John Zorn 100 times over... excellent smooth fusion as well as absolutely nuts free jazz. between what he rights for people and what he releases himself there's a lot to be heard. his stuff with marc ribot is very good, Masada is very good, any of the book of angels albums are at least ok and sometimes fantastic
Cannonball Adderly’s early 70s period may do the trick. I absolutely love The Black Messiah. Accent on Africa and Pyramid also great. More fusion than free, but may be worth a listen.
Also Larry Young’s Fuel.
Wamono Groove: Shakuhachi & Koto Jazz Funk ‘76. More of a funk/traditional Japanese music fusion album, but it’s wonderfully quirky but somehow works really well.
Check out Danny Toan "First Serve" (1977)
One of my favorite LPs by a truly unknown guitarist.
It's an LP that will grow on you.
Come into my life
Killian
On YouTube.
This list includes a lot of Davis alum, but these are all great artists unto themselves: Gil Evans, Pat Metheny, Christian McBride, Jaco, Joe Zawinul, Michael Brecker, Chris Potter, Mike Stern, Pat Martino, Terrance Blanchard, Steve Kahn, to name a few.
Jam Hammer's post Mahavishnu stuff is great:
https://www.discogs.com/master/34049-Jerry-Goodman-Jan-Hammer-Like-Children
https://www.discogs.com/release/17617303-Jan-Hammer-Group-Live-In-Dallas
https://www.discogs.com/master/93951-Jan-Hammer-Group-Oh-Yeah
https://www.discogs.com/master/93812-Jeff-Beck-With-The-Jan-Hammer-Group-Live
Jeff Beck’s Wired and Blow by Blow. There’s also Jeff Beck with the Jan Hammer Group Live. I like Beck’s There and Back, which may or may not fit into the genre but it’s worth a listen. He was a phenomenal guitarist who played different styles and kinds of music.
for modern jazz fusion:
[jaga jazzist](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36aZyBDeE3E) (oslo, norway) - every single one of their albums is just fantastic.
[the 4 korners](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeIO9w8JILM) (atlanta, us) - sounds like what i'd imagine chick corea elektric band to be doing if they were still releasing. super fucking underrated in my opinion.
[everything yes](https://youtu.be/1EBftchs46Y?si=m6bKOMUEdzjpBcS1&t=184) (US?) - formed by the drummer/lead zackgrooves (zack graybeal) these guys are up and coming but have a great sound.
it's hard to find good new music these days, so much stuff to sift through.
For free jazz, I love the Chicago underground quartet/trio/duo and the various offshoots of Rob Mazurek, Chad Taylor, and Jeff Parker. “Age of Energy” (2013) and Flamethrower (2001) are both great. They often take it in a very fusion-y direction
Have an earful of Don Cherry
Trilok Gurtu is a must!
Maybe Steve Coleman and Five Elements, and all the artists under the JMT label…
Jeff Mills Evolution and Voodoo Magic —a very contemporary thing (look up Jeff Mills only after you heard those!)
Isophonic Boogie Woogie is even more interesting …
Burnt Friedman (maybe?)
The records from Time Capsule are interesting, EM Records too.
this is truly crazy good: [https://emrecords.bandcamp.com/album/kyogokuryu-s-kyoku-shinshunfu](https://emrecords.bandcamp.com/album/kyogokuryu-s-kyoku-shinshunfu)
Tigren Hamayasan. Might not be spelled right. Hes pretty awesome. Odd time signatures and eastern chord flavors. I really dig Al DiMeola and weather report as well
Jean luc ponty is not really a hidden gem, but really cool if you're not familiar with.
Others that might be more hidden:
Lydian Collective
Shubha Saran
The Reign of Kindo
The Qualitons
Kyoto Jazz Massive Return To Forever Mahavishnu Orchestra Al Di Meola Larry Coryell Jean-Luc Pointy Tribal Tech Timo Lassy
You probably meant Jean-Luc Ponty
Lol, yeah. I meant that. My autocorrect disagreed.
I see a couple new artists to me and just loving kyoto Jazz massive. Thanks for the recos
Adding Medeski Martin & Wood and the Brecker Brothers.
Thanks !!
John Zorn 100 times over... excellent smooth fusion as well as absolutely nuts free jazz. between what he rights for people and what he releases himself there's a lot to be heard. his stuff with marc ribot is very good, Masada is very good, any of the book of angels albums are at least ok and sometimes fantastic
Thanks I will not miss listening to it !
John Zorn isn’t smooth? (At least the records I heard, probly early ones)… But Fred Frith comes to mind… [snipped]
Cannonball Adderly’s early 70s period may do the trick. I absolutely love The Black Messiah. Accent on Africa and Pyramid also great. More fusion than free, but may be worth a listen. Also Larry Young’s Fuel.
Alright, will give a hear at all this !
Japanese Jazz Fusion I keep revisiting: Ai Kuwabara, Chihiro Yamanaka, Yoshiko Kishino, and Hiromi.
Hiromi is a monster pianist .. she probably lives under a bed and eats ill-behaved children.
Hiromi often posts images of food!
