FUSION 1967-75
Throughout
the 1950s and 60s the basic schools of Funk, Free Jazz, flourished. By and
large, although some swing orchestras still existed, and occasional big bands
recorded, jazz was essentially played by smaller groups of quartets and sextets.
Trumpets, saxes, bass and pianos dominated.
But
by the mid-60s, some musicians, in particular Miles Davis, were experimenting
with new jazz structures that weren't based on typical song structures, such
as pieces based on modal improvisation. These musicians were also interested
in using some of the instruments and structures that were used in popular
rock and roll, which had, by the late 50s, developed out of the blues.
By
the late 60s rock and roll totally dominated popular music. Since rock and
roll, like jazz, had common roots in the blues, some musicians started to
merge elements of all. On top of rock, jazz and the blues, some musicians
had adapted approaches to music from the classical avant garde, and from
direct Asian and African influences. Miles, for instance, had developed a
system of soloing based on modal chord structures that were rarely used in
European types of songs. Records, most notably Bitches Brew, appeared merging electric guitar, synthesizers, blues structures, and modal improvisation.
All
kinds of weird hybrid bands sprung up, and jazz musicians could be spotted
playing sitars, flutes and organs, among other unexpected instruments. Rock
bands tried to sound like jazz bands. Jazz bands were sounding like rock
bands.
And
that brings us to about 1975, where I'm going to leave you hanging. The jazz
scene today is ripe with diversity. Bands are still playing swing, dixieland,
bop, funk, free jazz, cool and fusion, so all these musics are still rolling.
This
article dips your toenail in the ocean. I oversimplified beyond belief, but
hopefully have given you some clue as to the basics of jazz history.
You have your priming. Go feast your ears.
