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Classic fusion music masterpieces. Recommended staple tracks.

“Fusion” is a music genre that grew out of jazz, and true to its name, it blends a wide range of elements into a genuinely crossover sound that has produced countless classic albums and songs.

If you’re curious about fusion and want to sample a few tracks, this article introduces essential tunes—from soft, stylish numbers to complex, groundbreaking pieces.

Focusing mainly on overseas artists, we’ll cover beloved hits from years past, canonical staples, and standout tracks by artists who blend the hallmarks of jazz fusion with contemporary flair.

Whether you’re feeling nostalgic for the old days or searching for modern fusion, read on.

Playlist

Classic fusion music masterpieces. Recommended staple tracks.
show_chartTitlePlaylistOne point
1eastNight Birdsshakatak
Night Birdsshakatak
“Night Birds” is from the 1980s…
2eastSpainChick CoreaChic…, an American jazz pianist,
3eastBirdlandWeather Report“Birdland” features a unique sound and te…
4eastJust the two of usGrover Washington Jr.『Just The Two of Us』…
5eastBreezin’George BensonFor people who like jazz and soul guitarists, o...
6eastSMiLEDOMi & JD BECKThey drew attention with their virtuosic performance videos on social media, and “Ji…
7eastChameleonHerbie HancockA unique sound that fuses jazz and funk…
8eastStreet Fighter MasKamasi WashingtonAn artist bringing a fresh breeze to the contemporary jazz scene…
9eastSleepwalkLarry Carlton“Sleepwalk” features a bluesy performance…
10eastJohn McLaughlinMiles Davis“John McLaughlin” is Ja...
11eastThe Noonward RaceMahavishnu OrchestraKnown for pioneering the horizons of jazz-rock…
12eastBrazilian Love AffairGeorge DukeGeorge, an American keyboardist…
13eastIn A Silent WayMiles DavisTranscending the bounds of jazz, he blazed new horizons in music…
14eastTrinitySnarky PuppyGaining attention for its genre-defying musicality…
15eastStill WarmJohn ScofieldSo distinctive that you can tell who’s performing just by one listen…
16eastTake Me to the Mardi GrasBob James『Take Me To The Mard…
17eastHopoponoGoGo PenguinIt was held in Manchester, UK, in 2009...
18eastSurvival ImperativeJustin StantonAmerican musician Justins...
19eastRace With Devil On Spanish HighwayAl Di MeolaI want to recommend this to fans of hard rock and metal...
20eastTHE LOW SPARK OF HIGH HEELED BOYSTrafficA famous song by the fusion band Traffic
21eastIs It You?Lee RitenourFusion guitarist Lee Ritenour…
22eastTRUTHT-SQUAREThis is Japan’s fusion group T-S…
23eastAsayakeCASIOPEAA leading Japanese fusion band led by Issei Noro...
24eastDoes Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?CHICAGO『Does Anybody Really…
25eastIT DOESN’T MATTERSpyro GyraThe album “Morning D…” released in ’79
26eastRoom 335 (Long Version)Larry CarltonWhen it comes to fusion music, Larry Ca...
27eastOutubroAzymuthBrazilian music, synth with a gentle tone
28eastRodeo DriveThe CrusadersTheir greatest hit album, 'Stri...'
29eastRio sambaLarry CarltonAmerican pop vibes over razor-sharp guitar sounds…
30eastStreet BeatTom ScottThe album released in ’79, “Street Be…”
31east101 EastboundFourplayA classic song by the fusion super band Fourplay
32eastIncident At NeshaburSantanaMexican-born guitarist Carlos San...
33eastJust The Two Of UsGrover Washington Jr.A bass drum and percussion pushed prominently to the front…
34eastBoogie WaltzWeather ReportThe album released in April 1973, “...
35eastBright Size LifePat MethenyThe album Bright Si… released in ’76
36eastThe Dominant PlagueAllan HoldsworthPursuing the possibilities of the guitar as an instrument to their utmost limits…
37eastNevermoreU.K.Progressive rock and jazz that Britain is proud of...
38eastUnicornKazumi WatanabeWith Mike Mainieri as producer...
39eastSometimes I…Scott KinseyMaking full use of synthesizers, electric...
40eastLast Train HomePat Metheny Group“Last Train Home” is a guita...
41eastPlastic BambooRyuichi SakamotoA song from when the professor was still in his twenties, before joining YMO…
42eastMy SweetnessStuff“My Sweetness” is an American …
