Jazz Fusion

John Abercrombie David Garibaldi Seawind
Brian Auger Tom Hemby Mark Soskin

Randy Bernsen

Koinonia

Marvin Stamm

Brecker Brothers

Kiko Loureiro

Steely Dan

Vinnie Coaluita

Jeff Lorber

Tribal Tech

Tom Coster

John Mclaughlin 

Weather Report 

Chick Corea

Niacin

Rob Whitlock

 

Adam Nitti

Dave Weckl

Dan Dobek

Jean Luc Ponty

Michael Urbaniak

This web page was created to be an educational resource for the style of music "Jazz Fusion". There are links, audio samples, photos, charts and information on all of the Jazz artists listed in the directory above.

( We are adding more jazz fusion groups all the time - if you have a favorite group/recording not listed here e-mail me here!)

For Big Band Fusion Charts visit here!

Weather Report

Weather Report Biography

Weather Report was an influential jazz fusion band of the 1970s and 1980s, pitting jazz with R&B, funk, and rock elements while still retaining an extremely high level of compositional and improvisational skills. Along with other groups that were founded by Miles Davis alumni Return to Forever, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Herbie Hancock's group, WR was one of the greatest innovators of the jazz fusion genre at that time. They were also the most long-lived and perhaps the most artistically successful (as cited by Ken Burns) of the four groups.

The band was originally a spin-off from the group of musicians associated with Miles Davis in the late sixties and early seventies. The stable core of the group was the duo of pianist Joe Zawinul and saxophonist Wayne Shorter, while the other musicians were rotated, sometimes with almost every new album release. Both Zawinul and Shorter had made their earlier marks as being among the best composers in jazz, Zawinul in Cannonball Adderley's group and Shorter in Miles Davis' group. Zawinul would later join Shorter with Miles Davis' first recordings of fusion music, "In a Silent Way" and "Bitches Brew".

Initially, the band's music featured extended improvisation, similar to Davis' Bitches Brew-period work, and instrumentation included both a traditional trap set drummer and a second percussionist (first Airto Moreira, later Dom Um Romão). The group was unusual and innovative in abandoning the soloist-accompaniment demarcation of straight-ahead jazz and instead featuring continuous improvisation by every member of the band.

Reedman Wayne Shorter furthered pioneering on the soprano sax (taking the torch from Sidney Bechet's and John Coltrane's earlier efforts) and both Zawinul and original bassist Miroslav Vitouš experimented with rock guitarists' electronic effects, Zawinul on piano and synthesizers, Vitouš on upright bass, often bowed, as a second horn-like voice.

Weather Report's self titled debut album "Weather Report" won Down Beat's Album of the year in 1971. Although the album is generally softer than in later years (acoustic bass and no synthesizers were used) it is still considered a classic of early fusion. Their sophomore effort the following year, "I Sing the Body Electric", featured their first use of electronics beyond an electric keyboard (a synthesizer and sound effects were utilized). Part of the 2nd album was recorded live in Japan which was taken from a Japanese-only release at the time. The entire "Live in Toyko" double album would later be released as an import and made available in the US.

Starting with 1973's "Sweetnighter", Zawinul decided to abandon the (primarily) acoustic group improvisation format and the band started to take a new direction. Weather Report became more funk/groove oriented while adding more structure to both song and improvisational sections. This change would prove to be not the best fit for Vitouš' talents as his relative lack of interest in playing more repetitive, funky vamps would become an issue (parts of "Sweetnighter" employ an electric bass studio sideman). Eventually this lead to his departure by the next album by a fretless electric bass player who was playing with Chuck Mangione's group, Alphonso Johnson.

For its first 8 years of existence the group had difficulty finding a permanent drummer, moving through an approximate average of one drummer per year Alphonse Mouzon, Eric Gravatt, Greg Errico, Ishmael Wilburn, Skip Hadden, Darryl Brown, Leon 'Ndugu' Chancler, Chester Thompson, Narada Michael Walden and Alex Acuña until Jaco Pastorius helped recruit Peter Erskine in 1978. Erskine and Omar Hakim later on were the only Weather Report drummers that played with the band more than 2 years.

Weather Report's breakout album that established its hallmark sound would be "Mysterious Traveller" from 1974. For the first time an electric bass (performed by Philadelphian Alphonso Johnson) would be used on nearly every song. In addition, general compositional technique would be greatly hightened and Zawinul would exploit improvements in synthesizer technology on the recording. Some of the extra musical effects beyond just the musical synthesizer playing include crowd cheering (taken from an actual Rose Bowl game), space alien sounds, and child-like cries (Zawinul's own son recorded in their home). "Mysterious Traveler" would begin Weather Report's unprecedented string of 4 successive victories winning Down Beat's "Album of the Year" award.

"Tale Spinnin'", recorded in 1975, made even further strides in utilizing technological improvements in synthesizers. The album also showcased more of Wayne Shorter's soloing to the extent that he probably solos more on that album than any other Weather Report record. Shorter would also record the seminal latin-jazz classic of the 70's "Native Dancer" under his own name that same year with the Brazilian vocalist Milton Nascimento. The Weather Report effort won the Down Beat best album award again and the Shorter/Nascimento effort was runner up.

By 1976's Black Market, the group's music evolved further from the open-ended funk jams into more melody-oriented, concise forms. They also had achieved a greater mass-market appeal by this time. Most notably, this album introduced virtuoso bassist Jaco Pastorius into the group, who plays on two of the album's songs. Alphonso Johnson (who plays on the other 5 songs) decided to leave Weather Report to play with the Billy Cobham/George Duke Band (a group that featured a young John Scofield on guitar). Black Market was perhaps the most rock oriented studio effort by Weather Report, in part due to former Frank Zappa sideman Chester Thompson playing drums on most of the songs (he later would be recruited into the touring band of Genesis). Black Market again won Down Beat's album of the year.

It was with Jaco Pastorius that helped push the group to the heights of their popularity. With the release of their biggest individual hit jazz standard "Birdland", from the Heavy Weather album in 1977, Birdland would even make the pop charts that year. The group also appeared on television with one of Don Kirshner's Rock Concerts. Heavy Weather would prove to be the band's most successful selling album while still retaining wide critical acclaim. Pastorius would also establish a new standard in fretless electric bass playing and add two compositions of his own into the song mix. Heavy Weather would dominate the disc award scene and coup the last Down Beat "Album of the Year" award for the group.

