Jazz fusion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jazz fusion |
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| Cultural origins | Late 1960s, United States |
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| List of musicians | |
Jazz fusion, also called "jazz-rock fusion" or just "fusion," is a cool type of music. It mixes jazz music with rock music. Sometimes, it also blends in sounds from funk, rhythm and blues, and even world music.
Most jazz fusion songs are played using only instruments, without singing. These songs are often longer than typical pop music songs. A jazz fusion song might be five to ten minutes long. A pop song is usually around three minutes. Jazz fusion songs often feature long solos played by different instruments. For example, Frank Zappa was known for his long guitar solos in this style. In jazz fusion, these solos are often improvised. This means the musicians make them up as they play during a performance.
Jazz fusion music is not played very often on the radio in the United States or Canada. However, it is more popular on radio stations in Europe.
How Jazz Fusion Started
Jazz fusion began in the late 1960s in the United States. During this time, jazz musicians started trying new things. Famous jazz artists like Miles Davis and a band called The Tony Williams Lifetime began using electric instruments. They added instruments like the electric bass and electric piano to their jazz music.
Jazz musicians also started using different rhythms and beats. They brought in sounds from soul music, rhythm and blues, and rock music into their jazz songs. This mix of old and new sounds created the jazz fusion style.
Jazz Fusion Grows in Popularity
In the 1970s, jazz fusion became much more popular. More musicians started playing it, and more people began listening to it. Many fans also went to jazz fusion concerts. During this time, jazz musicians like Herbie Hancock, Joe Zawinul, Jan Hammer, and Chick Corea began using electronic synthesizers in their music. These new instruments added even more unique sounds to jazz fusion.
In the early 1980s, a new kind of jazz fusion appeared. It was called "pop fusion." This style was often softer and slower than the jazz fusion from the early 1970s. Pop fusion was played a lot more on the radio. Musicians who played pop fusion include Lee Ritenour, Al Jarreau, Kenny G, Bob James, and David Sanborn.
Steve Vai was another important musician in the 1980s. He played amazing guitar-based jazz fusion songs that were mostly instrumental, meaning they had no singing.
Images for kids
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John McLaughlin performs during his Mahavishnu Orchestra period
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Spyro Gyra combines jazz with R&B, funk and pop.
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Steve Coleman in Paris, July 2004
See also
In Spanish: Jazz fusión para niños
