Jazz fusion as a genre came into its own in the late 60s. Since then the genre has gone onto become a complex creative amalgamation of various musical styles rooted to jazz and funk realms. This article brings to light the best jazz fusion bands.

Through the 70s many bands started experimenting with song structure. The improvisational skills of musicians in the jazz-funk genre led to a movement in complex instrumental passages Experimentation in various forms paved the way for a new wave of jazz fusion bands that amalgamated funk and rhythm and blues in experimental odd-time signatures. Complex time signatures are an integral part of jazz fusion. Lengthy instrumental compositions in the jazz context became hugely popular in the late 60s and 70s. Instrumental passages showcasing highly refined instrumental techniques started emerging in the 70s. Since the 70s, complex structure, high caliber instrumental technique and lengthy instrumental passages have been the main ingredients that have evolved and shaped the jazz fusion genre in varied ways.

The Canterbury scene in the 60s and 70s had many bands experimenting with progressive elements in a jazz context giving birth to the prog-jazz-fusion sound.

Extended improvisation became a manic rage with audiences at live performances of jazz fusion bands. Through the 80s and 90s many bands released instrumental jazz fusion albums with a sophisticated polished sound. The experimental approach in the jazz fusion genre evolved dynamically through the 80s and 90s. Musicians from different jazz rock bands formed experimental side projects and supergroups taking their brand of experimental jazz, progressive rock, and funk to the next level.

Jazz-rock genre has been associated closely in the realms of jazz-fusion because of its free form improvisation elements. Bands with a horn section churning out instrumental passages became excessively popular in jazz fusion bands in the 70s and 80s. The 90s made way for a new movement of instrumental guitar players in the jazz fusion genre that became a rage with music aficionados. Many guitar players worked on solo albums and released their albums independently or with small record labels. The accuracy, creativity, and improvisational skills of jazz fusion musicians have made them the first choice as session’s musicians with major recording artists from various genres.

Musicians in the jazz fusion genre are known for their technical knowledge in the studio. When you listen to a jazz fusion album the first thing that strikes you as a listener is the tonal quality on albums. The fluidity and flow in jazz fusion albums is testimony to the fact that jazz fusion musicians are at another level. Post 2000, jazz fusion bands are bringing in a diverse influence from classical, jazz rock, experimental, prog metal, funk, and progressive rock. In the years to come jazz fusion might just take a new path while still being rooted with all elements that ooze jazz and funk.

The list below showcases the best bands in the Jazz fusion genre. In no way does the list try or attempt to rank bands, it’s a mere celebration of the best from the jazz fusion genre.

100 Greatest Jazz Fusion Bands

1. Return To Forever
2. Weather Report
3. Mahavishnu Orchestra
4. Tony Williams Lifetime
5. Soft Machine
6. Tribal Tech
7. Vital Information
8. Chick Corea Elektric Band
9. The Brecker Brothers
10. Henry Cow
11. Koinonia
12. Gong
13. Cab
14. Brand X
15. Steps Ahead
16. Planet X
17. Colosseum
18. Animals As Leaders
19. Yellowjackets
20. Snarky Puppy
21. Casiopea
22. Spyro Gyra
23. Medeski Martin & Wood
24. Soft Heap
25. Dixie Dregs
26. HBC (Scott Henderson, Jeff Berlin, Dennis Chambers)
27. Nucleus
28. Shakti
29. Dirty Loops
30. Cynic
31. Bela Fleck And The Flecktones
32. T-Square
33. Niacin
34. The Eleventh House
35. Nova
36. The Crusaders
37. Backwater
38. Gordian Knot
39. Steely Dan
40. National Health
41. Vital Tech Tones
42. U.K.
43. The Aristocrats
44. Hiroshima
45. Embryo
46. Orzic Tentacles
47. Col. Bruce Hampton and The Aquarium Rescue Unit
48. Go
49. Fattburger
50. Hatfield and The North
51. Gilgamesh
52. Exivious
53. Area
54. Potemkine
55. The Fusion Syndicate
56. The Headhunters
57. Pierre Morlen’s Gong
58. Zao (French Band)
59. Ayers Rock
60. The Shuffle Demons
61. Dreams
62. Finnforest
63. Tauk
64. Leb i sol
65. Uzeb
66. Bruford
67. If
68. Secret Oyster
69. Chon
70. Oregon
71. Gutbucket
72. Mezzoforte
73. Animal Logic
74. Vertu
75. Kayo Dot
76. Colosseum 2
77. Kung Fu
78. Isotope
79. Aghora
80. Maneige
81. Ginger Baker’s  Air Force
82. Arcana
83. Matching Mole
84. Physical Therapy
85. Caldera
86. Opafire
87. Galactic
88. Magma
89. Jaga Jazzist
90. Ten Wheel Drive
91. Manteca
92. The Bad Plus
93. The Slip
94. Shakatak
95. Jazz Mandolin Project
96. Stratus (US Band)
97. GoGo Penguin
98. Thank You Scientist
99. The Budos Band
100. Azteca

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