Jaco Pastorius appeared on four more Weather Report albums, including Mr. Gone in 1978, 8:30 in 1979, Night Passage in 1980 and their second self-titled album, (recorded in 1981 and) released in 1982. Pastorius departed the group in late 1981 due to touring requirements that he had to fulfil with his own Word of Mouth Big Band. By the time he left Weather Report Jaco had begun displaying symptoms of manic depression which would leave him in serious trouble with everybody.

Many of the group's earlier albums had received the highest possible (5-star) record rating in Down Beat's record reviews. However, in 1978 the group recorded the controversial and experimental Mr. Gone, which received only a 1 star review from Down Beat magazine. The group arranged for a rebuttal interview with the magazine to defend their efforts. Zawinul and Pastorius were more defiant in their responses to the interviewer, Shorter being more philosophical, and Erskine the most reticent of the four. Many regard Down Beat's review of this album (which virtually everybody agrees is not among Weather Report's best) as the most controversial single review in the history of the magazine.

They would make a comeback and follow up with their last album of the 70's. 1979's "8:30" is considered to be one of their best, combining both live and studio recordings on a double LP release. Despite the "Mr. Gone" controversy, the band's follow up 8:30 tour was probably their most well attended. Zawinul has been quoted as saying there were more stage hands hired for that tour than at any other time in the band's history. The group toured intentionaly as a quartet now, temporarily abandoning the percussionist chair.

The band kept releasing new albums once a year with various line-ups until 1986. A high quality video ("Live in Japan"-VHS and Laser Disc only) featuring Omar Hakim on drums, Victor Bailey on bass, and Mineu Cinelo on percussion was also released around 1984. This video was never officially released on DVD and is not currently available.

Weather Report did not manage to match the critical or commercial success they enjoyed during the 70's during this decade. It was also becoming harder to market jazz fusion as traditional jazz was making a comeback at the time. Shorter and Zawinul mutually decided to disband in 1986 after recording their last album, "This is This". Both would play jazz fusion with their own groups for a time before moving on to new styles of music.

A "post band" Weather Report double CD, "Live and Unreleased" was made available in 2002, featuring vintage live recordings during the late 70's/early 80's with various personnel. As of September, 2006 Columbia/Legacy has also released the first ever Weather Report boxed set called "Forcast: Tomorrow". It includes 3 CDs of mostly pre-released material and a DVD of the entire September 28th, 1978 performance in Offenbach, Germany (with Erskine and Pastorius) not previously available.

Other former members of Weather Report include bassists Alphonso Johnson and Victor Bailey, drummer and percussionist Alex Acuña, percussionists Manolo Badrena and Robert Thomas Jr., and drummers Peter Erskine and Omar Hakim.

It is with first with Miles Davis, then with Weather Report that keyboardist Josef Zawinul became synonymous with the jazz fusion era, contributing a number of genre-defining compositions. One such song is the band's signature tune "Birdland" from the band's top seller Heavy Weather. Many consider Zawinul as the best synthesizer player that jazz has ever produced, frequently employing the use of over 10 keyboards with live settings of the band.

Wayne Shorter's role was not as prominent as it was with Miles Davis during the 60's and this led to some criticism of the group. However, he is still regarded as one of the all time greats on both the tenor and soprano saxophone. At the urging of Davis before he left his band, Shorter began using the soprano saxophone and played it exclusively in Weather Report's debut recording. Shorter is known as playing in an economical style in many of the WR recordings.

 

Joseph Zawinul

Jaco Pastorius

Some Of Weathers Reports CD's With Jaco Pastorius

Weather Report - Black Market
Jaco's first album with Weather Report, performing on two tracks, including his own composition, "Barbary Coast".

Details | Buy from Amazon.com

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Weather Report - Heavy Weather
Weather Report's best-selling album is also Jaco's first as a co-leader, and his first full album with the band.

Details | Buy from Amazon.com

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Weather Report - 8:30 (Live)
Recorded during during the U.S. leg of the 1978 tour. Features Jaco's famous "Slang" solo.

Details | Buy from Amazon.com

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Weather Report - Mr. Gone
A Jaco fan favorite, featuring two of Jaco's compositions: "River People" and "Punk Jazz".

Details | Buy from Amazon.com

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Weather Report - Night Passage
The music for Night Passage was created during Weather Reports tours from 1979 and 1980, following the live album, 8:30.

Details | Buy from Amazon.com

|

Wayne Shorter

Alex Acuna

Weather Report Drummers Photo ( Left to Right):

 Chester Thompson, Skip Hadden,Ndugu Leon Chancler, Alex Acüna, Omar Hakim, and Peter Erskine.

 

Weather Report

 

(For a complete discography visit the link below)

 

Weather Report: The Annotated Discography
http://www.binkie.net/wrdisc/index.html

 

As performed by Weather Report. As composed by Josef Zawinul. As arranged by Michael Sweeney. Esprit (Marching Band). Band Level: 3. 6.75x10.5 inches. Published by Hal Leonard. (HL.03745125)


Originally recorded by the innovative jazz fusion group Weather Report, Birdland has become one of the most popular jazz tunes ever. Michael Sweeney adds a few wrinkles and a false ending but retains the joyful energy (and most importantly, the percussion groove!) of the original.

Chart/Arrangement Instrumentation:
Birdland

Instrumentation:
• Conductor Score (Full Score) (12 pages)
• Flute/Piccolo (2 pages, 16 copies)
• Bb Clarinet (2 pages, 16 copies)
• Eb Alto Sax (2 pages, 8 copies)
• Bb Tenor Sax (2 pages, 4 copies)
• Eb Baritone Sax (2 pages, 2 copies)
• 1st Bb Trumpet (2 pages, 8 copies)
• 2nd Bb Trumpet (2 pages, 8 copies)
• F Horn (2 pages, 8 copies)
• Bb Horn/Flugelhorn (2 pages, 4 copies)
• Trombone (2 pages, 8 copies)
• Baritone B.C. (Opt. Tbn. 2) (2 pages, 8 copies)
• Baritone T.C. (2 pages, 4 copies)
• Tuba (2 pages, 6 copies)
• Electric Bass (2 pages, 2 copies)
• Bells/Vibes (2 pages, 2 copies)
• Xylophone/Marimba (2 pages, 2 copies)
• Snare Drum (2 pages, 6 copies)
• Cymbals (1 page, 2 copies)
• Quad Toms (2 pages, 2 copies)
• Multiple Bass Drums (2 pages, 4 copies)
• Aux Percussion (2 pages, 2 copies)

$55.00

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As performed by Weather Report. Transcribed Score. Authentic note-for-note transcriptions. 9x12 inches. 144 pages. Published by Hal Leonard. (HL.00675520)


A collection of 14 of their very best, including: Mysterious Traveller · Birdland · Palladium · Mr. Gone · Badia/Boogie Woogie Waltz Medley · Brown Street · 8:30.

