Looking to Get into Fusion, Need a Primer

[Beginner Bass]

My teacher feels that I'm ready to delve into some more adanced stuff. We found the audition requirements for North Texas University. One of the things on that list was to play a fusion piece. So now here's the dilemna: I know absolutely nothing about fusion.

I understand it as some kind of limbo genre that falls in the grey area, referring to artists that combine jazz, funk/R&B, and rock. Now unfortunately, this is the extent of my knowledge, and I need to figure out how to convincingly play a tune in that style.

So, where should I start? What kind of stuff should I listen to? Who are some prominent bassists in this genre? I know it's not very specific, but I really know nothing about fusion.

 

[Jim Campbell]

My teacher feels that I'm ready to delve into some more adanced stuff. We found the audition requirements for North Texas University. One of the things on that list was to play a fusion piece. So now here's the dilemna: I know absolutely nothing about fusion.

I understand it as some kind of limbo genre that falls in the grey area, referring to artists that combine jazz, funk/R&B, and rock. Now unfortunately, this is the extent of my knowledge, and I need to figure out how to convincingly play a tune in that style.

So, where should I start? What kind of stuff should I listen to? Who are some prominent bassists in this genre? I know it's not very specific, but I really know nothing about fusion.

listen to some....larry coryell....spaces,mahavishnu orchestra,billy cobham,jeff beck ....wired and blow by blow

 

[Beginner Bass]

Any specific albums from the above artists?

 

[lowfreqgeek]

John McLaughlin - To The One

Chick Corea Electric Band - To The Stars

Tribal Tech - Thick

Steve Khan - The Suitcase

That's not even the tip of the iceberg. That's like a tiny bump of ice on the iceberg...

 

[Jpeachbass]

My teacher feels that I'm ready to delve into some more adanced stuff. We found the audition requirements for North Texas University. One of the things on that list was to play a fusion piece. So now here's the dilemna: I know absolutely nothing about fusion.

I understand it as some kind of limbo genre that falls in the grey area, referring to artists that combine jazz, funk/R&B, and rock. Now unfortunately, this is the extent of my knowledge, and I need to figure out how to convincingly play a tune in that style.

So, where should I start? What kind of stuff should I listen to? Who are some prominent bassists in this genre? I know it's not very specific, but I really know nothing about fusion.

Don't forget dave weckl. Also there are two aebersold books you should get. The one called 'fusion' #109 And the 'Brecker Brothers' one. #83. Oh and #103. 'David Sanborn' Great books. They have backing tracks and charts. No bass lines but they do have changes.

 

[Beginner Bass]

Are there any general "rules" to playing fusion?

 

[Kobaia]

The term fusion is so huge. you're literally taking jazz concepts and applying them to every and any other style of music.

for me the old school fusion is too sterotypical, but i could see why a school would want to see that.

I'm also looking into UNT for graduate work. this is what i'm submitting for the fusion piece.

 

[Kobaia]

Are there any general "rules" to playing fusion?

its so broad fusion to one person is prog rock is primus, is eryka badu and so on.

after a while its just improvisational music.

 

[slybass3000]

Are there any general "rules" to playing fusion?

Tough one to answer but I'll tell you from my experience at playing that style in the past (and do miss it).

Funk and Fusion can be closed as far as basslines sometimes but what makes Fusion what it is, is the way the band and the bassist can react while backing up a soloist. You can be more busy and open in your playing and you can react to the soloist a bit more especially with the harmony . Energy, listenning, communication and dynamics are crucial in this style because if it is played always full-blast, it becomes boring and annoying sometimes. I used to love create a different mood for every soloist. The bass player is the one in the band that can do that.

Good luck and like someone as mentioned before, check out some Tribal Tech with Garry Willis. He is also a former student at NTU and a great bassist in that style.

 

[camiloochoa]

I think two fundamental records to listen to, if you are interested in the so called "fusion" genre is "In a Silent Way", and "Bitches Brew" by Miles Davis.

 

[klaus486]

Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return To Forever and Weather Report are 3 great places to start.

 

[Commreman]

Blow by Blow - Jeff Beck
Enigmatic Ocean - Jean-Luc Ponty
8:30 - Weather Report
Anything in the Return to Forever Catalog

 

[mikkejohansson]

I'll go out on a limb here and say that if they're expecting a "typical" fusion piece with a bassline that shows off your skills;

"Chromazone" or "Gossip" by Mike Stern.

 

[251]

My teacher feels that I'm ready to delve into some more adanced stuff. We found the audition requirements for North Texas University. One of the things on that list was to play a fusion piece. So now here's the dilemna: I know absolutely nothing about fusion.

I understand it as some kind of limbo genre that falls in the grey area, referring to artists that combine jazz, funk/R&B, and rock. Now unfortunately, this is the extent of my knowledge, and I need to figure out how to convincingly play a tune in that style.

So, where should I start? What kind of stuff should I listen to? Who are some prominent bassists in this genre? I know it's not very specific, but I really know nothing about fusion.

Take a look at this;
http://www.amazon.com/John-McLaughl...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1292946595&sr=1-1

Click on the book image & choose Look at the 1st Few Pages. Scroll down the insert & read the Synthetic Modes and Vocabulary sections. Put that to work with your teacher using Mahavishnu Orchestra recordings as ear training. In a while you will begin to hear what McLaughlin, Hammer & Goodman are doing.

For a better idea of Rick Laird's approach to bass, look at this;
http://www.amazon.com/Improvising-J...=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1292947307&sr=1-4

This is the beginning for which Miles Davis played the introduction & Chick Corea/Stanley Clarke played the 2nd set. The best concert I ever heard was Return to Forever (touring Hymn of the 7th Galaxy) opening for The Mahavishnu Orchestra (touring Birds of Fire?), in the Gymnasium at Princeton University. That must have been about 1974. Total sensory overload!

Good luck finding others who can play this music. That will be worth celebrating.

 

[plangentmusic]

This, to me, was fusions apex. :

 

[MonetBass]

Also Al Di Meola's Elegant Gypsy. Anthony Jackson is amazing.

 

[plangentmusic]

Also Al Di Meola's Elegant Gypsy. Anthony Jackson is amazing.

Yep, and this. Anthony sounded great when he played a Gibson.

 

[Beginner Bass]

What are some good books that would be helpful for this kind of stuff? Also, who are some notable bassists in this genre?

 

[Kobaia]

Also, who are some notable bassists in this genre?

Jaco Pastorius
Jeff Andrews
Lincoln Goines
Jame Genius
Victor Wooten
Stanley Clarke
Gary Willis
Janek Gwizdala
Tony Grey
Matthew Garrison
Richard Bona
Mike Pope
John Patitucci
Anthony Jackson
Miroslav Virtuous
Alphonso Johnson
Victor Bailey
Jonas Hellborg
Rick Laird
Jeff Berlin
Martin Wood
Hadrian Feraud
Alain Caron
Tom Kennedy
Eberhard Weber
Christian McBride
Tal Wilkenfeld

 

[Beginner Bass]

That's a lot of records to look at.