Start here first! Classic jazz-rock masterpieces. Recommended popular tracks.

L’elefante biancoArea

Area – L’elefante bianco (1975)

Italian progressive rock bands have a distinct appeal from their British counterparts, and they have a strong, enduring fan base here in Japan as well.

One of the flagship bands of Italian prog, Area, is known for its uniquely individual sound centered on the singular style of Demetrio Stratos—the band’s central figure, a brilliant vocalist and keyboardist who died young.

The four albums released during Stratos’s tenure are all highly acclaimed; their experimental sound, set apart from more commercial prog, may puzzle first-time listeners.

L’elefante bianco, which opens with powerful piano and vocals, is the first track on their third album Crac!, released in 1975.

Despite featuring complex, meticulously interwoven instrumental performances, storms of polyrhythms, and synthesizers spinning out folk-inspired phrases, it’s relatively accessible by their standards, and its passionate melody—said to be influenced by Bulgarian folk music—makes it a standout classic.

Nine Feet UndergroundCaravan

Caravan – Nine Feet Underground

Caravan, like Soft Machine, originated from the Wilde Flowers and is known as a foundational presence in Canterbury rock.

Though their activity has been intermittent, they’ve continued over many years, and it’s still fresh in our memory that they came to Japan in 2019 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their debut.

While Caravan’s sound is grounded in a crossover blend of jazz and rock, it’s distinct from bands that showcase breakneck technique and thrilling ensemble playing; instead, their hallmark is a richly lyrical sound that foregrounds beautiful melodies.

“Nine Feet Underground,” included on their celebrated third album In the Land of Grey and Pink released in 1971, is a suite-like masterpiece that epitomizes Caravan’s unique sonic world.

It’s a major work exceeding 22 minutes, comprising multiple sections, and on the original LP it occupies the entire B-side.

The gentle, unfolding development centered on Dave Sinclair’s organ and keyboards—together with Richard Sinclair’s soft vocals—conveys a different kind of appeal from bands that emphasize virtuosity and improvisation.

The album itself is often hailed as their magnum opus and is a highly recommended entry point for those new to Caravan.

Hortz Fur Dëhn Štekëhn ẀeštMagma

Magma – Hortz Fur Dëhn Stekëhn West

Among the history of progressive rock and jazz rock, a band that stands out for its singular personality and concept is France’s Magma.

Led by Christian Vander, who had been active as a jazz drummer since his teens, the band is known not only for its ever-shifting lineup but also for producing many uniquely talented players.

Even in the 2020s, they remain highly active.

From their discography, this time I’d like to introduce the opening track of their album often hailed as their masterpiece, Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh: the song Hortz Fur Dëhn Štekëhn Ẁešt.

Released in 1973, it was Magma’s third album, also well-known in Japan under the title “To the Cursed Earthlings.” While rooted in a labyrinthine jazz-rock built around “Kobaïan,” an invented language devised by Vander as the tongue of alien Kobaïans from outer space, the album also brings in an operatic dimension by featuring a seven-voice mixed choir.

The bizarre sonic world that unfolds is truly one of a kind.

The music—something you might call a festival score from another realm—is far beyond anything an ordinary imagination would conjure, and it’s startling every time you hear it.

With drums and bass pushed more to the forefront than guitar or keyboards, the ensemble delivers a dense, heavy opera-jazz-rock experience you should absolutely try at least once!

Saturday In The ParkCHICAGO

Saturday in the Park – Chicago

From the late 1960s onward, as many bands and artists began experimenting with fusing jazz and rock, a number of hit songs emerged from bands that adopted a big-band-style approach, prominently featuring brass sections within a rock sound.

Among the bands in Japan often described as playing what’s known as “brass rock,” Chicago stands out as a quintessential example.

Given the band’s many hit songs, those who remember the era might think of them less as jazz-rock or brass-rock pioneers and more as a hugely popular group that cranked out hit after hit.

Released in 1972, Chicago’s “Saturday in the Park” was a smash, reaching No.

3 on the U.

S.

Billboard chart, and it served as a killer tune that drove the massive success of that year’s album, Chicago V.

Just hearing the effervescent piano intro—played by keyboardist Robert Lamm, who also wrote and sang the song—can’t help but lift your spirits.

While the jazz influence is restrained, the stylishly arranged horn section gives it a chic touch, making it a poppy piano-rock classic that anyone can enjoy.

As an aside, Chicago is also known for its liberal leanings, so even a breezy pop song like this carries the band’s own message.

Temple SongBarbara Thompson’s Paraphernalia

Barbara Thompson Paraphernalia Temple Song Live 1979

From the 1960s right up to the 2020s, saxophonist and composer Barbara Thompson has long led the UK’s jazz-rock scene.

She’s also well known as the wife of Jon Hiseman, a central figure in Colosseum, one of the great British progressive rock bands.

In addition to contributing to many artists’ works, including Colosseum’s albums, Barbara has released numerous recordings with her own jazz-rock band, Barbara Thompson’s Paraphernalia.

The track featured here, Temple Song, appears on her self-titled debut album released in 1978.

Its progressive structure built on odd time signatures, the recurring main theme delivered by Barbara’s saxophone, and the increasingly heated, driving drum groove are irresistibly cool.

In the latter half, the keyboards—along with the sax—take a freer, more freaky turn, which is also super cool.

Highly recommended for fans of prog, jazz, and of course rock!

Dark Side of the MoogColosseum II

Colosseum II – Dark Side Of The Moog

Colosseum II was a British band formed around Jon Hiseman and Gary Moore.

“Dark Side of the Moog” is included on the 1976 studio album Strange New Flesh.

The Romantic WarriorReturn To Forever

Return to Forever – The Romantic Warrior HQ

Return to Forever, the iconic fusion band that debuted in 1972 centered around keyboardist Chick Corea—who passed away in February 2021—and bassist Stanley Clarke, is also a crucial presence from the perspective of jazz rock.

Across their career, from the early period that incorporated Latin music to the later funky phase featuring a horn section, their mid-period—when a guitarist was in the lineup—unfolded a sound that blended jazz rock and progressive rock.

In particular, their 1976 album Romantic Warrior, created after the addition of master guitarist Al Di Meola, stands as a definitive summation of their mid-period and became a major hit.

The album’s title track, “Romantic Warrior,” composed by Chick Corea, is an over-10-minute epic whose intricate band ensemble—showcasing an exchange of advanced techniques by these renowned musicians—exerted a profound influence on Japanese fusion bands such as Casiopea.

As the album cover and track titles suggest, its conceptual medieval theme is also compelling, making it a gem that can be enjoyed not only by prog and fusion enthusiasts but by rock fans as well.