Songs Include:
8:30
A Remark You Made
Badia/Boogie Woogie Waltz Medley
Birdland
Black Market
Brown Street
Mr. Gone
Mysterious Traveller
Night Passage
Palladium
Procession
Pursuit Of The Woman W/ Feather
Sightseeing
Young And Fine

 

$18.95

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Steely Dan

By Don Breithaupt

About the Author

Don Breithaupt is a studio musician and songwriter based in Toronto. He is the co-author of Precious and Few: Pop Music in the Early '70s and Night Moves: Pop Music in the Late '70s. A Berklee College of Music alumnus and three-time Juno Award nominee, he has written extensively on music and film for the National Post. Don's web site is located here: www.breithauptbrothers.com/main.html
 

33 1/3 is a series of short books about a wide variety of albums, by artists ranging from James Brown to the Beastie Boys. Launched in September 2003, the series now contains over 50 titles and is acclaimed and loved by fans, musicians and scholars alike.

 

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Synopsis:

Aja was the album that made Steely Dan a commercial force on the order of contemporaries like Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles and Chicago. A double-platinum, Grammy-winning bestseller, it lingered on the Billboard charts for more than a year and spawned three hit singles. Odd, then, that its creators saw it as an "ambitious, extended" work, the apotheosis of their anti-rock, anti-band, anti-glamour aesthetic. Populated by thirty-fi ve mostly jazz session players, Aja served up prewar song forms, mixed meters and extended solos to a generation whose idea of pop daring was Paul letting Linda sing lead once in a while. And, impossibly, it sold. Including an in-depth interview with Donald Fagen, this book paints a detailed picture of the making of a masterpiece.

Review:

"It was only a matter of time before a clever publisher realized that there is an audience for whom Exile on Main Street or Electric Ladyland are as significant and worthy of study as The Catcher in the Rye or Middlemarch. The series... is freewheeling and eclectic, ranging from minute rock-geek analysis to idiosyncratic personal celebration." The New York Times Book Review

Review:

"Ideal for the rock geek who thinks liner notes just aren't enough." Rolling Stone

Review:

"One of the coolest publishing imprints on the planet." Bookslut
 Uncut

 

Review:

"These are for the insane collectors out there who appreciate fantastic design, well-executed thinking, and things that make your house look cool. Each volume in this series takes a seminal album and breaks it down in startling minutiae. We love these. We are huge nerds." Vice

Review:

"A brilliant series... each one a word of real love." NME

Review:

"Passionate, obsessive, and smart." Nylon

Review:

"Religious tracts for the rock 'n' roll faithful." Uncut

Review:

"We... aren't naive enough to think that we're your only source for reading about music (but if we had our way... watch out). For those of you who really like to know everything there is to know about an album, you'd do well to check out Continuum's 33 1/3 series of books." Pitchfork
 

 

The Art Of Steely Dan

The Art of Steely Dan features analysis of more than 130 classic note-for-note intros, riffs and comping grooves, as well as discussion of Steely Dan's melody, harmony, rhythm, form, instrumentation and lyrics. In addition to all this, there is also a discography and a resources section to provide a plethora of other info about the band.

Size 9x12 inches.

"Not at all what I was expecting.This is a very academic dissection of songs which is incredibly boring. Many times the examples don't match the text! "

 

Contents:
Parker's Band
Green Earrings
Time Out Of Mind
Gaucho
Aja
Babylon Sisters
Glamour Profession
My Rival
Third World Man
Doctor Wu
Black Cow
Sign In Stranger
Home At Last
I Got The News
Fm
Josie
Here At The Western World
Gaslighting Abbie
What A Shame About Me
Two Against Nature
Cousin Dupree
Black Friday
Bodhisattva
Deacon Blues
Hey Nineteen
Kid Charlemagne
My Old School
Peg
Reeling In The Years
Bad Sneakers
Your Gold Teeth II
Negative Girl
Janie Runaway
Almost Gothic
Jack Of Speed
West Of Hollywood
Do It Again
Rikki Don't Lose That Number

$17.95 

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The Best Of Steely Dan

The Best Of Steely Dan -

Transcribed Score

 

$19.95

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About The Best Of Steely Dan - Transcribed Score


By Steely Dan. Transcribed Score (Authentic transcriptions of all instruments). Softcover. Published by Hal Leonard. (675200)

ISBN 0793525314. 10 songs from this highly acclaimed jazz/rock supergroup. Songs include: Reelin' In The Years * My Old School * Deacon Blues * Peg * Aja * Hey Nineteen.

About Transcribed Score:
Transcribed Scores are vocal and instrumental arrangements of music from some of the greatest groups in music. These excellent publications feature transcribed parts for lead vocals, backup vocals, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass, drums, and all of the various instruments used in each specific recording session. All songs are arranged exactly the way the artists recorded them.

Contents:
 

Aja
Black Friday
Deacon Blues
Kid Charlemagne
My Old School
Peg
Reeling In The Years
Hey Nineteen
Do It Again
Rikki Don't Lose That Number

 

The Steely Dan Internet Resource >>

www.granatino.com/sdresource

Marvin Stamm

 

"Stammpede"

This is one of the rare albums top session trumpet player Marvin Stamm has recently made available again. Originally released in 1983 on Palo Alto Jazz, an all-star group of musicians includes: Chris Palmaro, Kenny Ascher, Marcus Miller, Ronnie Zito, Susan Evans, Lou Marini, Dave Tofani, Ronnie Cuber, Allen Rubin, Jim Pugh, John Tropea and Kacey Cisyk.