43eastMornin’Al JarreauThat legendary 'We are the wor…'
44eastFeel The NightLee Ritenour“Feel The Night” is hugely popular…
45eastFriendsChick CoreaFrom the 1978 album “Friends,” rel…
46eastJazz CarnivalAzymuthI’m currently producing an enormous number (of tracks/works) in progress…
47eastSpiralThe CrusadersA classic by a quartet that was ahead of its time in fusion
48north_eastDonna LeeJaco PastoriusThe 1976 album “Jaco Past…”
49south_eastMirageJean-Luc PontyThe violin innovator born in France, Je...
50south_eastSandboxLeni SternA guitarist and singer-songwriter from Germany...
51south_eastSamurai Hee-HawMarc JohnsonSpeaking of Mark Johnson, in America...
52south_eastProto-CosmosTony WilliamsPushing the possibilities of jazz drumming and fu…
53eastFriendsBrad Mehldau TrioA jazzy, warm-sounding wood bass and ja...
54eastAll Behind Us NowPatti AustinFrom a beautifully translucent piano sound...
55eastTourist In ParadiseThe RippingtonsA six-member group formed in the U.S. in ’86. LA…
56eastGalileo (For Jaco)The YellowjacketsThe album “Politics,” released in ’88…
57eastTalesMarcus MillerIncluded on the 1995 album “Tales.”…
58eastTrinkets and ThingsRyo KawasakiA studio musician in Japan from a young age…
59eastRockitHerbie HancockThe album “Future Sh…” released in ’83
60eastThe Woman of IrelandBob JamesIt has a slow, heartrending sound in this work—but still...
61eastBusy On The LineMark-AlmondMark-Almond has been active since 1970…
62eastSearchingRoy AyersBecause the timbre is soulful yet light, it ends up…
63eastBitter Sweet SambaHerb Alpert & The Tijuana BrassThe 1965 album “Whipped C…”
64eastOpen BeautyDon EllisDon Ellis from 1956 to 19...
65eastDjango – Rudy Van Gelder Edition / Remastered 1999Grant GreenGrant Gr… who was active from the 1960s
66eastThe Closer I Get to YouHerbie MannHer, the leading figure of American jazz flute...
67eastTrustRoy HargroveThe mellow tone of the trumpet soothes the heart…
68eastFootprintsWayne ShorterWayne Shorter, in 1958…
69eastSay GoodbyeHiroshi SatoI was even invited by Haruomi Hosono to be one of the early members of YMO...
70eastHow Long Will It Last ?Cornell DupreeWith staccato guitar strokes and explosive power...
71eastNehandaAnne PaceoThis passionately sweat-inducing hot beat...
72eastElegant PeopleJaco PastoriusThe Ja… who once belonged to Weather Report…
73eastSpanish MossBilly CobhamBilly Cobham, in 1968 or so...
74eastKing CockroachChick CoreaIn Return to Forever, it gets intense...
75eastFreedom at MidnightDavid BenoitDavid, an American pianist, ...
76eastBlue MatterJohn ScofieldJohn Scofield, in 1970...
77eastSymphony For The DevilBlood, Sweat & TearsOriginally, The Rolling Ston…
78eastAruban NightsBobby LyleAmerican pianist Bobby Lyle...
79eastWhistle BumpDeodatoHaving come to prominence in 1970, the fusion sa...
80eastSky HighDonald ByrdEven among modern jazz musicians, ...
81eastSee the LightEddie RussSynthesizer pads and percussion are...
82eastFrom Gagarin’s Point of ViewEsbjörn Svensson TrioSlow-tempo, tense-sounding wood bass music
83eastOne WishHiroshimaJapanese-American band's fusion of Japanese and Western music
84eastSamba All Day LongJorge DaltoIt's hard to categorize it as so-called Brazilian fusion...
85eastSara’s TouchMike MainieriMike Mainieri, in 1952...
86eastThere’s No One ElseRobben FordPop with a bluesy, jazzy flavor...
87eastClassical ThumpVictor WootenThe 2011 album “A Show …”
88eastmount. airy groovepieces of a dreamSignature songs of fusion bands
89eastThe PrecipiceTribal TechTribal Tech was formed in 1984 by gui…
90eastSo WhatMiles DavisThe album released in ’59, “Kind of B…
91eastUnboundAlex Skolnick TrioThe thrash metal band Testament's gi...
92eastFunky SnakefootAlphonse MouzonStarting with wild percussion, passion…
93eastMaputoBob JamesPianist and producer Bo…
94eastBlacks and BluesBobbi HumphreyHe, who can be considered a leading figure among female fusionists...
95eastExclamationChris PotterAmerican saxophonist Chris Potter's...
96eastStraight To The HeartDavid SanbornWhen it comes to fusion saxophonists, the first one that comes to mind is…
