Top Fusion Record List

open.spotify.com/playlist/3By...

[@ryn5671]

Fredrik Thordendsl's "Sol Niger Within" w/ Morgan Agren on drums is masterful metal fusion

[@drummusician]

I agree, it should def be on the list!

[@rionthomas8686]

@@drummusician The live vid is nuts. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnrHm3-tYpyLl5I

[@ryn5671]

@@drummusician absolutely!! Actually, I screen shot this and sent it to Morgan, and he saw it

[@basicelements1688]

morgan agren woe wie thanks for the mention just seen..mats/morgan live 40! on his channel great performance

[@failuretolaunchdrums]

Dave Weckl is incredible. Watched him live and couldn’t find my jaw for a week. 11/10 artist.

[@danlastname407]

Great hang! Even went on to twitch during pandemic and was sharing really great wisdom.

[@drums384]

Yes I TOTALLY know the feeling!!! STILL my favorite drummer!!

[@alexanderallegra432]

I’m assuming you’ve heard holdsworth play live?

[@alexanderallegra432]

Everyone loves got a match by Corea but the song King Cockroach I feel is just an unbelievable performance

[@alexanderallegra432]

Holdsworth created magic. It’s crazy cause I got into your guys band and then found out Tosin loves holdsworth too and mentions him like every interview. So you guys basically impressed me on the same level as holdsworth for me to get into you guys!!!

[@arnauloayza]

The tune where Virgil goes full speed with his inverted doubles is Dog Boots from the Universe álbum. Also totally agree with including MoonBabies on a top fusion list, it changed everything to me when I heard it for the first time!

[@drummusician]

Dog Boots! That’s the tune 🔥

[@t3hgir]

@@drummusician Tony MacAlpine on guitar there as well :)

[@onimaxiis1]

I think planet x is more proggy than fusion😅.

[@premium3429]

@@onimaxiis1 Not really, it's just not jazz rock fusion, it's metal avantgarde jazz fusion.

[@syno9211]

I'm so Glad you are talking about Dave Weckl. He is my Favourite he is so Musical. Dave Weckl's Track Tiempo De Festival is one of my favourites, and his live performance of this track (Tiempo De Festival) live at the Drummer Collective video is my favourite of all time. He is just magic. And thanks again Matt, for another playlist.

[@bonsairobo]

Matt, thanks for the playlist. Will definitely listen today. Chick Corea RIP, my favorite album is Three Quartets. Also it blew my mind to see "London" by VOID on your "Jams" playlist. A friend showed me that in high school and I have never met another person who recognized it.

[@williamkjwilliamkj1815]

Akira Jimbo in Casiopea. You won’t be disappointed. CAB is great. Dede is a killer song. CAB Theatre de Marionettes with Virgil is also freaking good. Moonbabies! Weckl on Chick Corea Illusions is mind blowing. Tribal Tech is also a must.

[@flowerlandofjohn]

I still very much appreciate your continuation of highlighting “fusion”. But a list about cutting edge fusion-drumming without Billy’s & Narada’s work in Mahavishnu Orchestra? C’mon man, I just have to throw in a protest! ✌🏻😂

[@lukeshore1]

It’s amazing how two of the biggest Tony Williams worshippers were Vinnie Colaiuta and Nate Wood. Two completely different drummers. Shows how wide Tony’s influence was.

[@t3hgir]

Thomas Lang cites Tony as a big influence as well

[@iamscythed]

Moonbabies has been my favorite album since I was a kid and forever will be.

[@hazardeur]

it's batshit insane and beautiful

[@FanPhys]

Great list! The most influential fusion group I ever listened to is a lesser known band called "Karizma", also featuring Colaiuta on drums. I have a rare live recording of the song "Toast for Eli" which is incredible... colaiuta played it differently every time, and this one is just the goat.

[@marcusmood4310]

Having one of the greatest musicians of our time do a deep dive on his influences is an invaluable resource, and I am very much appreciative of that. Thanks, Matt. Me and my family love all of your content and can’t wait for the next videos.

[@snail415]

Holdsworth was bananas. And, every drummer he worked-with contributed to the bananasness. I must confess my favorite work of his is the softest stuff. ‘Home’ from Metal Fatigue is one I’ll always cherish, as is ‘Above and Below’ (my all-time favorite song). He and his bandmates are sorely missed. Glad Chad Wackerman is still with us.