The recording was produced by Jack Cortner and all the tunes were written by Chris Palmaro and Jack Cortner. The writing is outstanding with a unique mix of latin jazz, fusion, and bebop. Palmaro delivers tasty synth blending expertly with the horn section.

Marvin Stamm is quite remarkable on flugelhorn and trumpet. He can play with a very fluid legato as well as using imaginative and innovative improvisational lines. A world class trumpet player!

Hear audio samples and purchase CD at CD Baby here!

www.marvinstamm.com

www.marvinstamm.com

Chick Corea

These CD's Are All Available from Amazon.com!

Click On CD Graphic To Purchase

This album along with RTF Romantic Warrior is among the best of 70's fusion, all the players are incredible, Chick Corea on keyboard, Al Dimeola on guitar, Stanley Clarke on bass and Lenny White on drums, it doesn't get much better than this. I love the sound of Chick's Fender Rhodes electric piano, it sounds like a powerfull percussive bells and the sounds he get from the ARP and MOOG synthesizers are classic and of course his piano playing is incredible. This CD is full of great compositions, Stanley Clarke's "Dayride" is one of his better pieces - a mix of funk, latin and jazz. Corea's "No Mystery" is a masterpiece and the Spanish flavored Celebration Suite is such fun to listen while Lenny White's drum solo intro to the suite is great.

All the pieces on this album are an example of a high level of virtuoso playing, the guys were young, full of fire and technique which of course they wanted to show off, but that's not all they had to offer there is a lot of thoughtful passion going on, well crafted compositions and lively enthusiasm in the playing that is so much fun to listen to.

Click On CD Graphic To Purchase

 

 

Originally released in 1976, Return To Forever's Romantic Warrior could be described as the high-water mark of jazz fusion's commercial popularity, reaching a spot on the Billboard charts and garnering the group a fanatical following of fans attracted to the band's technical prowess and bombast. Released on the heels of the breakup of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Romantic Warrior still sounds like a standard-bearer for jazz fusion, full of flashy solos and complicated arrangements that seem like collages of different moods, meters, and tempos. The album is much closer to the progressive rock of Yes, Emerson Lake & Palmer, or King Crimson than anything from the jazz realm. Return to Forever's rhythm team of bassist Stanley Clarke and drummer Lenny White, who gives the group a subtly funkier sound than most of their contemporaries. Still, it's pianist Chick Corea, using a veritable arsenal of keyboards and effects, and guitarist Al DiMeola, only 21 at the time of this recording, who define Romantic Warrior as a fusion landmark. This reissued edition comes with improved sound and a brief reminiscence by Corea in the liner notes. --Ezra Gale

Light Years

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The second recording by Chick Corea's Elektric Band was the first to feature altoist Eric Marienthal and guitarist Frank Gambale in addition to bassist John Patitucci, drummer Dave Weckl and the leader/keyboardist. Unlike most other fusion groups, these musicians displayed original musical personalitites and Corea's compositions tended to be memorable. This is one of The Elektric Band's better releases. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Click On CD Graphic To Purchase

...one of Chick Corea's best albums to date and certainly one of the best by the Elektric Band. Dave Weckl on drums, John Pattitucci on Bass, Frank Gambale on Guitar, Eric Marienthal on Saxes and, of course, Chick on keyboards. This album happened right after Chick purchased his Yamaha SY99 and his experimentations with it are just outstanding. (just listen to "99 Flavors"!)  Dave Weckl plays the entire beginning of "Jammin E Cricket" alone (the bass licks are sampled and triggered by electronic drum pads). It's absolutely wild. If you like jazz with a rock/funk/latin edge, then buy this album! NOW!!!

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Jeff Lorber Fusion

CD's

        

Jeff Lorber is one of the top jazz-fusion keyboard players of the late 70s & early 80s. He had numerous jazz albums that made the regular Billboard album charts. He still makes albums & even recently won a Grammy. His very first two albums were originally on the Inner City label in 1977. Most people are unaware that Saxophonist Kenny G was Jeff's saxophonist for Jeff's early fusion projects...and Kenny G could burn!!!! Click on CD images above for links to Amazon.com where you can purchase these CD's! Here is a link to amazing YouTube video of the Jeff Lorber Fusion in action!

Charts

Jeff  Lorber BB Chart

Jeff Lorber - City

City

   

As composed by Jeff Lorber. As arranged by Mike Tomaro. Jazz Ensemble Library. Published by: Hal Leonard(HL.07010156)

From the Jeff Lorber album, 'Wizard Island,' this fusion chart provides a terrific medium groove for big band. The head features a Trumpet and Tenor duet and the opening Guitar lick is also cued in the Piano part.


Jazz Ensemble Library
Price: $50.00 U.S.

Another Jeff  Lorber BB Chart

Water Sign

   

Composed by Jeff Lorber - Arranged by Bill Fulton.

This is an arrangement of Jeff Lorber's funk classic... from one of his jazz fusion albums from the late 70's.  His music and concepts were groundbreaking and are one of the reasons I fell in love with jazz. This features tenor 1 and trumpet 2.

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For other jazz fusion BB charts visit here!

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Dave Weckl/Jay Oliver

 

Book Description - Minus Keyboards
Here is a chance for you to "sit-in" with the Dave Weckl band playing charts derived from the Weckl album Rhythm to the Soul. Each book contains a special play-along CD of the original pieces, but with the instrument in question omitted. That way the player gets to play with the band and experience the delight of music making with professionals. The book itself includes a complete chart of the player’s part, detailed explanations of how to perform the music, term definitions, concepts, musical examples and copious performance tips. With this book/CD, aspiring players get the chance to play with Dave Weckl, Jay Oliver, Tom Kennedy, Buzz Freiten, Frank Gambale, Bob Malach and Steve Tavaglione, and learn a wealth of techniques for expanding their musicality and playing finesse.

 

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Vinnie Colauita

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Vince (Vinnie) Colaiuta is a versatile and well-rounded musician. A drummer by profession, Colaiuta's collaborations involve many of the great names in pop, rock, and jazz: Al Kooper, Chick Corea, John Patitucci, Herbie Hancock, the late Frank Zappa, and countless others.

