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This is the first post of VINYL VIBRATIONS by Brian Frederick. In today’s podcast we look at Part ONE of a two-part program on JAZZ FUSION. Today, we focus on the decade of development of JAZZ FUSION during the late 1960s and into the 1970s — during the “Golden Age of Vinyl” when many of the early works we will hear are found in Vinyl LP format. Jazz Fusion maybe not as much a musical style, but more of a MUSICAL APPROACH.
PROGRAM SUMMARY
M1 Gary Burton Quartet, their first album DUSTER in 1967 on RCA Records, vibraphonist Gary Burton, the song “LITANY”. Gary Burton – the jazz vibraphonist from Anderson Indiana. Burton plays with Larry Coryell [guitar], Roy Haynes [drums], Steve Swallow [bass]. Burton developed a pianistic style of four-mallet technique as an alternative to the usual two-mallets. He is also known for pioneering fusion jazz. In 1967 BURTON formed the Gary Burton Quartet. Predating the jazz-rock fusion craze of the 1970s, the group’s first record, Duster, combined jazz, country and rock and roll elements.
M2 John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra and the album APOCALYPSE, 1974 on CBS. With the London Symphony Orchestra, with Michael Tilson Thomas conductor. The song titled WINGS OF KARMA track one side 2. This album is produced by George Martin. Recorded in London 1974. McLaughlin is flexing his creative muscles, demonstrating, convincingly, that he can compose and arrange in a symphonic format, and work in his electric instruments, the electric piano, guitar and bass, and the rock drum set with . Jean Luc-Ponty is featured on electric violin. John McLaughlin on electric guitar, Gayle Morgan on keyboards, plus 9 other members of the LSO. Very powerful, a very new musical dimension, this sound, in 1974.
M3 The MOTHERS, and the album ..The Grand Wazoo, and the song “EAT THAT QUESTION”, on Reprise Records, Warner Bros Records, 1972. Produced by Frank Zappa. On woodwinds Mike Altshul and Joel Peskin, Sal Marquez on all brass, George Duke on Keyboards, Frank Zappa percussion, and Guitar Frank Zappa, Drums Aynsley Dunbar and Bass-the credit shows as “erroneous”! All selections composed and arranged (and produced) by Frank Zappa.
M4 Jean-Luc Ponty on electric violin and the album King Kong, the song “IDIOT BASTARD SON” by Frank Zappa, The album cover indicates “music for electric violin and low budget orchestra – composed and arranged by Frank Zappa. The electric violin has a natural footing, a solid role as a solo instrument in this new JAZZ FUSION genre.
M5 Jerry Goodman and Jan Hammer the song “Stepping Tones, composed by Rick Laird on the “Like Children” album, Nemporer Records 1974. This is an interesting album from the standpoint that all of the performance talent on this record is supplied by only two persons — Jerry Goodman on on violins, electric guitar, electric mandolin, acoustic guitar, viola and — Jan Hammer on piano, drums, moog bass, moog lead, percussion.
M6 The MOTHERS “Peaches en Regalia” live track from The MOTHERS and the “Fillmore East, June 1971” album, distributed on Reprise (Warner Bros) Records. Zappa is on electric guitar, Ian Underwood on keyboards, Aynsley Dunbar on drums, Jim Pons on bass, Don Preston on the mini-moog, and Bob Harris on 2nd keyboard. “Peaches en Regalia” was written by Frank Zappa and published by Frank Zappa Music.