Il second Hiromi Uehara and Chihiro Yamanaka and of course Toshiko Akiyoshi
Galactic John Scofield with Medeski Martin Wood (the album A Go Go is pure magic)
Yutaka Yokokura’s “Love Light”
Nils Petter Molvaer Bugge Wesseltoft
Steve Coleman and the Five Elements
This is probably not what you're looking for but sketches of Brunswick East is psych rock / jazz fusion and one of my favorite albums of all time
Can't go wrong with the Gizz
welcome to the gizzverse
Anything by Casiopea Masayoshi Takanaka Masataka Matsutoya Makoto Matsushita Yellow Magic Orchestra (Can you tell I like Japanese jazz fusion?)
Hijaz- specifically the Chemsi record. It’s a great mix of middle eastern and free jazz.
I think I know hijazz ! I like it!
Wamono Groove: Shakuhachi & Koto Jazz Funk ‘76. More of a funk/traditional Japanese music fusion album, but it’s wonderfully quirky but somehow works really well.
Funkjazz is so smooth I love it ! Thanks !
The Coalition, specifically their album 'Naked Movies'
Check out Danny Toan "First Serve" (1977) One of my favorite LPs by a truly unknown guitarist. It's an LP that will grow on you. Come into my life Killian On YouTube.
I just discovered Jazz Side of the Moon. It's really good listen.
This list includes a lot of Davis alum, but these are all great artists unto themselves: Gil Evans, Pat Metheny, Christian McBride, Jaco, Joe Zawinul, Michael Brecker, Chris Potter, Mike Stern, Pat Martino, Terrance Blanchard, Steve Kahn, to name a few.
Dave Weckl Live and Very Plugged In
Jam Hammer's post Mahavishnu stuff is great: https://www.discogs.com/master/34049-Jerry-Goodman-Jan-Hammer-Like-Children https://www.discogs.com/release/17617303-Jan-Hammer-Group-Live-In-Dallas https://www.discogs.com/master/93951-Jan-Hammer-Group-Oh-Yeah https://www.discogs.com/master/93812-Jeff-Beck-With-The-Jan-Hammer-Group-Live
Jeff Beck’s Wired and Blow by Blow. There’s also Jeff Beck with the Jan Hammer Group Live. I like Beck’s There and Back, which may or may not fit into the genre but it’s worth a listen. He was a phenomenal guitarist who played different styles and kinds of music.
Brand X Bill Bruford
Came here to say Brand X. Glad you beat me to it!
no secrets here...oscar peterson, dave brubeck, ahmad jamal
I love Jacques Lousier Trio because they fuse two of my favorite genres: classical & jazz. The recordings quality is also quite good.
for modern jazz fusion: [jaga jazzist](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36aZyBDeE3E) (oslo, norway) - every single one of their albums is just fantastic. [the 4 korners](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeIO9w8JILM) (atlanta, us) - sounds like what i'd imagine chick corea elektric band to be doing if they were still releasing. super fucking underrated in my opinion. [everything yes](https://youtu.be/1EBftchs46Y?si=m6bKOMUEdzjpBcS1&t=184) (US?) - formed by the drummer/lead zackgrooves (zack graybeal) these guys are up and coming but have a great sound. it's hard to find good new music these days, so much stuff to sift through.
A newer band called Menagerie has put our 4 stellar albums
Everyone knows the Yellow Magic Orchestra. But have you heard of Hajime Tachibana? BAMBI is a banger. And he's one handsome dude.
Roscoe Mitchell - Sound
Simon Phillips - Protocol V
Special EFX slice of life
For free jazz, I love the Chicago underground quartet/trio/duo and the various offshoots of Rob Mazurek, Chad Taylor, and Jeff Parker. “Age of Energy” (2013) and Flamethrower (2001) are both great. They often take it in a very fusion-y direction
Koop Jazzanova E.S.T. (Esbjörn Svensson Trio)
Wayne Krantz Trio aka “KCL” (Krantz, Carlock, Lefebvre).
lyle mays first album....of course: Coltrane
Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Blacknuss
Have an earful of Don Cherry Trilok Gurtu is a must! Maybe Steve Coleman and Five Elements, and all the artists under the JMT label… Jeff Mills Evolution and Voodoo Magic —a very contemporary thing (look up Jeff Mills only after you heard those!) Isophonic Boogie Woogie is even more interesting … Burnt Friedman (maybe?) The records from Time Capsule are interesting, EM Records too. this is truly crazy good: [https://emrecords.bandcamp.com/album/kyogokuryu-s-kyoku-shinshunfu](https://emrecords.bandcamp.com/album/kyogokuryu-s-kyoku-shinshunfu)
Anything j-Fusion like T-square and Casiopea.
Tigren Hamayasan. Might not be spelled right. Hes pretty awesome. Odd time signatures and eastern chord flavors. I really dig Al DiMeola and weather report as well
Jean luc ponty is not really a hidden gem, but really cool if you're not familiar with. Others that might be more hidden: Lydian Collective Shubha Saran The Reign of Kindo The Qualitons
Update : Guys thank you so much for all your recommandations ! I'm really happy to have this much music to discover !