The 10 Greatest JAZZ FUSION albums | Ranked

[@markjohnson7572]

When The Inner Mounting Flame exploded off the turntables of countless first time listeners, unlike many other albums, there was no formative undeveloped version of this music that prepared you for what was coming. The white hot intensity of the playing combined with the uniquely original jazz, Indian, classical and rock elements in the compositions seemed to have emerged fully formed from somewhere beyond the know musical universe!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

great comment...and so true. That is truly where fusion begins in reality....

[@RocketKirchner]

Andy edwards

[@sn0tsna1l]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Cream, Coryell w Burton, Miles Davis came earlier.

[@JohnPrepuce]

I like Birds of Fire better. I basically wore out that album when I fist got it. I think Inner Mounting Flame is groundbreaking, but Birds of Fire is more developed.

[@TechnicolourMan]

Visions of the Emerald Beyond is still my favorite.

[@harveyjackson3572]

Tony Williams Lifetime. Holdsworth is on fire. Proto-Cosmos, Red Alert, Mr Spock. Pure genius. Just my thoughts..

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Nearly made the list...but it never really had an impact at the time on fusion which is why that version of Lifetime did not keep going. So I included Enigmatic Ocean to represent Holdsworth as it is a classic fusion album and sold tons

[@rickketchum8668]

Man, try Million Dollar Legs Tony with Holdsworth.Never met a Holdsworth riff I didn't like. Some good Gong stuff too.

[@castillogg1]

You got a mount full of true.... Tony William lifetime - Belive It....there is a "Must be" of Fussion Music

[@juanquintana6070]

1 Jaco - Jaco Pastorius 2- Between nothingness and eternity-Mahavishnu orchestra 3- 8.30 - Weather Report 4- Offramp- Pat Metheny Group 5- Return to Forever-Chick Corea 6- Golden wings-Opa 7- Odissey- Terje Rypdal 8- Land of the midnight sun-Al diMeola 9- Shamal- Gong 10- VSOP- Herbie Hancock

[@Kobsidian]

So glad to see Opa here. I hardly ever see them acknowledged. Both Golden Wings and Magic Time are incredible!

[@roncohp]

I love Shamal by Gong. It's a personal favorite. But I agree that it does NOT belong on the list of all time best jazz fusion albums. Passport is another personal favorite that also represents Europe's fusion influence. However, they also don't have the sales to back up a top-10 selection. Lack of sales also disqualifies Terje Rypdal and Opa.

[@manitheman0806]

my favorites.. 1, Birds of Fire 2. Steve Morese the Introduction 3. Tony Williams - Believe it 4. Allan Holdsworth - Road Games 5. Jean Luc Ponty Fables 6. Jeff Beck Wired 7. Bill Connors - Step it 8. Weather Report - Heavy Weather 9. Return to Forerver - Romantic Warrior 10 Stanley Clark - school days..

[@tscoletti431]

School Days!

[@SPY1964-LL]

BILL CONNORS! HELL YEAH!

[@lotusmanb3832]

You have to consider the first Chick Corea Elektric Band LP with Dave Weckl.. blew my mind in 1986

[@littlejohn725]

In a way I think Jimi's Electric Ladyland is the greatest 'everything' album there is. It has jazz, rock, blues, boogie, pop, pseudo-classical, gospel, sci-fi and fusion on it. It is pure genius. The only weakness is the 1968 recording techniques that were available to Jimi in the day. Jimi was way ahead of the technology. It is extraordinary Andy and it would be lovely for you to make a complete video on this album alone. Thank you, appreciate it. Not forgetting ground-breaking electric guitar work either.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I have never sat down and listened to that album all the way through...that would make a great video....

[@WELLBRAN]

Often wonder what Jimi would be playing had he lived..and that album has clues what he had going I. His head and it would only have got better over time

[@williambent9636]

no jazz on this lp

[@littlejohn725]

@@williambent9636 Rainy Day, Dream Away/Still Raining Still Dreaming has some lovely funky jazz blues on there. Jimi's wah wah guitar is simulating the jazz horn players. Gorgeous piece. Even House Burning Down has jazz rhythm chords on it.

[@taurushamilton2739]

Amen!👊🏾

[@gregghernandez2714]

I worked in record stores during my college days and I had a reputation for playing everything and anything when it was my turn to play an album. I remember groans from my fellow employees when I told them I was going to play some jazz. I put on the Mahavishnu Orchestra 's Birds of Fire, and everyone was stunned by the incredible musicianship of these guys.

[@drumhaver223]

Jeff Lorber Fusion, 'Wizard Island'. Great album with a young Kenny Gorelick.

[@dukeevans8896]

Yep! Great album full of funky grooves... I'd call it Jazz-Funk Fusion

[@troutriver58]

I'm impressed! Frankly I didn't think you'd hit the sweet ones, and you did! I might quibble and say Blow by Blow over Wired, but it is close. So pleased to see Ponty included. Nailed that one too! And love that you included Jaco's debut record, which still blows me away to this day.