Vinnie's Solo CD opens with a funky, metallic, jazzy rocker called "I'm Tweeked" and then moves into hip-hop and world beats, through some straight jazz and then back into some rock-jazz tinged sounds. Vinnie's drumming is excellent and the song structure is strong enough to keep your attention.

www.vinniecolaiuta.com

Drummers For Jesus

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Rob Whitlock

www.robwhitlock.com

 

Audio Samples

          2nd Service            

  At Freedom Chickens Dance  

 Do I Love You 

 

Musicians:

Rob Whitlock
Michael Brecker
Vinnie Colaiuta
Anthony Jackson
Scott Henderson
Othello Molineaux
Cliff Almond
Amber Whitlock
Pat Kelley
Bob Whitlock
John Georgini
John Rekevics
Wayne Bergeron
Andy Martin

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Audio Samples

Rob's New Tune  

I Deal     

 

 

Musicians:

Rob Whitlock
Michael Brecker
Vinnie Colaiuta
Anthony Jackson
Scott Henderson
Othello Molineaux
Cliff Almond
Amber Whitlock
Pat Kelley
Bob Whitlock
John Rekevics
Wayne Bergeron
Andy Martin
Billy Too Tall
 

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Tribal Tech

After twelve years of working together and eight critically acclaimed albums, Scott Henderson and Gary Willis of Tribal Tech, have proven they are visionary composers, as well as world class players. In recent years, Henderson has been named the #1 Jazz Guitarist, by both Guitar World and Guitar Player's Annual Reader's Polls. Bass Player magazine referred to Willis as "one of the most vital bass voices of the 90's", while Guitar Player's Annual Reader's Poll has listed Willis among the top three bassist in the Jazz Bass category for the last two years in a row. While they've always had the following of loyal jazzers, the band has steadily attracted the attention of rock and rollers, as well, seducing them with their sometimes big, dark wall of sound and their bad boy attitude toward "happy jazz". Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith says that Tribal Tech "kicks ass!". Packed houses in the U.S., Europe and South America show he is obviously not the only one who thinks this. Rounding out the dynamic foursome is the awesomely talented, turbo-driven Kirk Covington on drums and the very gifted Scott Kinsey on keyboards. The coming together of such talented players could only result in the creation of a band like Tribal Tech. A band that grabs you by the throat and won't let go until they've shaken you out of your musical complacency with a roar of energy.

  

Scott Henderson

SCOTT HENDERSON-GUITAR BOOK

Use this number
ISBN: 0-7935-1125-9
when ordering the book
at your local book store

A complete note-for-note transcription book with an introduction mainly about the composing end of things. Performance notes for each tune, included both the guitar and bass lines.

          The songs:

    Big Girl Blues
    Caribbean
    Elvis At The Hop
    Mango Prom
    Nomad
    Peru
    Rituals
    Signal Path
    Spears
    Sub Aqua

    JAZZ ROCK MASTERY


     

    ITEM: 00-27516
    Territory: B
    UPC: 038081293004
    ISBN 10: 0739045067
    ISBN 13: 9780739045060
     

     

     

     

    ALFRED PUBLISHING

    has released Henderson's two instructional videos;
    "Jazz Fusion Improvisation" & "Melodic Phrasing"
    on one DVD entitled:

    "Scott Henderson - Jazz Rock Mastery"

    www.scotthenderson.net

 

SCOTT HENDERSON-GUITAR BOOK


 

Use this number
ISBN: 0-7935-5884-0
when ordering the book at your local book store

 

A complete note-for-note transcriptions for guitar and bass. 10 pieces from the three albums: Illicit, Face First and Reality Check.
Introduction and performance notes for each tune. Included both the guitar and bass lines.

 

The songs:

    Black Cherry
    Jakarta
    Revenge Stew
    Root Food
    Slidin' Into Charlisa
    Stella By Infra-Red High ..P..N.. Beam
    Susie's Dingsbums
    The Crawling Horror
    Torque
    Worlds Waiting

JAZZ GUITAR CHORD SYSTEM


 

Use this number
ISBN: 0-7935-9165-1
when ordering the book
at your local book store

 
 
  • A unique method for over 500 different voicings

  • Unique color-coded system

     

  • Understand chord functions and their harmonic possibilities

     

  • Inversions, extensions, alterations and substitutions

     

  • Increase your harmonic vocabulary for accompaniment, composing and chord-melody playing

     

www.scotthenderson.net

Alex Acuna And The Unkowns

Woodman            In Your Eyes     

To purchase this CD visit here

(Audio samples soon on the CD below)

 

Credits for Alex Acuna and the Unknowns CD

Tom Moculey Engineer  Neil Oda  Producer  Lou Pardini  Piano, Vocals  John Pena  Bass  Hector "Rudy" Regalado Percussion  Otmaro Ruíz  Keyboards, Vocals Michito Sanchez  Percussion   Ramon Stagnaro  Guitar  Tiki  Vocals (Background)  Efrain Toro Percussion, Drums, Programming, Producer, Arranger  Dante Young  Vocals (Background)  Carlos Santana  Guitar  Alex Acuña  Percussion, Arranger, Drums, Producer, Main Performer, Vocals Diana Acuna  Vocals  Cocho Arbe  Keyboards  Luis Conte  Percussion  Paulinho Da Costa  Percussion  Pedro Eustache  Flute, ?  Brandon Fields Saxophone Peter Haden  Engineer Abraham Laboriel  Bass  Danilo Lozano  Flute  Steve Reid  Engineer

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David Garibaldi

Future Sounds

 

At long last, the secrets of David Garibaldi's groundbreaking funk/jazz fusion drumming techniques are presented in this innovative book and CD. Whether you play rock, heavy metal, jazz or funk, you'll learn how to incorporate Garibaldi's contemporary "linear" styles and musical concepts into your playing as you develop your own unique drumset vocabulary. Funk/Jazz techniques are highlighted in chapters on development of the "Two Sound Level" concept, Four-Bar Patterns, Groove Playing and Funk Drumming, followed by a series of challenging exercises which include 15 Groove Studies and 17 Permutation Studies. These techniques are combined with modern musical ideas that will help you build a solid foundation and add finesse to your bag of tricks.

