A General Announcement-- "DEBUT" from Percy Jones, Scott McGill & Ritchie DeCarlo is available for Download ONLY. It is over an hour of brand new material like nothing you've heard before! This music is scorching and revolutionizes the instrumental genre. You need this--it will melt all of the other stuff that you own. It is available at iTunes, Rhapsody & Napster http://sms.napster.com/duet/sampler/sampler.html?opcode=search&type=album&id=12712415&class=album&artist_id=12485707&album_id=12712415 This trio from hell is currently working on the second album & planning shows for the Spring. Get "DEBUT" now and check us out at http://www.myspace.com/jonesmcgillritchie Also, FreakZoid's first disc and Scott's magnum opus "The Guitar Arpeggio Compendium" are both available at www.scottmcgill.com. Thank you for your continued support and there's more on the way! FreakZoid Jones McGill DeCarlo P.B.     Napster doesn't work outside the USA - but go to Scott McGill on (rip-off) I-tunes where you can get the album for about 6 quid.

BEWARE OF THE HYPE

I've downloaded whole of  the album from I-Tunes for I-Pod playand also made a CD  for radioplay - the CD player tells me total time is 40' 31" - which I do believe is well less than than an hour.  Feedback playing Plan Invasion on the show tonight - 'noodling 'and somebody even mistook the track for the Mars Volta.... As for originality , not convinced  - Uncle Joes Space Ranch  has more to offer in IMHO. Scorching???? BTW converted to CD the sound quality is not so good. And is this the Pecy Jones of Brand X and Tunnels??? Believe too much of that hype and be disappointed.

Just read Scott McGill and Percy Jones have recorded and uploaded something on the web - claimed to cutting edge. Info please

superprog wrote: just bought this cd from the shop near my office:   Nicky Skopelitis - Ekstasis (released on Bill Laswell's Axiom label in 1993 this is brillo avant-world-fusion feat. Laswell, Jah Wobble, Jaki Liebzeit, Zakir Hussain and many others......)

Edited by Dick Heath - February 15 2008 at 08:26

last night i watched the dvd Electric Miles: A Diff Kind of Blue.feat interviews with Santana & ppl who played with him (Herbie, Chick, Keith, Dave, Airto etc.).  Very touching tributes from them esp Herbie's Fender Rhodes dedication at the end.

I'm a newb to here but still I rather listen to:

Mahavishnu Orchestra
Billy Cobham
Return to Forever
Al Di Meola, Stanley Clarke and Jean Luc Ponty
Jean Luc Ponty
Herbie Hancock
Dixie Dregs: jazz rock