jazz fusion | Musicosity

jazz fusion

Billy Cobham

Billy Cobham, born May 16, 1944 in Panama, is one of the world's most influential drummers, best known for his jazz fusion in the 1970s, with John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra, where he pioneered a powerful style of drumming with jazz, rock and funk influences. He is the first drummer to unseat Buddy Rich in the Down Beat music polls. Cobham has played and recorded with hundreds of top musicians, including Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Larry Coryell, and Horace Silver; and is famous for his explosive, fast, spectacular playing.

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The Blackbyrds

The Blackbyrds was a and fusion group, formed in Washington, D.C. in 1973. The group was led by trumpeter Donald Byrd and featured some of his Howard University students: Kevin Toney (keyboards), Keith Killgo (vocals, drums), Joe Hall (bass guitar), Allan Barnes (saxophone, clarinet), and Barney Perry (guitar). Orville Saunders (guitar), and Jay Jones (flute, saxophone) were later members of the group. They signed to Fantasy Records in 1973. They are best known for their 1975 hit "Walking in Rhythm", which received a Grammy nomination.

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Mike Stern

One of the premier guitarists of his generation, the three-time Grammy nominee was born on January 10, 1953 in Boston. After growing up in Washington D.C., he returned to Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music and got his start as a guitar player with Blood, Sweat & Tears at the age of 22. Following a stint with Billy Cobham's powerhouse fusion band from 1979-1980, Mike moved to New York City and was recruited by Miles Davis and played a key role in his celebrated comeback band of 1981 (which also included bassist Marcus Miller...

Read more about Mike Stern on Last.fm.

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Mike Keneally

Michael Joseph Keneally (Born December 20, 1961) is an American musician.
Born in Long Island, New York, he moved to San Diego, California at an early age and has been a fixture on the local music scene there since 1985 when he formed the local cult band, Drop Control.
Although a well established musician in his own right, Keneally is probably most well known as former Frank Zappa "stunt guitarist" and a Zappa 1988 tour band member.

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Guido

There are many artists (Discogs has 19 matches) that have used this name. 1) Guido is a dubstep producer from Bristol, UK. 2) Japanese (jazz) band that consists of Hidenobu "KALTA" Ootsuki and Hiroshi "HATA". They're most well known from performing arrangement soundtrack of Chrono Trigger, The Brink of Time. KALTA and HATA were also part of Millennial Fair - a collected musical ensemble that performed Creid, arrangement soundtrack of Xenogears; and were producing Tobal No.1 and it's arrangement soundtrack, Electrical Indian.

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Oli Silk

Oli Silk plays some nice mellow lines, somewhat like Bob James of Fourplay, although with more prominent orchestration. His melodies are very catchy and engaging. Although not strictly a minimalist he utilizes a sparse approach to make an excellent musical statement.

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Bob James

Bob James (born December 25, 1939) is a two-time Grammy Award-winning jazz keyboardist. Though he has recorded a couple of straight jazz albums, most of his recordings contain "pop-jazz" which is a type of instrumental pop music. Bob James was an important figure in turning 1970s fusion jazz more commercial. For their album One on One, Earl Klugh and Bob James received a Grammy award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance of 1981.

Read more about Bob James on Last.fm.

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Stanley Clarke

Clarke was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Having graduated from the Philadelphia Musical Academy, he moved to New York City in 1971 and began working with famous bandleaders and musicians including Horace Silver, Art Blakey, Dexter Gordon, Joe Henderson, Pharoah Sanders, Gil Evans, Stan Getz and Al Di Meola. Return to Forever
During this period he joined the jazz fusion group Return to Forever led by pianist Chick Corea.

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Leon Parker

Leon Parker (born August 21, 1965 in White Plains, New York) is a jazz drummer. He studied drums from age 11 and had classical training in his teens. He went on to study jazz under the tutelage of Barry Harris. His recording debut would be with Harvie S, His wife Lisa is a flautist and he had worked with her musically. He often plays "pared down" drum kits, sometimes consisting entirely of only one cymbal.

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