[@AlmostEthical]

Some extras: Larry's Coryell, Introducing the Eleventh House. Bill Bruford, One of a Kind was influential. Miles, In a Silent Way. Zappa, Grand Wazoo. Pat Metheny, Imaginary Day. Gong, Gazeuse!

[@haydenwalton2766]

why does no one seem to get caravanserai!!!? a monumental masterpiece of the genre

[@TechnicolourMan]

It doesn't qualify as a fusion album.

[@haydenwalton2766]

@@TechnicolourMan you say

[@lsbill27]

Caravanserai is a fantastic fussion album! I don't think it did well because it came out just as disco took over the airwaves.

[@haydenwalton2766]

@@lsbill27 it came out in 72 - a little before disco. It lost the general santana fan (and many music fans in general) due to it big deviation from the Latin rock they'd been recording. on hearing the caravanserai sessions, their record company weren't happy at all. they wanted them to keep doing what they had been doing and collect the cash. Santana resisted, and recorded the progressive and landmark album we know and love now

[@gerardlizanolatam7634]

I completely agree Caravansarie is the first album that came to my mind also Borboleta oh well I will have to listen to the others.

[@HarryBalsak]

In no particular order: 1. Jean-Luc Ponty - Enigmatic Ocean 2. Kazumi Watanabe - Mobo I 3. Bill Connors - Step It 4. Return to Forever - Romantic Warrior 5. Jeff Beck - Wired 6. Stanley Clarke - School Days 7. Lenny White - Venusian Summer 8. Brand X - Unorthodox Behaviour 9. Al Dimeola - Elegant Gypsy 10. Billy Cobham - Power Play

[@craigchapman8220]

Great list.

[@87crimson]

An honorable mention for Hymn of the seventh galaxy.

[@SPY1964-LL]

Gee....how did this one not make it? Yikes!!!!

[@bertbecker7532]

I guessed Birds Of Fire would be #1…more well known, commercially successful, better recorded than the debut (debatable)…but I can live with your choice. Another fascinating video..all great choices…you are on a roll!

[@hansboerfusion]

Jan Hammer also played synthesizer on ‘Spectrum ‘ & ‘Elegant Gypsy’. On ‘Wired’ there are two synth players : Jan Hammer & Max Middleton.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

He does seem the winner of this list...as I have said else where he is the Charlie Parker of fusion...

[@jamesmcghee3440]

I love blow by blow as well… it “leads into” Wired… but I loooove Wired….

[@marksonanything]

Mahavishnu Orchestra is the purest form i've discovered in Jazz Fusion. Absolutely legends! I also think Zappa is important to have on the list. The Grand Wazoo or perhaps Hot Rats are important albums...

[@jamesmcghee3440]

Agreed, that’s why I said there could./ should be another ten albums and Zappa should be in there

[@robertwcoleman4048]

Hot Rats!!

[@maon7565]

Or Return to Forever...

[@TechnicolourMan]

Right but wrong. Return to Forever is just as pure as Mahavishnu. So is Weather Report. Tons of people were turned on to fusion by Romantic Warrior. People who never listened to the genre. And if we want to be real, Miles Davis invented fusion. And many of the fusion greats got their start playing for Miles. In my opinion the first fusion album was Bitch's Brew.

[@BarbarraBay]

i like Hot Rats, particularly the guitar parts, which is the majority. But the horns don't "fuse" for me.

[@tookmyjob]

I bought The Inner Mounting Flame as an 18 year old in 2001, without hearing a single note. It's still my favorite album of all time.

[@zenos.5315]

Played this album so much I wore it out. First track ….Vital Information, totally blew my mind, Cobham at his best.

[@williamcampbell3868]

To @tookmyjob: Being almost a bonified senior citizen I applaud your taste as a young man. This has been a favorite of mine for decades and I recommend you seek out their subsequent albums also.I think you'll be satisfied with them and they are must haves. Trust me you won't be disappointed!

[@tookmyjob]

@@williamcampbell3868 Trust me, I’ve been hooked since then. But I’ve learned a valuable lesson: don’t listen to the Mahavishnu live recordings at work, because what seems like an hour is about seven minutes. 😂

[@SPY1964-LL]

@@williamcampbell3868 It is their best studio work by far. On fire! William Campbell? HELLO BILLY! Sgt. Pepper.

[@williamcampbell3868]

@@SPY1964-LL You've lost me on that response!🤣

[@kookamunga2458]

I would have to put Herbie Hancock's Head Hunters and Sextant and Miles Davis Bitches Brew and Big Fun. .I don't have many jazz-fusion albums but I do dabble in it and have a deep appreciation of all kinds of music .

[@54LoisGillespie]

I am driving for 8 hours to see the eclipse on April 8 and am making a Spotify playlist of high-energy tracks to keep me going! Luckily, I recognize many of these albums...I bought them in the 70s!! Fusion is my favorite genre. Thanks for reminding me about all this fantastic music!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I have a Spotify playlist of insane fusion tracks, most very obscure. Link in any video description

[@SPY1964-LL]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Do you know early Passport? Looking Through, Cross Collateral and Infinity Machine? Are you familiar with the drummer Curt Cress? Do look this up. Do so! I will not bore you.

