Research paper 2: Option B: Fusion
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Research paper 2: Option B: Fusion
Introduction
Fusion also is known as Jazz-rock is a popular musical form that incorporates modern jazz with bass lines, rock music instrumentation, and drumming styles, emphasizing electronic instruments and dance rhythms. Moreover, fusion entails a “musical style that blends jazz with rock ‘n’ roll”[1]. Fusion was incubated by Miles Davis when he incorporated electronic instruments into his ensembles. Good examples of fusion include Esperanza Spalding’s ‘Chamber Music Society’ (2010), Dave Holland and Anour Brahem’s ‘Blue Maqams’ (2017), and Herbie Hancock’s ‘River: Letters to Joni’ (2007).[2] Fusion emerged due to the blending of jazz, rock, and funk elements by young musicians[3]. Therefore, fusion artists were seeking to remove critical assumptions, generic boundaries, and cultural traditions by mixing various musical elements and cultural traditions.
How fusion developed in the late 1960s and 1970s.
Fusion emerged during the late 1960s when companies were seeking to capitalize on The Beatles’ band success. During this period, some jazz musicians integrated several instruments to jazz music to bring out a new genre full of jazz composition and performance. The inspiration for the emergence of fusion was rock music, other classical music, and the social environment. Although many jazz musicians in the 1960s looked down upon rock music[4], young musicians slowly started showing interest in rock thus allowing popular genre elements to integrate into the jazz musicians play.
The primary influence to the development of fusion in the 1960s was The Beatles, the notable rock band that gained full recognition by the jazz musicians[5]. Other notable contributors were Sly and the Family Stone, King Crimson, James Brown with his tight rhythmic concept, and the Black Arts Movements. All these artists, integrated rock into jazz thus compelling the fusion. Classical music also had an important role to play though insignificant, in shaping fusion. For instance, Chick Corea included timpani, marimba, electric guitar, and synthesizer to his fusion album[6]. Mahavishnu Orchestra utilized the classical music to bring out the multi-movement forms and tracks like Dream and Trilogy[7]. Although classical music was not that influential like rock, it had a hand in shaping the fusion development. The most notable influence of fusion was Jimi Hendrix’s works that integrated blues to jazz through guitar playing. For instance, Rolling Stone Magazine records that “Nobody could doubt Hendrix was a rock and roll musician, yet, to jazz musicians he was also a performer.”[8] Hendrix’s influence led to the emergence of jazz guitarists like John McLaughlin, Adrian Guillery, and Larry Corryell[9]. “The first definitive fusion album can be found in The Free Spirits’ Out of Sight and Sound, led by guitarist Larry Coryell and it is purely jazz and rock.”[10]
Fusion could not have existed without the social climate condition of the late 1960s and early 1970s. During the social climate period, the Vietnam War waged leading to the rising and falling of hippie culture, making musicians search for a new creative outlet for expression. Therefore, they decided to combine their cultural contribution appreciation with their interest. A good example for this case is Sun Ra’s work of Space is the Place, where he portrays an alien being sent to the black population for liberation[11]. Improvisation anchored fusion as a centerpiece. A good example here is Miles Davis’s electric ensembles and Tony Williams Lifetime.[12]
Influences from African-American soul and funk music on fusion
Soul music is a music genre that emerged from African-American community that developed from African-American gospel music and led to many genre creations such as funk, hip hop, dance music, and contemporary R&B[13]. Soul music tries to combine African-American elements of gospel music, rhythm, and blues with jazz. Therefore, soul music influenced fusion by introducing the African music gospel, rhythm, and blues to jazz. Soul music influenced fusion through Motown’s pop-soul[14]. Through the Motown records’ songwriters and artist, “Motown Sounds” was created that produced pop-soul. The Motown records comprised of skilled jazz musicians who also made great pop music. Therefore, the integration of jazz and pop accompanied by tambourine playing and rhythm guitar-influenced fusion creation. Memphis soul and deep soul introduced R&B rhythms, funky bass riffs, horn section, and R&B classical instrumentation that lead to the emergence of jazz fusion such as Wilson Pickett’s “In the Midnight Hour.”[15]
Funk music is a genre of music that originated from the African-American communities through the creation of rhythmic, and new danceable form of music by mixing soul, jazz and rhythm and blues. Funk music concentrated on rhythm and groove thus resulting in the interplay between bass and drums. One of the most outstanding features in a funk was bass player, in which a mixture of low and high-note rhythms and slap style of playing was introduced[16]. The guitarist used complex jazz chords and strumming patterns intricately thus creating funk danceable nature with other rhythmic elements. With other rhythmic elements integration into the jazz chords, fusion was created. An example of funk music is James Brown who developed classic hits such as Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag and I Got You (I Feel Good)[17].
How fusion is connected to cultural diversity
Fusion interconnects different musical forms and instruments to bring about a new form of music. Therefore, fusion is connected to cultural diversity since it borrows heavily from the cultural practices of different people of cultural understanding. For instance, funk and soul music originated from the African-American culture, integrating them to jazz thus creating fusion. Moreover, fusion also interconnects different musical instruments such as guitar, marimba, and timpani. For instance, soul-fusion that integrated clapping and dancing to the beats into jazz. Fusion also connects different forms of music, for instance, the blending of jazz with rock ‘n’ roll. Jazz is a musical form originating from American culture while soul music was from the African-Americans. This shows that fusion not only appreciates cultural difference but also integrate the cultural difference to bring about unity.
Bibliography
Blunk, J. “Common Ground: The Shared Influence and Characteristics of Jazz fusion and Progressive Rock” MBS Thesis, Illinois State University, 2014
Burks, John. “Jimi Hendrix: An Appreciation.” Rolling Stone, October 15, 1970.