[@krioni86sa]

RIP VInnie

[@bg357wg]

@@krioni86sa Lol dude don’t scare people like that….I just had to check to make sure and the funny thing is his Facebook was promoting a single from his latest album called “Alive and Living”

[@krioni86sa]

@@bg357wg Vinnie Paul

[@Diakonov29]

A great Holdsworth solo is the one on Planet X's "Desert Girl". Virgil plays a killer version if u search "virgil donati brazil".

[@krosyn2990]

Been a long time fan of animals as leaders. My dad got us tickets to go see you guys back on July 11 and Detroit. And I must say that after 2 months I'm still absolutely blown away! Thanks so much for being a Humble Samurai!!

[@robertbarnett1984]

Excellent list, thanks for putting that together. For me, I might have snuck John Scofield Pick Hits Live in there, too. There is just no way you can listen to that (especially as a drummer) and not bleed out of your ears, eyes, and gums. Total BDE performance by Dennis.

[@GwanYTB]

I never really knew where to start in Fusion, now I have an entire playlist to discover. Thank you Prof. Garstka.

[@CM-nd7mx]

Awesome list Matt! You know what's NOT on the list and should be? GEM!!!! We've only heard the 3 tunes but hoping you guys come back around and record a CD! Perhaps a live one?! COME ON Dude!!! Incredible playing there...

[@t3hgir]

showed Vertigo to my bassist friend and he got mad at Henrik lmao

[@Convisis]

I'd like to add Tribal Tech - Reality Check. Kirk Covington is the most painfully underrated fusion powerhouse drummer, beautiful feel and endlessly unique, colourful playing.

[@latemnf]

Yes, Kirk is one of the best of all time, and he's a monster on the keys as well.

[@SteveHolmesDrums]

Love that Willis BENT is on there!

[@HighDefBNG]

Thank you so much! I have wanted this sort of list of leads for so many years!

[@abhimanyughoshal]

Oh hell yeah! Thank you for this.. I'd been meaning to revisit some fusion stuff, and this playlist is just what I needed to get back into it! And +1 for Moonbabies!

[@Shitockiful]

Appreciate all the free knowledge Matt, really helping us out!

[@reboooot]

Bro, your Christmas music playlist is hands down the best I've ever seen.

[@maxdamico3148]

THANK YOU SIR GARSTKA really needed this!! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@zhene.soeiro]

As a 12 year old self taught drummer, I really appreciate what you are doing for me. Thank you again.

[@king-manu2758]

You live in the best timeline, having youtube and being able to get recommendations directly from a current day master

[@alanblake2020]

I was gonna shoot you down for doing a list like this because everything is a matter of opinion but honestly I haven’t listened to a lot of these in a long time so i will revisit them. Thanks for talking about fusion and having a dialog about it!! Definitely my favorite music. You’re obviously a drummer but if you were a guitar player like myself you would have included Pat Metheny one of the greatest fusion instrumentalists to ever do it and Sco and Hiram Bullock(in his prime) and Mahavishnu and Weather Report…..???

[@grizzlywhisker]

The first track of that "Let's Set the Record Straight" album is nuts.

[@FusionHowie]

Love this guy! Peace from Detroit MI.

[@VladProkhorovDrums]

Lol the intro. Thank you for taking the time to do these man, your opening up my miiind.

[@vacuus9281]

Cab 4 is phenomenal and a top 5 for me as well. Well done!

[@basicelements1688]

is there any body out there .. its big cyber space ....man ..... matt your performance at west coast drum shop at 1.30 min the Dennis chambers purdi...think you elevated the purdi half time Rosanna groove to a new level ...what a groove.....we the people demand a transcription 😎👍 greetings from the land of cheese holland

[@user-vj1fr2ll7f]

The Mahavishnu, Orchestra, Billy Cobham, of course, and Michael Nardi Walden

[@jesuscontreras124]

I love this academic approach by Prof. Garstka. P.s. you had me at falling whiteboard

[@empanadasfritas7142]

Cheekorea... Becouse mmmmm???? I love myself just listening and being a pupil again. YOU are a gentle monster.

very good list, really covers all bases

[@borgullet3376]

Hold On from CAB 4, for my money (next to Proto Cosmos & The Taurian Matador) THEE Greatest Fusion Track EV -VER. Props on this list and the Pervious video - Well Done🙏🏼

[@KirkpatrickSounds]

Absolute banger of a list 🔥

[@OzoneDrummer22]

Mr. Gartska, you are one of the best drummers I’ve heard and such an inspiration! Thank you for your knowledge. How about some Return to Forever!! And also have you heard the live P-Fink All Stars album called live at The Beverly Theatre? Check out the track Not Just Knee Deep from 1983 with some of the youngest Dennis Chambers I’ve heard.

