Chapter t WHAT IS CONTEMPORARY JAZZ? ontemporary Jazz is used as a catch-all term encompassing popular jazz styles that have emerged since the 1980s. These styles are in turn descended from the fusion of jazz. and rock styles that first ‘occurred in the 1960s, Contemporary jazz normally combines jazz harmony and improvisation (to varying degrees) with modern rhythms and instrumentation, Most music in this style is instrumental, and piano/keyboards often play a central role. Later in this book we'll break out the diffrent genres or sub- styles that exist under this contemporary jazz umbrella. Some artists fit broadly within one of these sub-styles, and others freely borrow from these sub-styles as needed to create their own sound. (Two great examples of this are Herbie Hancock and the cutting-edge contemporary jazz band the Yellowjackets.) In order to understand the characteristics of contemporary jazz, we need to trace some of the evolutionary steps that jazz. has taken from the 1960s up to the present. Jazz-Rock Fusion In the 1960s, jazz musicians began combining the new rock rhythms and instrumentation with jazz harmony and improvisation, thus giving birth to the term “fusion.” Miles Davis is widely regarded as the foremost innovator in this area, and his seminal fusion album Bitches Brew is an all-time classic that is credited with launching the jazz-rock era. A lot of great players from the various Miles Davis lineups went on to launch successful jazz and fusion careers, creating what we might call the first wave of fusion artists, that emerged in the 1970s. Notable pianists/keyboardists among this first wave include: * Herbie Hancock, who formed his own sextet after leaving Miles Davis, and who has since played most jazz styles from bebop through to hardcore funk/R&B and Acid Jazz. * Chick Corea, who ran the gamut from Brazilian jazz to rock with his band Return to Forever, and then switched effortlessly between energetic Jazz-Funk (with his Elektric Band) and more traditional swing and bebop (with his Akoustic Band). + Joe Zawinul, whose electric piano was a key component of Miles’s sound. Together with saxophonist Wayne Shorter, he formed the band Weather Report, which created some of the most important fusion music of the 1970s. Other famous Miles Davis alumni include the drummer Tony Williams, who formed the Jimi Hendrix- influenced band Lifetime (with the great keyboardist Alan Pasqua), and guitarist John McLaughlin, who formed the high-volume Mahavishnu Orchestra, which very successfully crossed over to rock audiences. Contemporary Jazz Jn the 1980s, the second wave of electric-oriented jazz groups began to emerge. These artists were classified in this new “contemporary jazz” category. Artists in this second wave included a heavy dose of R&B in their jazz stylings, most notably in their rhythmic grooves and melodic phrasing. Noted groups in this second wave include: + Yellowjackets, including pianistkeyboardist Russell Ferrante. A uniquely creative and thoughtful group, their music shows a deep respect for traditional jazz. and bebop, while incorporating funk, blues, gospel, and world music elements to create cutting-edge contemporary jazz. * Spyro Gyra, including pianis/keyboardist Tom Schuman. This popular group created a signature “Latin Jazz” sound by adding Latin rhythms to its jazz harmony and improvisations. + Crusaders, including pianist/keyboardist Joe Sample. From the mid-1970s into the 1980s, this band’s R&B and blues-flavored improvisation and rhythmic stylings influenced many contemporary jazz artists