[@whitneyjacobs7874]

I would be interested in hearing you work through a list of fusion albums of jazz with non-Western music. This is a genre I find particularly intersting. Examples would be "Jazz Now Ramwong" by Albert Mangelsdorff, "Malak" by Dhafer Youssef, "Thimar" by Anouar Brahem, "The European Jazz Ensemble Meets the Khan Family," Pierre Favre's collaborations with pipa player Yang Jing, etc. Maybe too obscure for much of your audience, but some really fascinating stuff.

[@NickyByloo]

Nice list. Too many to list from me, but these are up there for me (In no particular order); Bruford - Feels Good to Me, Tribal Tech - Illicit, Sixun - Nomads' Land, Terry Bozzio-Gerald Preinfalk-Alex Machacek - bpm > delete and roll, Marc Guillermont - O World, Tom Coster - Forbidden Zone, Dennis Chambers - Front Page, John Mclaughlin - Industrial Zen, Kim Plainfield + Lincoln Goines - Night and Day, Lost Tribe - Many Lifetimes, Passport - Cross-Collateral, Paul Hanson - Frolic in the Land of Plenty, Project Z - Lincoln Memorial.... That's enough :)

[@djceejaay]

Your list was (is!) absolutely awesome! I heard almost every one of these albums when I was kid, not having a clue about "jazz" or what it was, because I LOVED FUNK, JAMES BROWN, PARLIAMENT, BAR KAYS....AND FUNK!! It's all I listened to until my Dad, who was a drummer and songwriter for a local R&B band in the 70's back home, turned me onto this music. After he taught me drums at 6 years old, later on, he turned me on to the music of my life. He started with Al Jarreau, then Billy Cobham, Miles Davis, Grover Washington, Bob James....then came the funk of fusion!! this!! I have all of the LPs you have except for the Mahavisnu Orchestra, I have one of their other ones. So your list is awesome and here's my top 10, if I can share it with you. 10. Jeff Beck, 'Wired'. 9. Jean-Luc Ponty, "Cosmic Messenger, 8. Lenny White, "Big City," (tied with "Venusian Summer", 8. Klaus Doldinger Passport, "Infinity Machine", 7. Stanley Clarke, "School Days,", 6. Al Dimeola "Splendido Hotel," 5. Eric Gale, "Ginseng Woman", 4. Herbie Hancock, "Headhunters", 3. Billy Cobham, "Spectrum", 2. Return to Forever, "Romantic Warrior", 1. Weather Report, "Heavy Weather" Long live the music 💯👏🏾

[@toobvu]

Nice list Andy - you've cited several of my favorites. My first exposure to Mahavishnu Orchestra was hearing Dance of Maya on college radio in 1972. The transition between jazz chaos and boogie woogie fully caught my attention. I'll add one more lesser known album that's a personal favorite: Infinity Machine by Passport (1976). This cohesive album defines space jazz imho.

[@fredhuybens2783]

Great list. One of my favorites in the genre is Bill Bruford ‘One of a kind’.

[@barrysmith8920]

KILLER album 🌹

[@Simnacher]

I have always felt that one of the things that Miles Davis was really great at was finding talented musicians to be in his bands and getting the most out of them. When I look at your list, I notice the top five are made by artists or groups led by people that were on Miles Davis's records in the 60s and early 70s. You may have not put a Miles Davis record on this list but his presence is definitely there. As always, great video.

[@DSH1LL]

Wow this was great! I've been searching for an alternative genre and your video came up. I love your explanations and ranking. I've ordered Elegant Gypsy and Inner Mounting Flame. Can't wait. Thanks Andy!

[@rawumber2098]

after seeing mahavishnu at winterland san francisco 1972, i was gobsmacked by the musicianship. the tight complex changes and ground breaking progressions, an assault on the senses but in a most wonderful way. jerry goodman deserves mention, i had seen him in the band "flock" earlier at sky river lighter than air fair, an incredible violinist which so compliments the guitar, keys, bass, and drums, i feel incredibly fortunate to have heard them live.

[@rosshart9514]

Still love Flock's debut so much!

[@paulw8860]

I have to agree that Inner Mounting is the best. It is so crazy to hear it’s sounds. So otherworldly

[@patrickschafstein5848]

Great list! Just a few recommendations on Brazilian fusion albums: - Hermeto Pascoal (who wrote 2 songs on Miles`s Live Evil) - Slaves Mass or Live Montreux - Flora Purim - Encounter - Airto Moreira - Free

[@RocketKirchner]

Mahavishnu Orchestra was a Hurricane that came and went . If you saw the origional line up live it overwhelms you !!!!