$ 17.50

Buy Now

Dan Dobek

"... The gift that God has given us to be creative... flavors the whole creative process..."- Dan Dobek

Defining Dan Dobek's music is a little like trying to explain electricity. "Well, it's the invisible force, it seems to come from some mysterious place and it sort of energizes everything, and it's very powerful, one might say of both, and be right." But beneath the awkward search for words that work is a deeper force, the source of inspiration for Dan's profound talents as a composer and performer of dazzlingly beautiful instrumental music.

"Incredibly gifted composer/keyboardist with great fusion material" - David Arivett CJA Network

Still Standing (Prelude)   

 Free People (Are You Free?) 

Eddie Did You Reach Out? 

Aaron's Song  

To purchase this CD visit here!

For more CD's/ info about Dan Dobek visit:

www.dandobek.com

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Randy Bernsen

Randy Bernsen has played to audiences all over the U.S., Europe, Japan and Southeast Asia. He brings with him an exciting fusion guitar sound and a musical message. He's been privileged to work with the best - Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Toots Theilemans, and Michael Brecker. He was also guitarist for legendary jazz keyboardist/composer Joseph Zawinul and the Zawinul Syndicate fusion band. Randy toured with the Zawinul Syndicate from 1990 to 1992 and recorded "Lost Tribes" with the group. Randy also recorded and played with the late great Jaco Pastorious

Very fusionesque version of the Beatle's song "Come Together"!

Come Together

 From the CD "Live In San Miguel"

Jazz with a funk reverence.  "Live" fusion with traces of Mike Stern and Weather Report...

[ CD cover ]

To purchase this CD visit here!

For more info on Randy Bernsen please visit:

www.randybernsen.com

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Niacin

Jazz fusion super group Niacin, composed of star rock bassist Billy Sheehan, keyboard guru John Novello, and funk rock drummer Dennis Chambers, has both returned fusion to its roots with the resurrection of the venerable Hammond B-3 organ and given it a shot in the arm with an injection of hard rock sensibility. Formed in the mid-1990s, the group has continued to produce albums and tour into the 2000s, racking up accolades along the way--even as its members nurture solo careers and contribute to other bands.

B-3 guru John Novello was ssked to sum up his band's sound in a sentence, he told the Boston Globe's Steve Greenlee that Niacin is "sort of a progressive retro fusion band" and that it was "guaranteed not to play elevator music.!" By all accounts, the group has more than succeeded: critics have raved about the group's high energy sound, unusual for a trio.

Elbow Grease   

Lucy In The Sky   

http://www.niacinb3.com

http://www.keysnovello.com/flash.html

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Seawind

This influential late-'70s pop/jazz outfit boasted in-the-pocket grooves, clever horn charts, and Pauline Wilson's signature vocals set to lyrics that (more often than not) clearly communicated a Christian worldview.
Their horn section ranked with Tower of Power as one of the most sought after for studio sessions for many artists.

Pauline Wilson – Lead Vocals
Bob Wilson – Drums
Bud Nuanez – Guitar
Ken Wild – Bass
Larry Williams – Keyboard, Sax, Trombone
Jerry Hey – Trumpet and horn arrangements
Kim Hutchcroft – Sax


"It gives me great pleasure to re-introduce this great group to the general public and we are very proud to have them as members of the CJA Network! I consider Seawind to be one of the best contemporary jazz groups to surface out of the 1970’s! The group could play and sing gritty, Tower of Power type funk songs with top notch horn arrangements then lay down excellent Brazilian flavored Sambas, jazz fusion, and excel at both vocal and instrumental jazz! - David Arivett ( Jazz Keyboardist/Composer)
 

Audio Samples

Light The Light

Enchanted Dance

Morning Star

Imagine

Free

Follow Your Road

 

Audio Samples

The Devil Is A Liar 

Praise (Part One)  

Make Up Your Mind 

He Loves You  

 

Campanas De Invierno  

Angel Of Mercy  

Hallelujah  

Yes, it's true! The long-awaited Reunion CD recording is finally finished and is now available for only $15 + shipping & handling! This 12 song CD includes beautifully performed, updated 2009 arrangements of "Follow Your Road", "Free" , "Devil Is A Liar" and "He Loves You" (which also features vocalist Al Jarreau).  Please e-mail us today for ordering information.

It has been 29 years since Seawind's last new release!!


.....

(New CD cover and back cover)

 

www.seawindjazz.com

E-mail Seawind!

www.seawindjazz.com

E-mail Seawind!

Tom Coster

       

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Tom Coster is an American keyboardist and composer. Detroit-born and San Francisco-raised, Coster played piano and accordion as a youth, continuing his studies through college and a productive five-year stint as a musician in the U.S. Air Force Band.

Coster has played with and/or composed for many groups and musicians including The Loading Zone, Gabor Szabo, Carlos Santana, Billy Cobham, Third Eye Blind, Coryell/Coster/Smith, Claudio Baglioni, Stu Hamm, Boz Scaggs, Zucchero and Bobby Holiday, Joe Satriani, Frank Gambale, and Vital Information. Coster also produced several solo contemporary jazz and fusion jazz recordings. ( Check them out above by clicking on the CD graphics)

Some of Coster's best known compositions include "Europa (Earth's Cry, Heaven's Smile)", "Flor D'Luna (Moonflower)" and "Dance, Sister, Dance (Baila Mi Hermana)" performed by Santana, and "The Perfect Date" performed by Vital Information.

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Adam Nitti

Adam Nitti has performed or recorded with a diverse collection of world class artists throughout his career, including the Dave Weckl Band, Steven Curtis Chapman, Mike Stern, Peter Erskine, Phil Keaggy, Susan Tedeschi, Scott Henderson, Wayne Krantz, Casting Crowns, Chris Tomlin, and Heather Headley. He has likewise earned his reputation as a distinguished studio bassist and recording artist based out of Nashville, TN. A passion to inspire excellence in musicianship led Adam into co-founding www.MusicDojo.com, the first-ever interactive online music school. Adam is a tireless educator and touring clinician and is also a regular columnist for both Bass Player Magazine and Bass Musician Magazine. He has been featured in hundreds of music publications around the world and continues to bring unique voice and perspective to the bass playing community.