97eastAll Through the NightEarl KlughRight from the intro, the high-pitched sound of a gut guitar...
98eastExpansionsLonnie Liston SmithLonnie Liston Smith is…
99eastSultan’s BoogieScott HendersonScott Henderson is an Ameri...
100eastHerandnuWeather Reportinfluenced fusion sound
101eastHymn of the Seventh GalaxyReturn To Forever
Hymn of the Seventh GalaxyReturn To Forever
Signature songs of a jazz fusion band
102eastOne WordMahavishnu OrchestraA masterpiece by the Mahavishnu Orchestra
103eastHippocampus (with Illyar Amar, Chris Jennings & John Hadfield)Nguyên LêThe French jazz musician, Nguyen...
104eastMatinee IdolYellowjacketsThis is an American jazz fusion groo...
105eastSt. Alfonzo’s Pancake Breakfast / Father O’BlivionFRANK ZAPPAFrank Zappa has been, since 1955...
106eastTalk to Your DaughterRobben FordThis is Robben Ford's 'Tal…'
107eastXaviSnarky PuppyThe passionate music of Snarky Puppy
108eastEuropanemaBURNIER & CARTIERBrazilian samba guitarist, Luiz Bon…
109eastFine Corinthian LeatherCharlie HunterGuitarist Charlie Hunter’s…
110eastThe Romantic WarriorReturn To ForeverThe Rolling Stones’ album of jazz standards
111eastAga di BebeAQUARIUS & LOUIS ANTONIOAstrud Gilberto’s slightly lisping bo…
112eastLooking GlassAllan HoldsworthAllah Holdsworth is, in 19...
113eastWorld Gone StrangeAndy SummersAndy Summers has been since 1959…
114eastTRASHFORMER (feat. Mike McCready)Donna GrantisWorld-renowned guitarist from Canada, Dona Gra...
115eastGalaxyEddie HendersonEddie Henderson was, in 197...
116eastMy, My, MyGerald AlbrightG, a master saxophonist representing the West Coast of the United States...
117eastI Never Glid Before – 2015 RemasterGongFrom an intro where the drums are way too busy into the riff…
118eastWild Things Run FastJoni MitchellJ, a Canadian singer-songwriter…
119eastCan You Follow?Larry CoryellOriginally a musician from Scotland...
120eastGigantactisMark LettieriGuitarist Mark Lettieri's guita...
121eastForget Me NotsPATRICE RUSHENThis is Patrice Rushen’s “…
122eastEnd of the RoadPaul Jackson, Jr.Guitarist Paul J from Los Angeles...
123eastOne Day I’ll Fly AwayRandy CrawfordThis is R…, an American R&B singer.
124eastVashkarThe Tony Williams LifetimeA pioneer of jazz fusion bands
125eastInfinite LoveToninho HortaFrom Pat Metheny, that distinctive harmony…
126eastManhattan UpdateWARREN BERNHARDTIt’s rated pretty highly among fusion maniacs...
127eastDon’t worry about a thing.Weldon IrvineFamous musicians all over the world are covering it like crazy...
128eastA Love SupremeCarlos Santana & John McLaughlinOriginally by John Coltrane...
129eastSlightly All the TimeSoft MachineSoft Machine was, in 1966, ...
130eastTwo Price HitVictor Bailey, Dennis Chambers, Mitch Forman, Chuck Loeb and Bill EvansWith the bassist Victor Bailey...
131eastThree A.m.CosmosquadAn instrumental band that captivates with cosmic techniques
132eastMiragemDjavanSo remarkable that he is even compared to Stevie Wonder...
133eastLucky Man – 2012 Remastered VersionEmerson Lake&PalmerA progressive ro... who was active from the 1970s
134eastTropicalJeff LorbeThe album released in ’84, “In the He…”
135eastIt’s YouJoyce CoolingAccomplished female guitarist Joyce Cooling…
136eastIsland-HopKazumi WatanabeKazumi Watanabe, a master guitarist Japan is proud of, “I...
137eastPitter-PatterRymdenA jazz group from Norway in Northern Europe, Rymden...
138eastSister MoonStingSt..., a British singer-songwriter
139eastTaljiWayne ShorterA ... that pioneered a new frontier for Wayne Shorter
140eastYou Bet Your LoveHerbie HancockOn Head Hunters, they put out long tracks...
141eastObsessionMALTA
ObsessionMALTA
MAL, the saxophonist who was hugely active in the 80s...
142eastWindow Shoppin’HIRAM BULLOCKA funky guitar with a clean sound...
143eastThe MomentKenny GThe 1996-released album “The Momen…”
144eastSick Talk (feat. Becca Stevens)KneebodyThe American fusion band, Nobody…
145eastDesert GirlPlanet XPlanet X is a keyboard player…
146eastNoonward RaceMahavishnu OrchestraMahavishnu Orchestra…
147eastFreedom Jazz DanceMiroslav VitousMiroslav Vitous, in 196…
148eastSHADOW DANCEDave HollandDave Holland was, in 1964 or...