Burlong, Jim, trans. “RETURN TO FOREVER – Romantic Warrior.” Columbia CBS 81221 , 1978. https://www.jazzviews.net/return-to-forever—romantic-warrior.html. (accessed July 24, 2020).
English Club. “History of Soul Music.” EnglishClub, 1997. https://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/music-soul.htm. (accessed July 24, 2020).
Fellezs, Kevin. Birds of Fire: Jazz, Rock, Funk, and the Creation of Fusion. Durham: Duke University Press, 2011.
Gillett, Chris. “A Beginners’ Guide to Funk Music – How It Was Different to Other Genres at the Time.” Young Post, June 3, 2018. https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/music/article/3072624/beginners-guide-funk-music-how-it-was-different. (accessed July 24, 2020).
Keister J., “Black Prog: Soul, Funk, Intellect and the Progressive Side of Black Music of the 1970s.” American Music Research Center Journal, 5-22. https://www.questia.com/library/journal/1P4-2375762558/black-prog-soul-funk-intellect-and-the-progressive (accessed July 24, 2020).
Mahavishnu Orchestra, The Lost Trident Sessions, Columbia/SME, 1999, CD
Nicholson, Stuart. Jazz-Rock: A History. New York: Schirmer Books, 1998, 59-60.
Nicholson, Stuart. Jazz-Rock: A History. London: Omnibus, 2001.
Peretti, Burton W. “Birds of Fire: Jazz, Rock, Funk, and the Creation of Fusion.” Journal of American History 99, no. 1 (June 1, 2012): 357–57. https://doi.org/10.1093/jahist/jas052. (accessed July 23, 2020).
Ritz, David. “Soul Music.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., July 22, 2019. https://www.britannica.com/art/soul-music. (accessed July 24, 2020).
Ryan, Jennifer. “Books and Articles on Black Music.” Black Music Research Journal 28, no. 1 (2008): 139–66. https://doi.org/https://www.jstor.org/stable/25433798. (accessed July 24, 2020).
Valelly, Peter. “Miles Davis’ Brilliant, Pioneering Fusion Era.” The Current, March 1, 2013. https://www.thecurrent.org/feature/2013/03/01/miles-davis-fusion-era. (accessed July 24, 2020).
Vincent, Rickey. “Funk.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., September 15, 2014. https://www.britannica.com/art/funk. (accessed July 24, 2020).
Yeoh, Pei Ann. “Fusion Factor – Jazz Fusion and Creative Identities.” Conference: 3rd AJIRN Conference, At Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne, June 2, 2019. https://doi.org/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333616852_Fusion_Factor_-_Jazz_Fusion_and_Creative_Identities. (accessed July 23, 2020).
[1] Peretti, Burton W. “Birds of Fire: Jazz, Rock, Funk, and the Creation of Fusion.” Journal of American History 99, no. 1 (2012): 357–57. https://doi.org/10.1093/jahist/jas052. (accessed July 23, 2020).
[2] Pei Ann Yeoh, “Fusion Factor – Jazz Fusion and Creative Identities,” Conference: 3rd AJIRN Conference, At Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne, June 2, 2019, https://doi.org/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333616852_Fusion_Factor_-_Jazz_Fusion_and_Creative_Identities. (accessed July 23, 2020).
[3] Kevin Fellezs, Birds of Fire: Jazz, Rock, Funk, and the Creation of Fusion (Durham: Duke University Press, 2011).
[4] Stuart Nicholson, Jazz-Rock: A History (London: Omnibus, 2001).
[5] Ibid
[6] Jim Burlong, tran., “RETURN TO FOREVER – Romantic Warrior,” Columbia CBS 81221, 1978, https://www.jazzviews.net/return-to-forever—romantic-warrior.html. (accessed July 24, 2020).
[7] Mahavishnu Orchestra, The Lost Trident Sessions, (Columbia/SME, 1999) CD
[8] John Burks, “Jimi Hendrix: An Appreciation,” Rolling Stone, October 15, 1970, 2
[9] Stuart Nicholson, Jazz-Rock: A History (New York: Schirmer Books, 1998), 59-60.
[10] J. Blunk, “Common Ground: The Shared Influence and Characteristics of Jazz fusion and Progressive Rock” (MBS Thesis, Illinois State University, 2014),6
[11]Keister J, “Black Prog: Soul, Funk, Intellect and the Progressive Side of Black Music of the 1970s,” American Music Research Center Journal, 5-22. https://www.questia.com/library/journal/1P4-2375762558/black-prog-soul-funk-intellect-and-the-progressive (accessed July 24, 2020).
[12] Peter Valelly, “Miles Davis’ Brilliant, Pioneering Fusion Era,” The Current, March 1, 2013, https://www.thecurrent.org/feature/2013/03/01/miles-davis-fusion-era. (accessed July 24, 2020).
[13] David Ritz, “Soul Music,” Encyclopædia Britannica (Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., July 22, 2019), https://www.britannica.com/art/soul-music. (accessed July 24, 2020).
[14] English Club, “History of Soul Music,” EnglishClub, 1997, https://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/music-soul.htm. (accessed July 24, 2020).
[15] Jennifer Ryan, “Books and Articles on Black Music,” Black Music Research Journal 28, no. 1 (2008): pp. 139-166, https://doi.org/https://www.jstor.org/stable/25433798. (accessed July 24, 2020).
[16] Rickey Vincent, “Funk,” Encyclopædia Britannica (Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., September 15, 2014), https://www.britannica.com/art/funk. (accessed July 24, 2020).
[17] Chris Gillett, “A Beginners’ Guide to Funk Music – How It Was Different to Other Genres at the Time,” Young Post, June 3, 2018, https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/music/article/3072624/beginners-guide-funk-music-how-it-was-different. (accessed July 24, 2020).