Jazz Fusion

Jazz fusion (or "jazz-rock fusion" or "fusion") is a musical genre that merges elements of jazz with other styles of music, particularly pop, rock, folk, reggae, funk, metal, R&B, hip hop, electronic music and world music. Fusion albums — even those that are made by the same artist — often include a variety of these musical styles.

In the late 1960s, jazz musicians began mixing the forms and improvisational techniques of jazz with the electric instruments of rock and the rhythms of soul and rhythm and blues. At the same time, some rock artists began adding jazz elements to their music. The 1970s were the most visible decade for fusion, but the style has been well represented during more recent times. Rather than being a codified musical style, fusion can be viewed as a musical tradition or approach. Some progressive rock music is also labeled as fusion.

Don Ellis – 33 222 1 222

Herby Hancock

A FEW jazz musicians have found success in the pop world too, but not many have managed it without leaving the riskier and more unpredictable aspects of jazz improvisation behind. Herbie Hancock, the jazz pianist born in Chicago in 1940, is one of those.

Hancock is that rare breed, who gets respect from jazz, classical, hip hop and drum 'n' bass artists alike. As a composer, he has written many great songs, including ‘Maiden Voyage’, ‘Watermelon Man’ and ‘Canteloupe Island’, and he had chart hits in 1973 with his Headhunters band and ‘Chameleon’, and in 1983 with ‘Rockit’. All this music continues to be regularly sampled by young DJs and producers.

Herbie Hancock – Cantaloupe Island Used by US3 in Cantaloop(Flip Fantasia).(Pop record)

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Herbie Hancock – Rockit
Very Popular BreakDance melody in the 80's.Thats what Jazz can do

THE JAZZ FESTIVAL in UK .August 17-19/2007

Following on from the success of the Fettes Jazz Festival 2006 This year’s festival will be held from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th August. Set in the stunning grounds of Fettes College, this year’s event is not to be missed.

The Fettes Jazz Festival, in association with Purvis Marquees, will boast a phenomenal line-up including Toby Shippey’s 7-piece Latin Band Rumba Caliente, Colin Steele Quintet, Dele Sosimi 9-piece Afrobeat Orchestra, National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland and Perrier Award Winner Niki King and more.

Dele Sosimi – Turbulent Times

Latin Jazz - Short Intro

Latin jazz is the general term given to music that combines rhythms from African and Latin American countries with jazz and classical harmonies from Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and United States.

The two main categories of Latin Jazz are Brazilian and Afro-Cuban.

Brazilian Latin Jazz includes bossa nova and samba.
Afro-Cuban Latin Jazz includes salsa, merengue, songo, son, mambo, bolero, charanga and cha cha cha.
One of the contribution of Latins (Latinos in Spanish) to America, Latin jazz was further popularized in the late 1940s. Dizzy Gillespie and Stan Kenton began to combine the rhythm section and structure of Afro-Cuban music, exemplified by Machito and His Afro-Cubans, whose musical director Mario Bauza created the first Latin jazz composition "Tanga" on May 31, 1943, with jazz instruments and solo improvisational ideas. On March 31, 1946, Stan Kenton recorded "Machito," written by his collaborator / arranger Pete Rugalo, which is considered by many to be the first Latin jazz recording by American jazz musicians. The Kenton band was augmented by Ivan Lopez on bongos and Eugenio Reyes on maracas. Later, on December 6th of the same year, Stan Kenton recorded an arrangement of the Afro-Cuban tune The Peanut Vendor with members of Machito's rhythm section. In September of 1947, Dizzy Gillespie collaborated with Machito conga player Chano Pozo to perform the "Afro-Cuban Drums Suite" at Carnegie Hall. This was the first concert to feature an American band playing Afro-Cuban jazz and Pozo remained in Gillespie's Orchestra to produce "Cubana Be, Cubana Bop" among others.

Dizzy Gillespie – A Night In Tunisia

The Styles of Jazz

This chart of Jazz Styles is derived from Joachim Berendt's The Jazz Book. This book is indispensible to any person seeking a comprehensive survey of the history of Jazz. Berendt masterfully covers the evolution of this complex music from several parallel perspectives, helping readers absorb history from more than one direction. This structure also makes the book a pleasure to browse.

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The Monterey Jazz Festival

The Monterey Jazz Festival is a yearly festival of jazz music that takes place at the Monterey Fairgrounds in Monterey, California the third full weekend in September. Founded by Jimmy Lyons in 1958, that year's festival included performers such as Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, and Billie Holiday. It is now the longest-running annual jazz festival in the world, and continues to feature world-class jazz performers, as well as workshops, exhibitions, and panel discussions.
And the 50TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL is on the way .. check out this site

Legends Of Jazz - Duke Ellington

Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington (April 29, 1899–May 24, 1974) was an African American jazz composer, pianist, and band leader who has been one of the most influential figures in jazz, if not in all American music. As a composer and a band leader especially, Ellington's reputation has increased since his death, with thematic repackagings of his signature music often becoming best-sellers .
Ellington was one of the twentieth century's best-known African-American celebrities. He recorded for many American record companies, and appeared in several films. Ellington and his orchestra toured the United States and Europe regularly before and after World War II.