(Click on CD graphic to hear audio clips)

        

www.adamnitti.com

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Michael Urbaniak

Leader, Composer, Arranger , Violinist, Saxplayer & Multi- instrumentalist

Miles Davis, George Benson, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Larry Coryell, Kenny Garret, Kenny Barron, Ron Carter, Eumir Deodato,Stephane Grappelli,Oliver Nelson, Lenny White, Larry Young, John Hendricks, Joe Williams, Elvin Jones,Buster Williams, Joe Henderson, Johny Griffin, Ted Curson, Astor Piazzolla, Freddy Hubbard, Tom Browne, Steve Gadd, Anthony Jackson, Victor Bailey, Omar Hakim, Bernard Wright, Marcus Miller and many others.

 

www.urbaniak.com

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Kiko Loureiro

Hot Fusion Guitarist!

Kiko released his first solo album, “No Gravity”, the album was recorded May 2005, in Germany, with the production help of Dennis Ward, and is comprised of thirteen instrumental tracks. “No Gravity” has the participation of the drummer Mike Terrana, while Kiko played multi-instruments on this project including guitars, acoustic guitars, bass, keyboards, piano and percussion. Now Kiko through Boosweet Records releases his second solo project “Universo Inverso” in the USA and Canada, a high octane jazz fusion style release with world class performances by Kiko, Cuban born pianist virtuoso Yaniel Matos, bassist Carlinhos Noronha, and drummer Cuca Teixeira. The compositions are fiery and diverse with Brazilian Samba and Cuban Latin influences, among other styles.

On his new album Universo Inverso the guitarist decided to work in a quartet formation, bringing music from the Jazz/rock and Jazz areas. It's the right music for Kiko to show his exceptional talent. He can play a thousand notes per minute like Al DiMeola, next he shows that he also studied the basics of Wes Montgomery…

In this quartet we find Yaniel Matos (Havana, Cuba) behind the keyboards. He mainly works in the Cuban music scene (salsa) and also participates in Carlinhos Brown's band for the album Carlito Marron. To develop his jazz skills, he studied with giants like Wynton Marsalis and Anthonio Hart. In Brazil he's one third of the Mani Padme Trio (with Zeca Assumpção, bass and Ricardo Mosca, drums). Living in Brazil for the past half decade, he established himself as a wonderful and tasteful pianist. On bass is Carlinhos Noronha, a well known name in São Paulo's music scene. He's playing bass since he reached the age of 9 years old; also adapting knowledge of choro and samba, which made him an all round musician. Edgard "Cuca" Teixeira is on drums. He's well known from his work with Marina Lima and more recently Maria Rita. He also worked with Hermeto Pascoal, Dominguinhos, Raul de Souza, Leo Gandelman and jazz artists from the United States like Lee Konitz, the late Michael Brecker and Joe Lovano, to name just a few.
 

www.kikoloureiro.com.

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Tom Hemby

Tom Hemby is a Guitarist, Producer, Songwriter, and Programmer. Tom has lived and worked in Nashville as an active musician for the past 29 years. His touring career has evolved into a recording career as a studio guitarist/ producer/ songwriter.

Tom’s recording credits include artists: Michael English, Kenny Loggins, former Doobie Brother  Michael McDonald, Amy Grant, Donna Summer, Vince Gill, Peter Cetera, Barry Manilow, Faith Hill, Brian McKinight, Steve Winwood, Glenn Shorrock (Little River Band), Michael W. Smith, BeBe & CeCe Winans, and many, many more.

In 2004 Tom’s solo acoustic instrumental CD “Chasing The Wind” won Tom a Dove Award! You can hear audio clips here. 

"Tom's fusion chops on electric guitar are as good as any one I have ever heard. I put him right up there with fusion guitar greats Frank Gambale, John Mclaughlin, and Kiko Loureiro...simply amazing guitar licks and great writing" - David Arivett  CJA Network

Tom's new electric guitar project "In The Moment" (which is due for release soon 2009!) is a outing of great jazz fusion and will feature a "who's who" list of famous guest artists and musicians! You can preview audio clips of this new recording project here!

www.myspace.com/tomhemby

www.tomhemby.com

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Mark Soskin

(Free Download! - entire album!)

Mark Soskin - Rhythm Vision 



This is a killer album by pianist Mark Soskin, he teams up with Bennie Maupin, Oscar Brashear, Snooky Young, George Bohannon, Mel Martin, Ray Obiedo, Paul Socolow, Harvey Mason and Sammy Figuero, at times sounding like the Jeff Lorber Fusion group or the Headhunters. The LP was released in 1980 on Prestige Records and produced by Orrin Keepnews.

Mark has many other recording projects - for more information visit his web site:

www.marksoskin.com

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John Abercrombie

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"I have loved this album for years. It is a superb piece of modern jazz; and a personal favorite of mine. There's so much contrast and color in this music. There's some far-out blowing, a lovely ballad, and some swinging trio - all rich in atmosphere and moods that twist and turn. Yet it never seems forced or overly clever; the music flows effortlessly from beginning to end. Need I say it?, but of course it's all played with great sensitivity and utter conviction by the remarkable trio of John Abercrombie, Marc Johnson and Peter Erskine.

The compositions are all fascinating. Most are by John Abercrombie, but they're all outstanding. ('Remember Hymn' is gorgeous. This one was included in the Real Book - can't recall if it's in vol.2 or 3.) The Vince Mendoza tune is great and Marc Johnson's 'Furs on Ice' is wonderful here; much preferred to the later live version on the 'Abercrombie/Johnson/Erskine' album.

This album has, I think, some of John Abercrombie's tastiest playing. Strong clean tones, with lines that are so articulate. His playing seems filled with purpose, and has, to my mind, more substance, and (importantly) more emotion than in later albums. The acoustic guitar tones are rich and detailed - lovely stuff; thankfully no horror plugged-in sounds here! He also uses the guitar synthesizer to great effect, and always with taste. In fact I think it's his best work on the instrument.

And Mike Brecker! Oh my... he's in absolutely killing form on the tracks he appears on. Talk about power! Talk about taste; and that big, big tone. He is definitely inspired here; no doubt by the great music and exceptional musicians he was working with.