[@barrysmith8920]

Which is why the remix of Between Nothingness and Eternity should be without ANY doubt, #1 🌹

[@BarbarraBay]

i sense John ran out of compelling ideas

[@MarkLaurenceDesign]

Inner Mounting Flame was my intro to JM and I was wasn't prepared at all, in fact at first I didn't like it! But I knew, just from the album cover and the track titles that I had to persevere, so I did and what a journey it kick-started in me! So grateful to JM for his music.

[@rk41gator]

Joe Zawinul LIVE in concert was a force of nature on stage. If not for Genesis and Phil Collins, Weather Report would be my favorite concert. Zawinul could grab hold of you and drag you around the stage. All the musicians were brilliant, but Joe had something the was indescribable. The music just took you over. A wonderful, spiritual experience.

[@thebat2785]

Billy Cobham Spectrum with Tommy Bolin , thanks for talking about Tommy at length

[@future62]

I don't mind the funky "watering down" of fusion. I have and love a few of these albums but I also like the Chuck Mangiones and Deodatos. Yeah they were a little cheesy but come on. Still plenty of harmonic interest and technicality worth more... "fast food" flavor. I like disco and R&B as well so that's probably why the music in the gap resonates with me too. Heady technical fusion is fun but so is a nice visceral groove

[@johnpace5774]

Another great list, Andy! As others have said, it’s hard to hear these as they were first heard. Completely revolutionary when they first came out. I think Colosseum were probably my first (more gentle) introduction to the genre.

[@marynelson288]

Interesting list, to which I would add Yes' "Relayer" and Pat Matheny's "Off Ramp.". Brilliant!!

[@jackdolphy8965]

Fine job Andy! I appreciate that you take it back to Bitches Brew. To me no question ‘it’ starts with IASWay. For sure nothing on it or Brew sounds like Inner Mounting Flame. It just seems obvious to me, as a musician/listener who knew IASWay and Brew backwards and forwards and inside out - saw Miles and Co open for Santana at Tanglewood August 1970, a little more than a year from when Miles recorded Brew …. So when Inner Mounting Flame dropped me and my pals were right on it. Blew us away of course. And the progression from the Miles stuff to Flame seemed quite seamless. The leap they made seemed exactly the right and perfect leap. And we took it in inside out and backwards etc easily. It’s like what John McLaughlin learned from being with Miles grew into what seemed to us a perfectly understandable new path. John ‘had’ to have played with Miles for there to have been a MO. Maybe you can snag an interview with him and rap about those times, that music. That would be a Treat for all time, wouldn’t it! p.s. we had seen Jerry Goodman w The Flock and that first Flock record was in our ears, so when Jerry showed up on Flame it was 'Look who is on this!' Another piece to the puzzle of the birth of fusion. pp.ss. And there would've been no Return To Forever if Chick hadn't played, with McLaughlin ;), on In A Silent Way . . . .

[@scotto.4832]

I just LOVE Cobham-Duke band live in Montreaux was one of the best fusion albums ever. I've always thought Visions of the Emerald Beyond as the very best Mahavishnu album.

[@jamesmcghee3440]

This is a great list… probably we could get another 10 albums in here, but I love your picks! And your rationales are very solid.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks!

[@midivalmunk8029]

Andy, your output is getting quite prolific. Keep going and thank you. As regards my take on jazz fusion , i would have chosen the smouldering and intense RTFs - Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy over Romantic Warrior, but that's me

[@pandstar]

Great list! While I agree with all your choices, here are a few I'd have a hard time keeping off my list: Brand X - Unorthodox Behavior Iceberg - Cosas Nostras Arti e Mesrieri - Tilt (a perfect combo of fusion and prog) Bruford - One of a Kind Holdsworth - Metal Fatigue Didier Lockwood - Surya Zao - Kawana

[@paulbissell521]

Don’t forget - amazing solos by Jan Hammer on Elefant Gypsy. I think some of his best playing. Casino is a close second for ‘which DI meola album” but I think you are right, this is the first one to get.

[@louisgreen3915]

A very good one Andy. You are 100 % correct about Inner Mounting Flame. Jazz Fusion was not clear about what it was untill that album came out. People was waiting for an album that did Rock mixed with Jazz convincingly, and that was the one. Ow and a good version of early Jazz-Funk is Ramsey Lewis's "Mother Nature's Son", done in 1968, which is a beatle covers album, but done sooo well, cos it's so funky. Great stuff Andy.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

RIP RAMSEY

[@RA2Music]

Love your list and your enthusiasm. When introducing fusion to my students, most of these albums are on my list as well (nice to have that affirmation btw). I agree with you that there are other albums to include, of course, but this is a pretty comprehensive list for any newbie. The Jan Hammer was a bit of a twist for me, but I embrace that twist, so thank you. Keep up the good work.

[@MrMaynardWR]

Perfect list - I can't disagree with any of these choices or even the order of the ranking. I was surprised that Miles Davis wasn't included since he gave birth to the top 5 on this list but you explained that quite well so I get it.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I know this sounds mad but in terms of actual fusion his greatest album is possibly Aura....I think in the late sixties and early seventies he is making something else...afro space jazz???

