• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Best Fusion Albums?

#61
Roscoe East said:
Yes! So much ^^^this! Just when you thought fusion had jumped the shark (album was released in 1977 iirc) Johnny M releases this smörgåsbord of awesomeness, with an all-star cast, completely different bands on every cut, and enough mind-blowing playing to keep your jaw pinned to the floor for 40 solid minutes. A real sleeper, but one of my favorite fusion albums ever.

A lot of the other albums I'd cite have already been mentioned: Birds Of Fire, Romantic Warrior, Black Market, One Of A Kind, Believe It, Velvet Darkness, Spectrum, Thrust, Bitches Brew...

Here's three I haven't seen anyone mention, that I think belong up there with the greatest fusion ever recorded:

Pat Martino - Joyous Lake
Shadowfax - Watercourse Way
Mike Gibbs - The Only Chrome Waterfall Orchestra
Click to expand...

Yes! I had forgotten about Martino's Joyous Lake. Highly recommended!
 
#64
BlountEdge said:
Yes! I had forgotten about Martino's Joyous Lake. Highly recommended!
Click to expand...
I have family that lived around Martino in south Philly...so, as I got into Jazz, my very Jazz albums were things like The Visit, Consciousness, El Hombre, etc.
Then I got the Fusion bug & I heard Joyous Lake.
That was a mindfreak...the guy could do anything.
 
#68
Jim Campbell said:
Billy Cobham,Crosswindsneeds a mention here.....not as popular as spectrum,but some fine stuff .....brecker's solo on Heather is one of the tastiest lines i ever heard....
Click to expand...

It's on my list above. I agree, it's definitely a good album! I'm sure that I'll think of others as the day progresses.
 
#69
btw, am I the only guy that likes the Narada Michael Walden/Ralph Armstrong-era Mahavishnu Orchestra albums as much if not moreso than the original lineup? Despite the occasional misguided vocals, those three albums have some absolutely incendiary playing...as well as overall better sound quality imho.
 
#70
for strength of composition/playing/influence/importance im going with the following five in no particular order
weather report-black market
return to forever-romantic warrior
herbie hancock-thrust
mahavishnu orchestra-inner mounting flame
new tony williams lifetime-believe it

a lot of great albums are being mentioned but a lot of them suffer from one fusions biggest drawbacks. amazing virtuosity and average writing.
 
#73
Hiromi kicks some a$$!

For me:
Tribal Tech: I think the Purple album is the best but also really Like Nomad, Illicit and Reality Check

Pat Metheny Group: The White album is one of my top ten all time albums.

UZEB: Noisy Nights. A bit more progressive but these guys were great and masters of electronics.

Matrix: The Wizard. The analog synth is great.

Koynania: More than a Feelin'. Abe Laboriel is one of my favorite bass players.

Free Flight: Soaring. A little bit of classical music mixed in.

Jean Luc Ponty: Enigmatic Ocean.

The Jeff Lorber Fusion: Soft Space and Water Sign
 
#74
dougjwray said:
I plan to read that book, too, as well as Duane Allman's daughter's new book about him.
Interesting how they see themselves. "Blues-rock" is a bit limited, I think. There is lots of jazz in there, and even some classical influence. The latter is hard to pin down, but I think it's in their attention to dynamics, their dividing of long jams into movements, and in Dickey Betts' very melodic and "vocal" soloing, which can sound like he's singing an aria at times. The "Whipping Post" on the Fillmore album gets into areas which remind me of tragic opera in their bleakness and despair.
Best American band? I would agree.
Click to expand...

I've read many books about or by the Allman's, I'm not finished yet, but I love the format because you get everybody's point of view of the events that transpired. That's the best way to get the true story.
Back on topic, I love most of the ones mentioned because that's when I was turning some of my listening habits over to a lot of jazz/rock, and probably because of my love of early BS&T and Chicago. My list always changes but Weather Report's 'Mysterious Traveler' will always be at the top of my list, I remember getting that album around the time a lot of friends were getting Dark Side Of The Moon, Traveler was a much better "headphone" album to me.;)
 
#75
Icarus, Paul Winter Consort

Oregon, Oregon

Solstice, Ralph Towner

Colors Of Chloe, Eberhard Weber

Ring, Gary Burton

Spaces, Larry Coryell

The Restful Mind, Larry Coryell

Inner Mounting Flame, Mahavishnu Orchestra

Mysterious Traveler, Weather Report

Shakti, Shakti

Pat Metheny Group, Pat Metheny

Journey To Love, Stanley Clarke

Open Your Eyes, You Can Fly, Flora Purim
 
#77
Jeff Beck - Wired, Live with Jan Hammer, Blow By Blow
Billy Cobham - Live In Europe with George Duke, Alivemotherforya
Weather Report - Black Market, Heavy Weather
Eddie Henderson - Sunburst
Herbie Hancock - Thrust
Pat Metheny - Bright Size Life, Pat Metheny Group
Return To Forever - Self-Titled, Light As A Feather
 
#78
Alright, here's where things stand so far. I never dreamed we'd see quite this many entries. I know I plan on giving some of these I've never heard before a listen in the near future.

Overall top 10:
1. Billy Cobham, Spectrum (17 points)
2. Mahavishnu Orchestra, Birds of Fire (14 points)
3. Jeff Beck, Wired (14 points)
4. (3-way tie w/ 13 points) Return to Forever, Romantic Warrior
Mahavishnu Orchestra, Inner Mounting Flame
Weather Report, Black Market
7. (3-way tie w/ 11 points) Miles Davis, B. Brew
Bill Bruford, One of a Kind
Herbie Hancock, Thrust
10. Return to Forever, Light as a Feather (10 points)
 
#80
Well, I see the Tony Williams Lifetime records were mentioned and the Martino recording Joyous Lake. I think Martino was the most legit old school jazz guitarist to delve into the fusion space. I heard that band perform Joyous Lake at one of the fancy old theaters in Detroit. Forget which one. Great concert.

There was the Holdsworth record Velvet Darkness that had some pretty hip Alphonso Johnson pieces. I gather Holdsworth hated the record. I thought it was pretty OK.

How about some of Earl Klugh's stuff and George Benson's? I heard Earl many times at Baker's in Detroit. Great cat. I still play Vonetta and some of his early stuff. Maybe, that's not Fusion. But there were some terrific Louis Johnson lines on some of those records.

You guys got most of the rest. As I get older I am liking the Headhunters stuff more and more. It really wears well; testament to HH's musical wonderfulness.

If I think of more, I'll post em.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back