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!

[@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.

[@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!👊🏾

[@lotusmanb3832]

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

[@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.

[@fredhuybens2783]

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

[@barrysmith8920]

KILLER album 🌹

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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!

[@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!🤣

[@Driven2Beers]

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

[@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.

[@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 .

[@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.

[@87crimson]

An honorable mention for Hymn of the seventh galaxy.

[@SPY1964-LL]

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

[@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 💯👏🏾

[@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.

[@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….

[@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 :)

[@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!

[@thebat2785]

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

[@paulw8860]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@marynelson288]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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 . . . .

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@flame-sky7148]

Great list, also tony Williams Lifetime Believe It, Weather Report Black Market or eight thirty LP,, Stanley Clarke School Days.

[@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

[@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.

[@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 ❤

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@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!

[@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...

[@finylvinyl66]

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

[@Mr.Monta77]

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

[@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???

[@RocketKirchner]

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

[@CharlesAustin]

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

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@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.

[@Valleyplant]

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

[@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 :)

[@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.

[@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 🙏🏼😎

[@zombiehiney]

Wow! Great list and I agree 100%. Finally someone giving the first Mahavishnu record the credit it deserves . That record changed the musical world more than any in my lifetime and is what led to all the other bands jumping on the band wagon. Also Mcglaghlin is the guy the who pioneered guitar shredding. Herbie started the whole funky jazz thing as well. A few albums in there I haven't listened to but will check out .

[@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

[@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!

[@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.

[@kennyhaughan9605]

Fantastic list! I have all these in my cd collection and appreciate your thoughtful criteria. I’m a sucker for jan hammer, fortunately Jeff beck ran into him. Billy cobham’s spectrum with quadrant 4 the standout track pulled me into the world of fusion and mahavishnu et al

[@Tutorius]

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

[@ReinholdBinder-d9n]

I totally agree with you. The first time I heard that Album in the seventies I was in a daze for days afterwards. I could not believe what I just heard. It completely overthrew everything I thought about music and playing the guitar until then. And to this day I have not heard anything more powerful and enlightening. This Album is so far out that it could have come from a different planet. These guys were unbelievable inventive. For me the inner mounting flame is the best Fusion Album ever. I wouldn't even put in the category of Jazz. It is something completely unique and cannot be rational decoded. The most astonishing thing is that the Album does not age. Every time I listen to it it sounds new. I only experience that with one other album. Johann Sebastian Bach's Wohltemperierte Klavier.

[@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

[@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!

[@Panzersonor1967]

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

[@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455]

Excellent list

[@stanleyporter6479]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@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!

[@barrysmith8920]

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

[@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" .

[@loucontino4804]

You are spot on! I might trade Jan Hammer for Tony Williams but, I’m good here.

[@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.

[@markdarnell614]

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

[@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.

[@fritzollom3632]

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

[@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 🙂

[@beboprichie]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@thecorporatelawgroup7093]

All great. Came very close to playing drums professionally. Loved this stuff. Cobham is still my favorite drummer.

[@andrewdrab4538]

Understanding the criteria of your list I can't disagree with it. Bought Birds of Fire in 72 and was a JM fan for life. Big Jan Hammer fan also. He was a busy man back in the day. PF of mine is Horacee Arnold Tales of the Exonerated Flea. Probably not on many top 10 list but I found it interesting

[@adamodimattia]

Totally agree with number 1, but this is also my favorite of this particular artist/band.

[@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..

[@mattdowie92]

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

[@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!

[@Suchapill]

Thanks droogie. You have great taste and knowledge!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I appreciate that!

[@Suchapill]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Magical Dog is sick. 🤧 Great album.

[@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.

[@WELLBRAN]

This guy knows his music! Nice someone singles out Al Dimeola so many times in my life I mention him and everyone says...who?

[@garynewey9957]

I bought the inner mountain flame and birds of fire after you did a ranking of The Mahavishu Orchestra. This is my first listening to jazz fusion. Ty Andy.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

What a place to start....

[@jurgenkoslowski2097]

Still catching up with your videos. Amazing, I got all of these albums, and I do wholeheartedly agree with putting The Inner Mounting Flame first. It was like a new dawn after Hendrix passing way too early.

[@peternovak8627]

Hi there! I am glad that on your list are 6 records , which i have ( from level, 10 - 4 records you choose) . Thank you for intresting talk about jazz/ fusion music 🙂👍

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks for listening

[@gazza8127]

Great list Andy in relation to the criteria. I got into fusion in the late 70's via Second's out & discovering where Chester Thompson came from which led me to Weather Report & Heavy Weather, then JM with Electric guitarist, Al Di Meola's Casino & Bruford's One of a kind. Fusion was so well developed by then it was so interesting tracing back & taking in these original classics & experiencing the raw intensity of Inner Mounting Flame.

[@geevee7823]

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

[@williamweiss6128]

Nice. Think I have 5 of those. Other ones influenced my drumming, too.