Jazz’s Neo Gumbo: Rock, Funk and Psychedelia
Jazz’s Neo Gumbo: Rock,
Funk, and Psychedelia
This is our final stop on the jazz tour. Today, we are going to talk about jazz fusion, a subgenre that combines elements of jazz, rock, R&B, funk, psychedelia, and world music. In other words, this subgenre is extremely experimental and rock-oriented as opposed to the traditional jazz and takes an open mind and open ear. The instruments that are commonly used are electric guitars, electric bass guitar, electric keyboards, and synthesizers.
We cannot discuss jazz fusion
without highlighting one of its most prominent pioneers, jazz fusionist, trumpetist and jazz innovator,
Miles Davis. Davis or just “Miles” to
his fans created a brand-new sound that would change the jazz world forever. In
his pioneering 1969 release In a Silent Way, Davis combines elements of the sounds of that
era, psychedelic rock, R&B, soul, funk.
In fact, Miles even admitted to being inspired
by the psychedelic sounds of Jimi Hendrix
and Sly & the Family Stone, as well
as the soulful sounds of James Brown, departing from his original traditional
jazz sounds. In fact, In a Silent Way,
with only two main tracks, is considered by some as the first jazz fusion album,
which in my mind makes Miles Davis the father of jazz fusion. Throughout the album, it features dreamy, but trippy electric guitar
riffs, keyboards parts, and organ parts
are used. It remains a jazz fusion masterpiece.
Click here and take a listen to the album.
We can’t mention Miles Davis
without mentioning his “homie,” fellow fusion jazz pioneer, Herbie Hancock, a pianist,
keyboardist and synthesizer player. In
fact, Herbie Hancock, a member of Miles’ band played and helped inspire Davis to
create his jazz fusion sound in the late 1960s. Fast
forward to 1973, Hancock ventured out on his own and released his own innovative jazz fusion album,
Headhunters, which performed extremely well on the Hot Billboard
charts. Throughout the album, Herbie
Hancock uses his synthesizer and keyboard combining elements of jazz, funk, and
electronic music. Highlighting the first
track, Chameleon, you can hear the experimental and funky synthesizer\ keyboard
solo performed by Hancock himself, and a saxophone solo by Bennie Maupin. Take
a look and listen to the track.
Always an innovator, Herbie Hancock was also smack dab in
the middle of the emerging popularity of hip-hop and break dancing in the early
1980s, as well as innovative videos associated with the 80s. Take a listen and look at “Rockit”.
Sources I used:
CC Licenses:
Miles Davis performing in 1987, by Dr. Jean Fortunet, CC BY-SA 3.0
Herbie Hancock, by CBS, Public Domain
I love this post! I only listened to a bit of the Miles Davis album and I already am hooked. This is the kind of song I would imagine like a Cowboy Beebop or Pink Panther episode. It's so fun! Thanks for introducing me to a sector of jazz I hadn't heard before
ReplyDeleteSidenote: Hancock's 100% on my study music playlist now XD
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this post. Well actually, all of your post. Miles Davies is truly one of the greatest jazz musician/composer, as well as Herbie Hancock. Thank you for sharing your love of jazz and educating us on the variations.
ReplyDeleteYou have featured some of my favorite jazz artist here. As I have stated before, I am a true jazz lover. I enjoy finding new pieces from the younger players, however, my heart is with the older jazz artist. The guardians of the genre. Herbie Hancock's Hunters was the first jazz album I ever owned way back in the 70's. I have been hooked since. Miles Davis, John Coltrane, all have a place at the table. Thank you
ReplyDelete