This album deserves much greater recognition. Though the prevailing mood might be a little dark or somber, it is nonetheless an absolutely delightful album. "

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"John Abercrombie emerged in the shadows of McLaughlin and Di Meola. He is subtler and, in some ways, more restrained and accomplished. The result here on his ECM debut is a session that really stands the test of time: TIMELESS indeed! I am particularly fond of the title track and the acoustic pieces (there are two here and they are sophisticated entries in the same vein as Mahavishnu's "Thousand Island Park" and Return to Forever's acoustic material: if only fusion had done MUCH MORE of this it would not have mutated into a parody of itself).
The sound of the record is tight, energetic, yet somehow mellow. Jack DeJohnette is superb throughout, Jan Hamer makes a rare appearance on Hammond B3 and just sizzles! On the up-tempo side is "Lungs" an opening burner that settles into an exploratory groove. On the mystical, searching side is the title track that takes a simple motiff and weaves a long gorgeous story that has much more to do with what we think of as the "ECM sound" than "fusion". This should be your first stop on the way to discovering the rich discography of John Abercrombie. Five Stars (meaning: EVERY track is superb, no clunkers, no filler)"

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Jan Hammer

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To pop music fans, keyboardist Jan Hammer is best known for his work on the soundtrack of the stylish '80s cop series Miami Vice. But Hammer also achieved considerable success in the jazz fusion world, both on his own and as a charter member of John McLaughlin's legendary Mahavishnu Orchestra. Though jazz purists often decry major portions of his solo work, Hammer has undeniably left his mark, both musically and commercially.

'Black Sheep', released in 1978 was the first album by this artist I ever heard and indeed it's very atypical of Jan Hammer. So is 'Hammer' from 1979.Strictly speaking about 'Black Sheep' the album is a wild mixture of musical styles, starting out with the brazen heavy metal of "Jet Stream" while the title song and the pretty "Silent One" are catchy mid-tempo pop that could've easily come off of the Melodies album." Waiting No More" and "Between The Sheets Of Music" are the most musically interesting as they both showcase an up-tempo fusing of blues, funk and fusion set to quirky arrangements. Hammer himself takes on the lead vocals himself on "Hey Girl" which almost has a certain punk edge (?????)while he takes another hard rock turn on a metallic cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Manic Depression".

Brecker Brothers

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On Out of the Loop, Randy and Michael Brecker stepped up to the plate with their second long-player of the '90s, 20 years after their first foray into the jazz-funk-fusion realm. The album is surprisingly strong, and any fears of a paint-by-numbers attempt to cash in on past glories are quickly dispelled with the opening "Slang," which is reminiscent of Amandla-era Miles. Here, as throughout the disc, Michael's sax solo burns with abandon, while brother Randy's trumpet glides across a tastefully smooth and melodic terrain. "African Skies" has a decidedly Yellowjackets feel, with Michael again turning in a remarkably energetic solo turn. The set-closing "And Then She Wept" features Randy's attractive flügelhorn, as does the Eliane Elias-produced "Secret Heart," where Michael's soprano sax and EWI share the spotlight. "Scrunch" is a funky piece of programmed hip-hop over which the brothers Brecker play a riff similar to those they and the Average White Band delivered in the mid-'70s. Both Randy and the late Michael Brecker went on to make names for themselves in the jazz world after fronting their brotherly band in the '70s, earning the respect of critics and jazz fans alike. With Out of the Loop, they made a solid musical statement in a contemporary format, one they helped create and in which they proved to be masters. ~ Jim Newsom, All Music Guide

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The new compilation, Sneaking Up Behind You: The Very Best of The Brecker Brothers, kicks off with those two tunes, then winds through a brief history of the band, in the process stirring up fond memories of the latter days of the attempted jazz/rock marriage. It's an exhilarating trip, at times dated (clavinets and disco high-hat patterns) but always fiery and musically impressive. On that first album, Randy's trumpet and Michael's tenor sax were augmented in the front line by future superstar David Sanborn's distinctive alto saxophonics. Other musicians passing through the band included bassists Will Lee and Marcus Miller, drummers Harvey Mason, Lenny White and Terry Bozzio, and keysmen George Duke and Don Grolnick.

The writing was strong, the soloing incredible (Michael in particular showing the facility for which he would be come renown), the funk relentless. These guys followed in the steps of Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and Weather Report to lead fusion's second wave.

Intermediate/Advanced. Be like Mike! For years, musicians have been requesting a high quality funk/fusion Play-A-Long of well- known recorded hits; this is it! The Grammy winning Brecker Brothers band has successfully blended jazz, electronics, and contemporary rhythms into exciting, energetic jazz that has become accessible to popular audiences without compromising quality. Produced by former Brecker Brothers Band keyboardist George Whitty, these tracks contain "killer" electronic sounds and are awesome to play with.

Rhythm Section: Produced and Played by George Whitty

 

Listen to sample tracks from Volume 83 here. Microsoft Media Player MP3 Playlist

 

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www.randybrecker.com

Together with his saxophonist brother, Michael, trumpeter Randy Brecker was one of the forefathers of funk-fusion. With honorary other brother, David Sanborn, they combined be-bop technique, James Brown-rhythms, and rock & roll energy into an amalgam that would be a blueprint for a generation to come. For his previous outing, Hanging in the City, Randy Brecker adopted an alter ego--Randroid--in an attempt to inject hip-hop elements into his urban music-scape. For this recording, he returns to the more exciting, frenetic funk that he helped originate, restricting his trendiness to largely-programmed beats. Fortunately, George Whitty and Zach Danziger provide truly organic sounding grooves redolent of some of Jazzanova's best work. The title tune opens the set with baritone player Ronnie Cuber working out in the best Tower of Power tradition. Throughout, he and famed JB Fred Wesley add plenty of grease to the proceedings. There is no need for Randy Brecker to worry about his street cred; he and his brother defined urban music with records like this, providing the raw materials for the hip-hoppers to sample. --Michael Ross

Jean Luc Ponty

The French-born violinist Jean-Luc Ponty bridged the old jazz styles of Stephane Grappelli and Joe Venuti and contemporary stylists such as the late Noel Pointer and Regina Carter. He was schooled in the classics, played with Frank Zappa in the 1960s and with the Mahavishnu Orchestra and George Duke in the '70s. Although his violin and his electrified violectra were staples in the fusion era, his musicality was solidly based in the classics and jazz.

     

www.ponty.com

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