During the early 60's Jazz consisted mostly of Cool and West Coast sounds at the cutting edge, both of which employed primarily uprights.
In 1967 a band from NYC called Blood Sweat & Tears of which I am a former member, began fusing a jazz horn section with a rock & roll rhythm section. BS&T was one the origninal fusion bands blending rock, jazz, latin and R & B. This not only was a huge success in the rock world but it got the attention of the jazz world too. 1968 BS&T swept the grammies.
In later part of the decade, Miles Davis, always the innovator, started exploring electric jazz. Big Fun and Bithches Brew were released in 1970. Names like John McLaughlin, Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinal, Chick Corea began to emerge. Dave Holland is playing a fender bass. The birth of Jazz Fusion sees the electric bass gaining ecceptance into the the Jazz world in a big way.
In the Late 60's early 70's this trend reaches through the Jazz and quazi jazz worlds as evidenced by electric bass being played in the Tonight show orchestra. Quincey Jones, began using electric bass for his grammy winning Jazz compositions for movie scores and artisit he arranged for.
The Mahavishnu orchestra, Weather Report and others brought the electric bass fully into view of the Jazz world. Miraslav Vitus, Alphonso Johnson, Steve Swallow all blazed this trail.
Pop Jazz begins to emerge at this time. This is the fore runner of today's smooth jazz. Creed Taylor starts CTI records and artists like George Benson, Grover Washington and Stanley Turinteen begin making a blend of Poppy Jazz all with guys like Anthony Jackson on the electric bass.
Then a guy named Jaco showed up in 1976 with a Fender Jazz. He rewrote the rules for the the bass, not just the electric bass.
Yeah, I keep it by my bedside.