[@Mr.Monta77]

I saw Jeff Beck with Stanley Clark and Jan Hammer in 1978. They played many tracks from Wired. Still remember that concert.

[@HudsonValleyVHS]

I'm a life long metalhead, and have only been focusing my attention on collecting Fusion vinyl for six months. Some of my personal favorites so far, by artists not mentioned in your list (kinda) in no particular order are 1.Joe Ferrel - Moon Gems 2.Dixie Dregs - Night of the Living Dregs 3.Brand X - Unorthodox Behavior 4. Fuse One - Fuse One 5. The Clarke/Duke Project 6.Tropea - A short Trip to Space 7. Pat Methany Group - S/T 8. Passport - Looking Thru 9. Sabicas (with Jeff Beck) - Rock Encounter 10. Michael Urbaniak - Fusion III (and the Urszula solo album) Zappa could easily take up over half my actual top 10. I think Spyro Gyra, The Brecker Bros and Deadato are often overlooked... I wasnt alive, and I understand they can be cheesey but i thought they were hugely popular. Honestly im not even sure if Dixie Dregs is within "Jazz Fusion" in how its being used in this discussion.I also really like this band named Dry Jack, havent heard many mention them online. I subscribed by the way.

[@atquinn1975]

I tend to avoid 70s fusion like the plague. But I bought Elegant Gypsy as a beginning guitar player in the late 80s and it's still one of my favorite albums to this day, I still listen to it regularly. I've heard of many of the albums on this list but never listened to them all the way through. I'll have to give them another try.

[@zappas10]

Since you wisely picked Weather Report’s album “Heavy Weather” as your number two choice, it’s important to recognize Joe Zawinul’s huge contribution to the seminal fusion classic “In a silent way“ which was written mostly by Zawinul on the request of Miles Davis. Regarding your first choice of the amazing Mahavishnu orchestra, they were the band I first saw saw in 1975 at the outdoor Reading festival in the UK at 20 years old. At the time, I could not wrap my head around the stunning mix of jazz, rock, classical music, Indian and blues at such a young age. Five years later, in 1980, I moved to America, bought a car in New York and drove across the continent. The car had an eight track, and included one tape by John McLaughlin called Devotion with the great Hendrix drummer, Buddy Miles. This album was the bridge between John McLaughlin‘s work with Miles Davis on In a silent way, and his Mahavishnu orchestra. It was also the album that converted me to the Mahavishnu Orchestra’s unique fusion music style. And so, while Miles Davis’s In a silent way concept album can be somewhat tedious and unstructured, it represented the true birth of fusion music, with all the members of the band going on to create their own great fusion bands. John McLaughlin, Tony Williams, Chick Corea, Joe Zawinul, Wayne Shorter, and Miles Davis himself, (with the album Tutu) all of them becoming major fusion artists in their own right.

[@TechnicolourMan]

Black Market is better than Heavy Weather imho.

[@gregghernandez2714]

@@TechnicolourMan Everyone is going to have their favorite Weather Report album. Mine is Mysterious Traveler, and Sweetnighter coming in a close second. By the time Sweetnighter came out I was pretty heavy into Progressive Jazz and Progressive Rock. Music was so diverse back in the 70s. I remember going to the Roxy and The Troubadour in Hollywood when you didn't have to sell a kidney to see a good show. Within a few years I saw everyone from The Wall of Voodoo to Weather Report, to Pat Metheny to Dave Mason to Yes to Tim Weisberg. Oh yeah, I got to see Return to Forever play in a Gymnasium at the University of Redlands!

[@smkh2890]

I listened to Mahavisnu Orchestra in its two incarnations, followed by some Billy Cobham, RTF, Jeff Beck , but i seem to have missed out on a load of fusion albums! Cheers for the list!

[@northcarolinavinylpicker]

Awesome channel and list. I think I’ll make my top 10. Big fusion fan for over 40 years. Thx. I love prog too. But it all comes back to fusion for me

[@rogerferguson5077]

Some other really good ones are Pat Martino "Joyous Lake" , Joe Farrell "Canned Funk" Jean luc Ponty "No Absolute Time" and Freddy Hubbard , "High Energy" .

[@johnpace5774]

In the seventies I dipped my toe in the fusion water with Mahavishnu, Weather Report and Chick Corea, and more recently into more mainstream (for want of a better term) jazz, with Miles Davis, Nubia Garcia, and modern jazz bands. But now I’m fully off down the fusion rabbit hole! Love your enthusiasm, and thank you for showing me the way.

[@markdarnell614]

Honorable Mention - BRAND X / Unorthodox Behavior... although Phil Collins does a great Billy Cobham Impression on it, I must admit!

[@martinbroten9467]

I’m not even coming close to suggesting that this band should be on the list, but the German band Passport made some really nice albums in the mid 70’s. I don’t recall any discussion about this band on the channel. While not particularly innovative (they owed much to Weather Report) their use of sequenced synths and saxes made their sound somewhat unique. Also always liked their drummer Curt Cress.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

You hit the nail on the head...really competent jazz fusion but not that innovative...

