The first two examples are the most modern of this Fusion Rock list, coming from the “Renegade Creation” album by Robben Ford (2010), featuring Jimmy Haslip on bass (no less). I saw them live last year. So if one were to argue that fusion, per se, is not giggable in the modern day, they’ll have to take on Ford and Haslip, for starters.
1. Brothers
2. Soft in Black Jeans (the only song in this post with vocals)
The next three examples come from an obscure album called “Where’s Henning “ (available on iTunes), by the David Becker Tribune band. I propose these as jammable, but also live-giggable.
All of these emphasize a trio (guitar, fretless bass, and drums, that’s it). The fretless bass player requires some serious chops to pull any of these off as recorded below. I've seen each of these three performed live in recent years (or past 18 months, even).
3. Footprints (saw this gigged live in Palo Alto in late 2009)
4. Here and There (last saw in live in late 90s)
5. All Blues (yes, that Miles Davis classic). I cite this because I have seen this migrated to fusion from straight-ahead jazz more times live than I can ever recall.
I could cite countless more works of fusion that I love, as I have been into it since I was a kid (70s). I love Spyro Gyra, Yellowjackets, Jean-Luc Ponty (!!!!!), Strunz and Farah ("Selva" track specifically), and a lot of the modern Latin/World influenced fusion, and more. But here are a couple more honorable mentions (all dated to late 70s, very early 80s), from a listening standpoint:
1. The first three albums Al Di Meola released in his own name. I like these in this specific sequence (and all are rock-jazz fusion rather than the other way around, perhaps): Elegant Gypsy, Casino, Land of the Midnight Sun (with emphasis on Suite Golden Dawn featuring Jaco)
2. The 11th Commandment by Chuck Mangione, featuring Charles Meeks on bass, from Live at the Hollywood Bowl album – I was there that night (as a kid).