[@AustinZoph]

Matt, this list was fantastic. Discovered some killer new fusion stuff thanks to you. I was elated to see Allan Holdsworth at the top of the list. Are you familiar with the music of Dave Tipper? He is the Allan Holdsworth of electronic music, and a drummer at heart.

[@iamdeadbird]

So nice to see Frank on your list. I would add a favorite of mine, "Birds of Fire"

[@MagnoliaCrimes]

Tigran Hamasyan is waaaayyy underrated. I listen to him when I’m driving all of the time. I’m glad to see him on any list. He’s basically Piano, jazz, meshuggah. It’s wonderful.

[@quintmorbovia9756]

Keep it up, Matt!

[@CpLKaNeZA]

So cool to know about 3, 4 of these records, even got Secrets on vinyl :) only AH I have in physical though :( 1:28 perfect description of the intro 😂😂

[@prithivnatarajan]

man i love this content

[@ThedrumMachine78]

Matt I would love to see/hear Masterplan covers played by you! :)

[@king-manu2758]

We need Matt covering some of these classics on the drums

[@dcQ23]

thank you matt this is exactly what i was looking for i hate punctuation and shift key

[@SamNaborsDrums]

Will Calhoun reminds me a lot of Tony Williams...he even plays a yellow kit most of the time.. obviously a massive influence!

[@elementsofphysicalreality]

My top 10 for fusion guitar: 1. CAB 1/T Mac (T Mac) 2. Extraction/Gentle Hearts (Greg Howe) 3. Erotic Cakes (Guthrie Govan) 4. The Free Sprits (John McLaughlin) 5. Elektric Band (Scott Henderson) 6. MVP (Frank Gambale/Allan Holdsworth/Shawn Lane) 7. Population Override/Dragons of Eden (Buckethead) 8. Impact Fuze/Alkotrio (Feodor Dosumov) 9. JazzKamikaze (Daniel Davidsen) 10. Casiopea (Issei Noro)

[@markevans2814]

Dr. Gartska, what about Holdsworth's Metal Fatigue? Wackerman on Metal Fatigue was pretty damn cool. Return to Forever's Romantic Warrior...?

[@CpLKaNeZA]

I second Romantic Warrior, absolute masterpiece, and the cover art is perfect

[@drummusician]

Medieval Overture was the banger off that album for me🤘

[@CpLKaNeZA]

dude yesssssss those keys that kick off the riff at the start sound so magical, even today. Chick was King!

[@paulpalavecino3360]

I'm just happy to see how Tigran got his flowers.

[@vxe1392]

this playlist is fire, sheesh!

[@KrOwAnsKi]

Not to forget the band Uncle Moe's Space Ranch. Dennis Chambers's fusion prog project.

[@jaakkot9661]

Dude we need a video of your gym routine.

[@nroks]

John Scofield - Still Warm with Omar Hakim

[@kcorpora1]

awesome!

[@kcorpora1]

I thank you...I had not listened for years...I hear someone talk about colors and tone when they mention another drummer...When you listen to Omar hear a drummer that delivers the feel and power John was looking broken down to even tones then here comes the feel, funk, and power that a drummer should deliver with just a few cymbals and drums...My kind of natural drummer...In the studio Omar can sit behind a basic set and deliver...Funk, feel, power, pocket, colors, with less.

[@victorbrownlow8587]

you should check out the mark varney projects truth in shredding album it has tom brechtlein on the drums, one of my favorite fusion albums.

[@evanhosley2360]

cosmic liberty is easily in my top 5 fusion albums ever. compositionally and playing wise, it is ahead in so many dimensions

[@DrummingElk]

Fantastic playlist! I feel like more modern drummers should refer to the older fusion guys, the chops are there today, but the musicality.. well, it varies :D I'd also add Avishai Cohen - "Continuo" and "Gently Distrubed" there! Mark Giuliana sitting on the kit, some crazy awesome stuff happening :) What do you think of Animals as Leaders, curious to hear your thoughts?