[@johnrobbins8093]

Cross Collateral is my favorite Passport album. Played on KWST, Los Angeles, upon its release. Knew I had to buy it, right away! Not quite as high on the scale, but still, good stuff.

[@narosgmbh5916]

"The German answer to weather report" was marketing for the introduction of Passport to the American market as Atlantic Band. Nonsense, of course, but it worked. Had packed halls on the American continent. Curt Cress was an impressive young rock drummer. Later became the Leland Skler of drums. (Or is Leland Skler the Curt Cress of the bass) Doldinger has made more than 30 Passport records throughout his career. But he has no place here in the list. But there are other lists where he would be right at the top.Doldinger is a treasure. A master of melody.

[@martinbroten9467]

@@narosgmbh5916 Yeah, I always really liked Passport. Still do. Besides displaying the usual fusion chops, they would often feature strong melodies - never a bad thing regardless of genre. I kind of lost track of them after the “Iguacu” album, but everything up to and including was really nice.

[@stevemagnone8368]

Great post, thanks. I'm smiling here, as l have every one of those. Most LPs bought when released. And a couple on cd. You nailed the Greats, yes.

[@volkhardruhs7662]

Wel, now beeing on my pension AND kind of fit again after 4 years of trying to survive, I finally started to learn about Hard Bop, Be Bop and now.. Fusion. And thanks to you, Andy, I really learn about music. Not just listen to it and read a little bit. Thank You!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

You are very welcome...

[@xedski]

Now I understand. I was born in '71 when "The Inner Mounting Flame" was released .My mother was and still is addicted to fusion/jazz/prog rock/free jazz. Father told me she was playing this record round the clock - so as a toddler I was soaked with their music. Good mom, I like trauma like that :)

[@e.static_studio]

Just discovered your channel. Really appreciate this drop. I grew up at a young age playing drums in the mid 60’s appreciating all these artist. I was told that I played like Cobham then. I just want to give some recognition to the 1st Pat Metheny Album. This one really hit me hard and his succeeding ones continued to capture me. He’s one artist I would definitely cry upon his passing. Thanks so much for sharing 🙏🏼😎

[@casanovawines]

All of these artists are superb exponents of Jazz-rock. I remember seeing The Mahavishnu Orchestra in '72 and being completely blown away by the awesome power and precision of their playing- I was into rock and blues at the time but this was on another level. Jazz-rock is my favourite genre.

[@rubenballesteros2723]

I like your selection ! Anyway there are like 10 more maybe waiting for the next time

[@CharlesAustin]

Awesome report !! Great choices, great great music..All these albums are so important to listen to again !!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@beboprichie]

Eddie Henderson’s Realization album is IMO the holy grail of fusion 🎺🎺

[@RocketKirchner]

Inner Mounting Flame !!! Yes . Saw that tour . Nothing like it . My other pics in top 10 : Discipline - King Crimson Who Else - Jeff Beck

[@richardshansky3040]

I agree with most of the artists on your list, but have my own preferences for each group’s best, thus - RTF: Where Have I Known You Before. WR: Mysterious Traveller. Billy Cobham: Crosswinds, Jean-Luc Ponty: Cosmic Messenger

[@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455]

Excellent list

[@Panzersonor1967]

Great list! I have to say that Chris Poland’s “Chasing the Sun” is most worthy. He is criminally underrated!

[@rolfjamne8922]

I got all of them and i love them all. My favorite Jazz fusion is allso Visions of Emerald beyond and my altime favorite track is Lilas Dance ❤

[@adnilrummut105]

1. mahavishnu orchestra - the inner mountain flame 2. miles davis - on the corner 3. return to forever - romantic warrior 4. weather report - sweetnighter 5. herbie hancock - headhunters 6. jaco pastorius - s/t 7. jeff beck - wired 8. jean luc ponty - enigmatic oceans 9. tony williams lifetime - emergency! 10. billy cobhamm - spectrum

[@barrysmith8920]

Excellent list and a very nice tribute to fusion greats, Andy

[@alanosterman7130]

Hi Andy. Been following your lists, super job. Have to ask, maybe should be a list that is uppermost top of my interest, and that is jamming songs. Really not for the company suits, or shareholders of record companies. Studio jams, like the jam CD in the Derek And The Dominos 3 CD set. Or the Jimi Hendrix studio jam CDs, " Hear My Music," and "Burning Desire". The Fleetwood Mac Peter Green studio jams on "The Vaudeville Years", or Paul Kossoff's "Tuesday Morning" on "Back Street Crawler". The jams on "All Things Must Pass", with George, Eric, and Dave. The Tommy Bolin jam CD intro to Deep Purple "Days May Come And Days May Go". These rarities were never meant to see the light of day. They are kind of scarce. But to me they're the cream of the crop. Any come to mind for you ?

