Sunday, April 13, 2025

Proto-Jazz-Rock Fusion: The albums that led to making Jazz-Rock Fusion real

Here's a running (and incomplete) list of albums that I feel herald the coming of the breakout of the Jazz-Rock Fusion movement. 


John Coltrane A Love Supreme (Jan. 1965)

Herbie Hancock Maiden Voyage (May 1965)

Miles Davis Quintet E.S.P. (Aug. 1965)

Anthony ("Tony") Williams Spring (Late 1965)


The Free Spirits Out of Sight and Sound (Jan-Feb 1967)

Miles Davis Quintet Miles Smiles (Feb. 1967)

Don Ellis Orchestra 'Live' at Monterey ! (March 1967)

Francis Vincent Zappa and the Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra Lumpy Gravy (Aug. 7, 1967: the 4-track StereoPak release from Columbia Records)

Don Ellis Orchestra Live in 3⅔/4 Time (Summer 1967)

Miles Davis Quintet Sorcerer (Oct. 1967)

Gary Burton Duster (Nov. 1967)

Don Ellis Orchestra Electric Bath (Dec. 1967)


Miles Davis Quintet Nefertiti (Jan. 1968)

Jeremy Steig Jeremy & The Satyrs (Jan-Feb 1968)

The Mothers of Invention We're Only in it for the Money (March 1968)

Herbie Hancock Speak Like a Child (March 1968)

Don Ellis Orchestra Shock Treatment (May 1968)

Francis Vincent Zappa and the Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra Lumpy Gravy (re-released by Verve Records in May 1968)

Miles Davis Quintet Miles in the Sky (July 1968)

Mike Mainieri Journey Thru an Electric Tube (1968)

Don Ellis Orchestra Autumn (Dec. 1968)


Nat Adderley Calling Out Loud (Jan. 1969)

Miles Davis Filles de Kilamanjaro (Feb. 1969)

Larry Coryell Lady Coryell (April 1969)

The Mothers of Invention Uncle Meat (April 21, 1969)

John McLaughlin Extrapolations (July 1969)

Miles Davis In a Silent Way (Aug. 1969)

Tony Williams Lifetime Emergency! (Aug. 1969)

Frank Zappa Hot Rats (Oct. 1969)

Larry Coryell Coryell (late 1969)

Donald Byrd Fancy Free (Dec. 1969)


Miles Davis Bitches Brew (Jan. 1970)

Herbie Mann Stone Flute (Jan. 1970)

Miroslav Vitous Infinite Search (March 1970)

Nucleus Elastic Rock (March 1970)

Freddie Hubbard Red Clay (May 1970)

Jean-Luc Ponty King Kong: Jean-Luc Ponty Plays the Music of Frank Zappa (May 1970)

Jeremy Steig Legwork (recorded Feb. 11, 1970)

Jeremy Steig Wayfaring Stranger (recorded Feb. 11, 1970)

John McLaughlin Devotion (Sept. 1970)

Nucleus We'll Talk About It Later (recorded Sept. 21 & 22 of 1970; released in March of 1971)

Hannibal Hannibal (released in October of 1970) 

Donald Byrd Electric Byrd (Nov. 1970)

Larry Coryell Spaces (Nov. 1970)

Dreams Dreams (released in November of 1970) 

Miroslav Vitous Purple (Dec. 1970)

Tony Williams Lifetime (Turn It Over) (Dec. 1970)

Association (Pierre Courbois) Earwax (recorded in August of 1970, released late in 1970)

The Soft Machine Fourth (recordeed in Oct. & Nov. of 1970; released in February of 1971)

Brian Auger's Oblivion Express Oblivion Express (Recorded in November of 1970; released in March of 1971)

Association P.C. (Pierre Courbois) Sun Rotation (Recorded Nov. 24-27 of 1970; released in 1971)

Out Of Focus Wake Up! (Recorded Oct 27 & December 7, 1970; released in March of 1971)

Chase Chase (Recorded in Nov. & Dec. 1970; released in April of 1971)

Jeremy Steig Energy (I Giganti del Jazz, Vol. 15)


If you have any other albums from this period that you think might fit the description "Proto-Jazz-Rock Fusion" please make your suggestions in the comments section!



1970

  January   MILES DAVIS  Bitches Brew  (recorded August 19-21, 1969, the weekend of Woodstock.) I've been listening to this album with g...