Masters who perform jazz fusion: A roundup of representative international artists
Jazz fusion, a genre where various elements blend together, has captivated many music fans with its free-ranging textures and innovative sound.
Through performances that transcend the boundaries of instruments like piano and saxophone, artists who breathed new life into the traditional elements of jazz have opened up new possibilities in music.
In this article, we introduce pioneering international figures and accomplished musicians essential to any discussion of jazz fusion.
Enjoy the allure of their groundbreaking sound in these pages!
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Masters who perform jazz fusion: A roundup of representative international artists (11–20)
Are You Going with Me?Pat Metheny
Pat Metheny is a jazz guitarist from the United States.
His musical style spans a wide range of genres, including progressive jazz, Latin jazz, and jazz fusion.
He began his career in the 1970s and achieved great success as the leader of the Pat Metheny Group with albums such as American Garage and Offramp.
As a solo artist, he has also won 20 Grammy Awards and is the only person to have won in 10 different categories.
Metheny’s music is characterized by an accessible style that bridges technique and originality.
His appeal extends beyond the jazz world, with collaborations ranging from Brazilian musicians to touring with Joni Mitchell.
From crystal-clear clean tones to powerful rock sounds, Metheny’s versatile guitar playing is a must-hear!
SpainChick Corea
Chick Corea, the American jazz pianist and composer.
Of southern Italian descent, Corea began playing piano at the age of four and grew up under the influence of his father, a jazz trumpeter.
After honing his craft in New York, he launched his professional career in the 1960s and earned high acclaim in 1968 with his trio album Now He Sings, Now He Sobs.
He then joined Miles Davis’s band, contributing to Bitches Brew, a landmark album that helped pioneer fusion and jazz’s new directions.
Corea went on to form his own band, Return to Forever, establishing a distinctive sound.
He received 23 Grammy nominations and won 4 awards, marking a brilliant career.
A true innovator in jazz and a foundational figure in fusion, Corea is a great artist whom not only jazz fans but all music lovers should listen to at least once.
WinelightGrover Washington Jr.
Grover Washington Jr.
made his name as a master of fusion, weaving elements of rock and soul into a jazz foundation.
A saxophonist from the United States, he’s known as a key figure in establishing the smooth jazz genre.
He began playing saxophone at age 10 and produced numerous hits throughout the 1970s and ’80s, dominating the jazz, R&B, and pop charts.
His uniquely singular musical style blends lively funk arrangements with the brilliant tone of the sax.
Many members of his family are also musically gifted, and the sensibilities he cultivated in that environment live on in his work.
His groove-rich, captivating sound is perfect even for newcomers to fusion—be sure to give it a listen!
RIO FUNKLee Ritenour
Lee Ritenour, from Los Angeles, California, is a guitarist active across a wide range of genres, including jazz, funk, and fusion.
He started playing guitar at the age of eight, and by sixteen he was talented enough to participate in a recording session with The Mamas & the Papas.
He released his debut album, “First Course,” in 1976, and in the 1980s scored a hit with “Is It You?”.
Ritenour’s musical range spans from jazz masters to pop music, having also produced all-star tribute albums to Bob Marley and Antônio Carlos Jobim.
At the Grammys, he won the award for Best Instrumental Arrangement in 1985 for “Early A.
M.
Attitude.” Ritenour has created numerous fusion classics, and his music comes highly recommended for listeners of all kinds!
Run for CoveMarcus Miller
Marcus Miller, a bassist from the United States, is an American musician who established a musical style that fuses jazz, R&B, and modern rock.
He began his professional career in his teens and contributed to hit songs by Aretha Franklin and Luther Vandross in the 1980s.
His work composing, performing, and producing Miles Davis’s 1986 album Tutu earned high acclaim as a landmark in contemporary jazz.
His 2001 album M², known for its blend of power and elegance, won the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album.
His collaboration with Luther Vandross produced 13 consecutive platinum albums, underscoring his status as a top-tier musician.
He is an artist highly recommended for anyone interested in jazz and fusion.
Room 335Larry Carlton
When it comes to guitarists who made a name for themselves on the fusion scene, Larry Carlton is the one who comes to mind.
Hailing from the United States, Carlton was active across a wide range of genres—jazz, blues, pop, and rock—throughout the 1970s and ’80s.
It’s no surprise he was nominated for the Grammy Awards 19 times and won 4.
Tracks like Rio Samba and Smiles and Smiles to Go from his 1981 album Sleepwalk remain beloved signature pieces.
If you’re interested in the fusion scene, be sure to check out Carlton’s music.
Masters who perform jazz fusion. A roundup of notable international artists (21–30)
Spike’s SongFrank Gambale
Frank Gambale, a guitarist from Australia, is a wizard of the guitar world known for his innovative “Gambale Sweep Picking” technique.
Praised by Chick Corea as someone who “turns everything he touches into gold,” his talent has been proven through his work with the Chick Corea Elektric Band and Return to Forever IV.
One moment he unleashes a storm of razor-sharp speed picking; the next, he spins out melodies brimming with songful expression, instantly captivating listeners.
His dramatic sound—where staggering virtuosity fuses with rich musicality—is nothing short of breathtaking.
Experience his groundbreaking guitar playing, and you’re guaranteed to step through the door into a new world of jazz fusion.