[@angusorvid8840]

These are all great albums. DiMeola's Elegant Gypsy was a big influence on my playing and probably the reason I got kicked out of a few metal bands back in the hair metal 80s Sunset Strip scene. I wanted to mix it up and add a Latin influence. They thought that was weird, and that's that. I also love Mahavishnu's Inner Mounting Flame. Amazing album.

[@fightbreakdown885]

One song hooked me on DiMeola. It was the "Wizard". I remember staring at my acoustic while listening and wondering if i was willing to do what it takes to play like that 🙂

[@Niels133]

I like your enthousiastm. Bought some cd's I did'nt knew the existance of, after your reviews. Keep up the good work.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks, will do!

[@georgeyepes7643]

Andy, as I absorb more of your comments I can understand every one of your choices. I would also like to suggest the titanic FUSION of Jonas Hellborg, Apt. Q-45 (Jeff Sipe) and the late Shawn Lane. Temporal Analogues of Paradise. and Time is the Enemy are two of the greatest, flat-out Fusion masterpieces out there. The playing is absolutely ferocious and at times cosmic. Additionally, Abstract Logic with Lane/Hellborg and a terrific Kofi Baker is top ten.

[@arvidlystnur4827]

Important and great foundational fusion albums that must be noted: SKY TRAIN by Barry Miles, FUSION III by Michael Urbaniak with vocalist Ursula Dudziak

[@HudsonValleyVHS]

You ever listen to her solo album "Urszula"?... its pretty wild.

[@arvidlystnur4827]

@@HudsonValleyVHS , Yes her solo albums are great.

[@Kobsidian]

A big YES to Urbaniak & Dudziak!

[@finylvinyl66]

Bravo for your #1! I saw Mahavishnu Orchestra twice from 1972-1973 and both times they were just stunning. Best fusion for sure.

[@PerryPapanier]

Can't argue with this list. The spiritual aspect of MO was a big difference n elevated them to a higher level, especially at the time of sex, drugs n rock n roll.

[@artramos2880]

I made a list and posted it here of my favorite Fusion albums before watching this video to see how close I get! Svitanie (1977) by Blue Effect Unorthodox Behavior (1976) by Brand X Spectrum (1973) by Billy Cobham Return To Forever (1972) by Chick Corea Bitches Brew (1969) by Miles Davis Jack Johnson AKA A Tribute To Jack Johnson (1970) by Miles Davis Elegant Gypsy (1977) by Al Di Meola What If (1978) by Dixie Dregs Head Hunters (1973) by Herbie Hancock The Rotter's Club by Hatfield & The North The Inner Mounting Flame (1971) by Mahavishnu Orchestra Birds Of Fire (1973) by Mahavishnu Orchestra Pat Metheny Group (1978) by Pat Metheny National Health (1977) by National Health We'll Talk About It Later (1971) by Nucleus Enigmatic Ocean (1977) by Jean-Luc Ponty Romantic Warrior (1977) by Return To Forever Third (1970) by Soft Machine Weather Report (1971) by Weather Report Heavy Weather (1977) by Weather Report OK, watching the video now!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I got a few then....

[@riptdjams]

I have about 6 from your list. Which ones do you find the most edgy/rocking?

[@stukevideo]

Good job! Tell me, is "Return for Forever" (seagull) a fusion album?

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

no, its latin jazz, as is Light as a Feather

[@stukevideo]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer "Dance to Country and Eastern Music". That album hardly ever gets mentioned, as does the "Steps Ahead" club. I used to like Eliane Elias until she started singing.

[@DanMark7094]

Great list! I was predicting Birds of Fire as the #1 album and Hymn of the 7th as the top RTF album, but can't argue with your choices. Having been absorbed by jazz/fusion and prog in the 70's has likely spoiled me, musically speaking, for life..

[@lupcokotevski2907]

I'm kinds partial to Larry Coryell's 1970 album Spaces with McLaughlin and Cobham. Some consider it the first fusion album.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I love JM and LC but I was never that enamoured with that album. A very important early fusion album for sure.

[@Driven2Beers]

Zawinul and Weather Report, along with Maynard Ferguson, were worshipped as gods among myself and the rest of my high school jazz band. 😍

[@Tutorius]

I share my birthday wit Al, he was born 07/22 1956, i followed on that day in 1963... :)

[@Valleyplant]

Great list. Some that would be on mine are: Get Up With it, Ethiopian Knights, Blue Mode.

[@geevee7823]

"Oh Yeah" definitely belongs in there, my introduction to Fusion together with Heavy Weather.

[@mattdowie92]

Nice list. I find it hard to disagree with any choice on here!

[@fritzollom3632]

I totally agree with #1. All of the rest are arguable but Inner Mounting Flame defined the genre. No question about it.

[@idag071]

Great job Andy, well nuanced and explained. You really know your stuff and you are a great presenter and ambassador for Jazz/Rock Fusion. Having said this Birds of Fire had to be on the list in my opinion. Peace.