[@drummusician]

I definitely agree that musicality seems to be losing favor with newer drummers😬 But that’s why we will change that! As for Avishai Cohen: I love the music and Marks work on Gently Disturbed. I would add that to the jazz playlist I’m making and classify it as Nu Jazz

[@DavidHimmelPerforms]

Vinnie on Secrets is the key. Also, Gary on Sixteen Men.

[@paradiddle5150]

Matt is just a versatile human all around, and in my opinion he's the best drummer living. Hats off to you Matt 👏

[@southofgrace]

I dig the message. I only knew about a handful of drummers from the list but to find the worthwhile albums is sometimes difficult because most of these guys are so prolific. Pretty much anything by DW is worthwhile though

[@KrOwAnsKi]

Planet X is one of my most favourite Fusion Prog list. But Virgil Donati's solo album released in 2013 and 2019 are craziest fusion i have ever listened to.

[@Scrambles2112]

Tigran should be in animals as leaders haha. or atleast do an album with them

[@justinrensel8518]

Fuck yeah dude

[@ParmesanGeorge]

Then Tigran becomes the Jordan equivalent

[@HenriqueSantos-vt3ty]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏maestro

[@cesarvaldez112975]

If you’re looking for Planet X: Moonbabies, the first 4 Planet X cd’s have just been reissued and packaged together in a box set titled Planet X: Anthology. I’ve just picked it up. It’s amazing.

[@KrOwAnsKi]

Not to forget Mats and Morgan Band too.

[@burakildiz9540]

What about Steve Coleman? He has the best blend of funk and fusion in my opinion, main reason is that the funk part is really funky with all the fusion going on. Marvin Smith on the albums Drop Kick and Black Science is phenomenal, he is so soft & clean.

[@infernojones1758]

I loved when he gets to Virgil and hes like 'Yeah he want full retard" 🤣 Cool to see Planet X get a mention!

[@EthanHGray]

If you don't have two hooks... just uh, use one, yeah, cool. Lol xD

[@SimKopA]

Greg Howe - Introspection. It is also a killer. Specially "Direct Injection". Kevin Soffera sounds really cool in the whole album.

[@Jack_Fuego]

He’s got the wise gnome beard down to a tee

[@meesgrimm7757]

0. Casimir Liberski "Cosmic Liberty. "

[@blaketdrums]

Tony Grey Chasing Shadows 🐐

[@williammcallister2488]

I would add Mahavishnu Orchestra, Visions of the Emerald Beyond

[@coopcoop8]

Matt, please check out Live in Japan by Allan Holdsworth. GREAT live album and Chad Wackerman is incredible - Tokyo Dreams is a phenomenal track on it

[@cesarvaldez112975]

One that’s missing and what I would’ve put at #2 is Virgil Donati’s -On the Virg: Serious Young Insects. Hands down one of the best fusion albums I’ve ever heard.

[@JoshParkerDrums]

Professor G…. Class in session 📚

[@HerbalistGuybrush]

I remember Vinnie mentioning that his fav record of all time is Miles Davis Nefertiti, with Tony Williams of course. The title track is mindblowing and especially intersting for drummers, since the drums kind of take the stage on it, while the horns are laying a more textural base.

[@jazzban]

The drums are soloing over the groove being established by the horns. I believe this is what it is🙂

[@HerbalistGuybrush]

nah what i said brah @@jazzban

[@jazzban]

@@HerbalistGuybrush Yes it is 🤌John Riley on "Nefertiti" : ..."This sixteen-bar song is structured as two eight-bar phrases, and drummers traditionally would subtly delineate eight-bar sec- tions by playing some sort of fill at the end of the eighth and sixteenth bars to show these musical landmarks. A big reason Tony's playing always sounded so fresh was that he almost never spelled out the phrases in such a symmetrical fashion. He intentionally avoided playing a big "1" at the top of a phrase, preferring instead to create deceptive cadences. He did this in several different ways: A) by playing a fill that sounded like it was going to end on the "1" but continuing past the normal resolution point to a later accent B) by playing a fill that climaxed early-very often on one of the two most unsettling points in the measure-the & of beats 1 or 3 before a big 1 C) by ending his fill, either before or after beat 1, and return- ing to the ride cymbal without playing any accent at all, giving us the "build up" but not the resolution "crash." You can see examples of these techniques in bars 4, 8, 9, 16, 20, and continually throughout the chart. All of these devices kept the music from "resting" too much; they pushed it forward in search of a real resolution. Other innovations include Tony's use of "odd" groups of notes, like the five-note motif he explores in measures 13 and 14, and his use of metric modulation, or the variable-speed phrase, as in the shift from bar 21 to 22. Measures 25-27 are an emotional peak in the performance. Notice how Tony's energy changes the music, and then how he releases that energy in bars 28-32. Measure 33 is the beginning of the third transcribed chorus (6:30 on the CD). At this point Miles and Wayne Shorter stopped playing the melody. Observe how patient Tony was, as well as the dramatic effect of his diminuendo and crescendo in measures 33-36. This chorus became a drum interlude before the melody returned, and Tony shaped it beautifully. To end the song, the band played the melody one final time. Tony wound the intensity up briefly, then went way down, end- ing the tune by playing very softly and simply-just as the song began."

