Back in the 70s I was a huge prog rock fan and an offshoot of that fandom was discovering jazz fusion. I think Jean-Luc Ponty was the first proper fusion record I ever owned. I believe I was a fusion fan before getting into jazz in general.
I've been planning on creating a fusion mix for months but just haven't gotten around to it. Then last month I was sipping coffee on a cold morning, listening to a fusion playlist, when a couple of laid back tunes came up. I immediately started a new playlist for quiet fusion tracks. And this mix is the result.
Tracklist is in the comments.
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Tracklist
Playing tracks by Herbie Hancock, Allan Holdsworth, John Abercrombie, Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays, Jaco Pastorius and more.
Comments
I really appreciated this "throw back" collection. It's great to be reminded of some of the classics even as you often share some of the newest stuff out there. I hope you'll continue to do an occasional "throw back" show. After all, what may be old to you could be brand new to younger (and even older) ears. And great music is great music, regardless of how old it is. Special shout out to "Emotions" by Gong which I first came to know and love back in the 80's in college. A couple other favorites I would mention from back in the day are Elements by Roger Glover (I especially appreciate the "third ring" and "fourth ring") and Beaver & Krause's In a Wild Sanctuary (especially "Short Film for David").
Totally agree about the "throwback" mixes(see recent ECM mix). And thanks for the recommendations, I'll be sure to check them out. Cheers!
Liked this mix a lot, great selections with a really nice balance to it - and some moments of nostalgia for me.
Sad to hear of Mike Ratledge's passing last week because Soft Machine were my gateway to jazz flavours as a 1970s teen.
(Isotope, Gilgamesh and Nucleus were on the menu as well. Did any of that register at all in the States back then? Everything was a bit more inaccessible in those pre-digital days, wasn't it?)
I didn't really get into fusion until the late 70s so I missed all the good, early Soft Machine. But I don't believe it made much of an impact here. My gateway into fusion was two drummers - Phil Collins & Bill Bruford. From there to National Health and other Cantebury bands which are fusion adjacent. Thanks for checking out the mix and thanks for your thoughtful comment. Cheers!
@lowlight Sounds like you might have been a drummer yourself?
Kind of surprised that the Canterbury bands had much exposure in the US, liked all that myself (Hatfield and the North, Caravan, Henry Cow etc) and I've a fond memory of catching National Health at London's LSE circa 1976.
Thanks for always uploading such varied and imaginative mixes, and for keeping the standard so high.
@LordBrettHeadset I am very far from drummer material, I can't keep time or a beat to save my life. But I was a Genesis and Yes fan so naturally I loved Bruford and Collins. Bill Bruford's "one Of A Kind" is definitely my favorite fusion album and one of my favorite albums of that decade. I'm so jealous that you got to see National Health. I worked at a student radio station in the late 70s & early 80s and I had some colleagues with excellent taste in music who introduced me to a ton of stuff including Canterbury bands.
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Paul, I'm glad you're digging the mix. I kinda figured that guys around our age love a trip in the WAAYYY-back machine. Cheers!
What a delightful discovery. Tbh ive been a bit sniffy towards the concept of Jazz Fusion, but delighted to hear such classic with John Abercrombie, Soft Machine, Gong and Miles Davis. Loved it. Thank you
classic
Dance. 90s
NICE !
Thanks for checking out the mix!
@lowlight Cool
I liked this set. 👏
Thanks for listening!