Jazz for aficionados
I actually own very few Fusion CDs. The difference I find with McLaughlin is his distinctive compositional sense which I very much happen to enjoy. If you like that track "Django" , then perhaps you will like this ("New York On My Mind" from "Electric Guitarist"): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOHFqkQIgMU&list=OLAK5uy_lkVyvWMUxcnJCYFH5S3Q3hwDgEKx-TxeI&index=1 I'm curious: what’s the difference, to you, between Jazz played on electric instruments and Fusion?
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@stuartk Speaking in general and in broad terms I would say that in (jazz) music every time period has its own distinctive ’sound’. Fusion, with its arrangements, use of keyboards and other instruments has that too, even more, I would dare to say. The structure of compositions, timing, duration of solo parts, the overall ’sound’ I find very hard to listen too. Again, speaking in general, but I did not find any (fusion) music (from that time period) that I like (not even the album I have posted above) So, its not about the use of ’electric instruments’, but rather of how are they used. Than again, I am quite certain that with years I am becoming more and more exclusive and not only with music,ha,ha |
Ah, OK -- I misunderstood. I thought you'd posted the link to that track as an example of one you liked on the J. McLaughlin record. Sorry about that! At any rate, it seems you are very clear about what you do not like when it comes to Fusion. Anything that uses synths is pretty much out for me -- Fender Rhodes, I'm OK with. So, for example the first two RTF albums, with Flora Purim, Airto, S. Clarke and Joe Farrell, I like. I don't know if this is actually Fusion -- more like electric Latinized Jazz. I can definitely relate to "becoming more and more exclusive".
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I did not like "fusion" in general for the same reason... "fusion" borrow from different traditions but stay on a superficial sound level often... Especially if the styles they borrow from are not near or related to one another... For example Bollywood music borrowing from Pop and Indian classical music... For example, listening to Nikhil Banerjee is a sacred event , listening Bollywood "fusion" is a short leisure at best at least for me... The same is true for any other "fusion" examples... There is very good fusion music though , lost in the general not so interesting albums mass... For example the "fusion" of Bach with jazz by some Jazzman...Or the encounter between Ali Akbar Khan and a jazzman... They are more musical encounter event and interesting , more than the development of "a new fusion genre" as such ... the event will not be repeated on a long term creating a new language replacing the two which fusionned for an album... Some tradition may be influenced by some other genre and integrating it slowly in history..,.It is one thing.... But creating tomorrow a style integrating two genres will not always be so interesting because it takes really genius to do so, each idioms being with his own rules...... I prefer more traditional jazz even free jazz to Pop/jazz "fusion" most of the times...There is exception for sure... |