[@elementsofphysicalreality]

If you like Nefertiti you’ll like Chris Dave and the Drumhedz’s version.

[@ProgSnob14]

Some great stuff on there. But I don't see Marbin, and that's unforgivable

[@anshuvenkateshwaran5324]

Havona from heavy weather!

[@matthewbennett8358]

Playlist?

[@NIKKO500]

Playlist? Someone?

[@drummusician]

It’s in the description now👍

[@lennardalvarez]

💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

[@ricardojr.arcenal6373]

how about Billy Childs' I've Known Rivers????

[@ricardojr.arcenal6373]

best track on the album is Realism

[@jangobango2847]

weren't alot of daves licks taken from Steve Gadd

[@kcorpora1]

Yes...Gadd's natural funk feel is what Weckl cannot touch from Gadd. Also Gadd does it with a 6 piece kit, a ride, and 2 crash cymbals.

[@elementsofphysicalreality]

Fuck yes dude. CAB!!

[@Lightman1964]

How do you mention Spectrum and not mention Quadrant 4 specifically?

[@drummusician]

Because it’s in the playlist😊

[@bennyhill8186]

Might not be your thing but you ever hear medeski, Martin& wood.. Not exactly fusion but maybe being from New York I got many a chance to catch them on Halloween and such And and I thought you'd appreciate it as a drummer Because Billy Martin other than a real small jazz that has I think every precaution instrument on the table next To him Known to man

[@hamishleijer794]

can't open the spotify link :(

[@JoryBlake]

Ha, chick corea is all over mine too.

[@chakobsa]

good list of mostly American fusion records but... I'm sorry "Secrets???" not "Road Games" or "Metal Fatigue" or "Atavachron?" yes Corea but no "Where Have I Known You Before" or "No Mystery?" Zappa, sure but what about "Tinsel Town Rebellion" or "Waka Jawaka?" I saw Weckl with both Electrik and Acoustic bands but for me it's Bill Connors' "Step It." YES Tigran!!! PLEASE do a collaboration with him!!! also, have you heard Brand X with Phil Collins? (and maybe add "Wired" from Jeff Beck with Hammer and Walden)

[@joaorenatomendes2200]

Speaking of Dave Weckl, I believe JK Special is also a great album

[@intraterrestrial5035]

swangin

[@99drums54]

bros gotten huge

[@deralt2016]

¨some other guy¨ :D poor Martin Valihora (slovakian drummer)

[@isaiahstorm4502]

yooooooo

[@Nick-sq9gl]

That intro 💀💀

[@basicelements1688]

you forgot some ...king crimson ,the cream hallo ginger baker and african music ..Mitch Mitchell..and on the other side for the spectrum..the bad brains metal and reggae 🤘ore tobin abasi stepfather linton kwesi Johnson reggae and jazz ..stop making history ..joke joke but fucking good the modern word for fusion is cross over a think cool the list gonna dig in some albums....the snotyfy lots of good bands as wel joe s garage what album ...hi hi ha ha ho ho dennis chambers and john scofield ore with the beckham brothers 👍greetings to the other side of the pond

[@t3hgir]

MITCH fkn MITCHELL always deserves a mention in drum discussion, especially fusion.

[@basicelements1688]

man he in the jimmy hendrix band ..top @@t3hgir

[@hanklaw6062]

Matt Garstka is the fucking bomb 💣

[@lexburnett5970]

Well, I need to study 🤣

[@markpascual100]

😂😂😂 oops