Newb here, Dr. Frums

dr. frums · #1 04-06-2010, 07:32 AM

Just a new guy, here. Wondering, are there any Al Di Miola fans here? John Mclaughlin? I am just now standing at the entrance into the door to Jazz, and all that it entails. Been listening to pretty much everything, and playing just about everything all my life, from Heavy metal to Blues, to R & B. Now I am trying to expand even further. I hope to learn from all of you. Anyone use a Roland BR series recorder besides me?

pierre richard · #2 04-06-2010, 08:56 AM

welcome here dr...

you will learn alot..

time on the instrument...pierre

derek · #3 04-06-2010, 09:32 AM

Welcome aboard Doc. Not big into fusion, but certainly appreciate Al and John's ability. One of my favorite guitar discs is Friday Night in San Francisco with Al, John and Paco.

dr. frums · #4 04-07-2010, 09:41 AM

Thanks to the responses, Pierre and Derek. Derek, I am wondering what defferentiates Jazz from Fusion? Just a question as I am new to the world of Jazz. I have, maybe, three or four albums of Jazz, including; Miles Davis-Kind of Blue and Bitches Brew, Al Di Miola-Consequence of Chaos, and a Mahavishnu Orchestra album. But as far as knowing what the "Jazz or Fusion" difference is, I am ignorant. Please explain, I am a sponge and I will absorb what ever info you wisemen have to offer.

fivebells · #5 04-08-2010, 05:21 AM

"fusion" = a fusion of jazz and rock. No strict rules apply, but the essence of it is the combination of the amplified instruments of rock and jazz's compositional and improvisation elements.

derek · #6 04-08-2010, 09:19 AM

Yeah the lines can get blurred pretty quickly. I think this is especially true of more modern jazz, where distorted tones are used, and there is a move away from more traditional chord progressions. Used be you could say that fusion wasn't as rich harmonically as jazz, and tended to be more diatonic. Don't think you can say that with the same level of authority anymore. There certainly are guys who are playing some fairly harmonically complex fusion.

For me, this is a tougher distinction these days than the difference between what is jazz and smooth jazz.

dr. frums · #7 04-08-2010, 10:51 AM

@ Derek, I have to agree with the statement that it's not as cut and dry anymore. Even in Instrumental Rock and Roll people are starting to branch out into other areas. I never thought that Joe Satriani would delve into the Jazz world, until I heard Satchfunkilus.

If none of you have ever listened to The Mars Volta, you might want to at least give them a try. The lyrical content is usually pretty odd, but one day I was listening to them, and I decided to think of the singers voice as a trumpet. From then on, their music made a whole lot more sense. There are some rock elements, but the majority is improvisational jazz or fusion. I have been trying to get back into trumpet playing again. I played in High School band, and disliked the instructor, so I quit playing the horn and gravitated back to the guitar. Now, I am listening to Miles Davis, and my brother, from another mother, decided to give me this 1970's vintage Conn Director's Trumpet. Copper Bell, so I am going at it with a different point of view this time. I am now trying to incorporate it into the background, to start with, but eventually I want to get into the lead playing, maybe a call and reponse to the lead guitar.