[@cSharp244]

Great list! All these albums are older. Is there anyone still recording albums of this genre or is it over?

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thereis a ton of great fusion out there...try Snarky Puppy to start with

[@stanleyporter6479]

Herbie Hancock's Headhunters would be number 1 for me it was my 13th birthday gift

[@johannhauffman323]

Wonderful talk Andy. It really felt like I was digging through my old albums. Close to a perfect list. I have a question for you and your listeners. Could Stairway to Heaven possibly considered Prog? I had a discussion with my Deutsch neighbor (He was once a professional DJ) who insists STH and Roundabout where the first to open the door to Prog. I told him nobody considered Zeppelin Prog. It’s Crimson, Tull, Yes, Van der Graff etc. Now I am not sure. I would welcome all opinions. Thanks for the wonderful videos.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Zeppelin are prog in my opinion....

[@johannhauffman323]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer My friend will be absolutely delighted to know your opinion while I will do my best to enjoy my Crow Sandwich. ha! Thanks for the reply.

[@alancumming6407]

All superb albums. There is so much great music out there in jazz fusion world that we could do this every day for a long time. Great posting Andy.

[@hadencluno2329]

WOW! I totally agree with this top 10! You hit the nail on the head and drove it deep into the groove! let's talk!

[@MauriceHotblack]

Hi Andy. I thoroughly enjoy your videos and thank you for introducing me to a genre I know nothing about but am enjoying getting to know.

[@joaquintakanaka]

It's a matter of personal taste indeed. Not even a japanese or spanish (without whom there would be no elegant gypsies...) album? There were many Jazz-Rock Fusion made in the world outside US/UK mainstream. Glad to see that someone mentions Shamal.

[@bdlenz]

I love your videos Andy! I discovered that Jan Hammer album through your channel and I love it too! I just think a Pat Metheny record should be on here 😬

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

It would probably be First Circle...glad you like my channel BD...

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Love First Circle but it’s from a different era - post classic fusion, or ‘jazz rock’ as it was called at the time.

[@hermancharlesserrano1489]

Maybe not best sellers but I can list some brilliant outliers, like you did ;) Niacin - Deep, Lenny White - Venusian Sunset!, Philip Catherine - Guitar, Stanley Clarke - School Days...and just because no one knows it and they could write a tune, Zahara - Flight of the Spirit ...and be very grateful I haven't strayed into Jazz-Rap fusion, coz there's a long, thick list of goodness

[@riclrk9947]

Inner mountain flame my favourite ,Birds of Fire a close second.Been listening to these albums since I first heard New York on my mind on radio around 78.That track got my attention,never heard anything like it before.I then went and bought Inner mountain flame,Birds of fire,Electric guitarist .All albums where great but Mahavishnu literally blew me away and still does,after many years of listening seems there are still sounds and rhythms going on that I've not noticed before,Someone described them as ethereal heavy metal music.Also Zawinuls solo on a remark you made is just so beautiful ,his approach was unlike any other

[@greganderson1681]

Ha! Wired! Jan H! Jean Luc! Al! Jaco! WR! Spectrum! Headhunters! Chick! Mahavishnu! Jan! Did I miss anyone? I love and have them all, if not all those particular records, then several others by each artist and band. I win! Did I mention Jan?! Yay!

[@Fusionhead]

Off the top of my head...my top 20 before 1980, in no particular order. Could change by the time I'm done typing this: RTF - "Romantic Warrior" Brand X - "Masques" Jan Hammer - "Oh Yeah?" Mahavishnu - "Visions of the Emerald Beyond" McCoy Tyner - "Fly with the Wind" Weather Report - "Heavy Weather" John Serry - "Exhibition" Mahavishnu - "Birds of Fire" Jean-Luc Ponty - "Enigmatic Ocean" Chick Corea - "The Mad Hatter" Lifetime - "Believe It" Dregs - "Free Fall" Billy Cobham - "Total Eclipse" Bruford - "One of a Kind" Chick Corea - "The Leprechaun" Brand X - "Unorthodox Behaviour" Passport - "Infinity Machine" David Sancious "Just as I Thought" Jeff Beck - "Wired" Herbie Hancock - "Thrust" Top 20, 1980 and after: Allan Holdsworth - "IOU" Gonzalo Rubalcaba - "Rapsodia" Tribal Tech - "Dr. Hee" Panzerballett - "Planet Z" Eldar Djangirov - "Virtue" John Serry - "Jazziz" Brecker Brothers - "Straphangin" Arch Echo - "Self-Titled" Collins/Wardingham Project - "Interactive" Special Providence - "Essence of Change" Art Schloemer - "TransFUSION" Billy Childs - "Midland" Virgil Donati - "In This Life" Steve Coleman - "Rhythm People" Laurence Cottle - "Five Seasons" On the Virg - "Serious Young Insects" Special Providence - "Will" MiRthkon - "Vehicle" The Fents - "First Offense" Marc Guillermont - "The Space Animals"