Jazz Fusion for Metalheads

When I was a teenager and started playing bass I was a full on Metal Head. I ended up going to music school and studying Jazz and realised that there are alot of similarities in genres right down to some Fusion guitarists showing up on Metal albums so I figured I'd start this thread.

I read an interview with Chris Poland where he said Dave Mustaine would tell him not to mention The Mahavsihnu Orchestra in interviews so I figure I'll start there:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgrACYkXFqY"]YouTube - Chris Poland's Ohm - Peanut Buddah

Mahavishnu Orchestra:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIHL-0ua3a0&feature=related"]YouTube - Mahavishnu Orchestra - Meeting Of The Spirits (Festival de jazz de Chateauvallon, 1972)

Cynic (Covering Mahavishnu):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8lEhOcIRmU"]YouTube - Cynic - Meeting Of The Spirits (Live in 013 Holland 2007)

Peace Out,
Rev J

 

Holy fuck, I wish I could play drums for that first song. It calls for blastbeats, not just one awkward time signature.

 

Dave's a vagina! LOL

 

This one always sounded like it had a proto "Blast Beat" to it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv_bkS5VVaA"]YouTube - Birds of Fire - Mahavishnu Orchestra

Now fors some Allan Holdsworth. I read an interview with Meshuggah and I believe it was Fredrich Thordenal sited him as an influence. Eddie Van Halen also said that he started the 2 handed tapping thing trying to sound like him. Plus he did an album with Krokus back in the day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RC6XSAZwOs&feature=related"]YouTube - U K - In The Dead Of Night -1978

Peace Out,
Rev J

 

I love Mahavishnu, I'm not the biggest fan of the other stuff so far though.

 

Al Dimeola:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrO29hsWgto"]YouTube - Al Di Meola - Egyptian Danza

I also read an interview with Zakk Wylde where he was talking about alot of his acoustic work being influenced by Dimeola:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpRC6YRZt7g"]YouTube - Al Di Meola, Paco de Lucia, John Mc Laughlin - Mediterranean Sun Dance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwdAbb_ixIU"]YouTube - Zakk Wylde - TAZ

Peace Out,
Rev J

 

I hate zakk "wild" facking bitch. I hate his guitar playing. so much artificial harmonics......facking no creatively.

 

mahavishnu was raw they should reunite

 

Today I'm gonna give the Bassist some. Jonas Hellborg just really jumps genres anyway but here are some goodies:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk-xtH_hddg"]YouTube - Jonas Hellborg - "Touch My Soul" solo

With John Mclaughlin:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JajJr48PCWM&feature=related"]YouTube - John Mclaughlin Jonas Hellborg ELECTRIC DREAMS

With Jens and Anders Johannson (Yngwie J. Malmsteens Rising Force):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KalvRr4FMn0"]YouTube - Jens Johansson, Jonas Hellborg and Anders Johansson

With Buckethead:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jvgfXhhTzo"]YouTube - Hellborg, Buckethead, Shrieve - Kidogo

With Shawn Lane:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZMhSQm0q-0"]YouTube - Shawn Lane Jonas Hellborg - Hell Is Other People

With Mattias "IA" Eklundh:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQxcKaYoQK8"]YouTube - Jonas Hellborg - Muthucutpor

Peace Out,
Rev J

 

Jens is an amazing pianst! Check out Stratovarius.

 

Here's one kind of going the other way. Dark Hall was a Fusion group featuring Steve DiGiorgio (Bassist for Sadus, Death, Vintersorg, Etc.):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3ckxjmsRS0"]YouTube - Dark Hall - Changing Weather

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_uYgiei564&NR=1"]YouTube - Dark Hall - The Pharaoh and the Nomad

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m03b6YfQyQY&NR=1"]YouTube - Dark Hall - Synaptic Static

Peace Out,
Rev J

 

^ It reminds me of later Sonic music, that's a good thing

 

OK this is more straight Jazz but the guitarist is Alex Skolnick from Testament:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8NJd9fJvhM"]YouTube - Alex Skolnick Trio - War Pigs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyVuoIabGf0"]YouTube - Alex Skolnick Trio - Tom Sawyer

Stay Brown,
Rev J

 

Return to Forever "Excerpt From the First Movement of Heavy Metal":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AST_6R_4zfY"]YouTube - RETURN TO FOREVER featuring Chick Corea

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiN8M2ul_9w"]YouTube - Return To Forever - Hymn Of The Seventh Galaxy (From "Returns Live" DVD)

Stay Brown,
Rev J

 

Here's a Trio called Niacin. It has Billy Sheehan (Steve Vai, Mr.Big) on Bass, Dennis Chambers (P Funk, Santana, John McLaughlin) on Drums, and John Novello on Hammond B3 Organ covering Blue Wind by Jeff Beck/Jan Hammer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l76c8LSZ-24"]YouTube - Blue Wind-Time Crunch-Niacin(2001)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6c6zWpzlQk"]YouTube - Niacin - Slapped Silly

Stay Brown,
Rev J

 

Derek Sherinian has played keyboards for Kiss, Alice Cooper, Billy Idol and Dream Theater. He has also put out solo albums with guest appearances by players such as Alan Holdsworth, Jerry Goodman (Mahavishnu Orchestra), Al DiMeola, Slash, Yngwie Malmsteen etc. He also helms the group Planet X:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf4viCGAdQ0"]YouTube - Derek Sherinian - On The Moon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS66Q1M015k"]YouTube - Derek Sherinian - Mata Hari

Here he is doing a Jazz Standard:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIgPbHwKh-8&feature=related"]YouTube - Derek Sherinian - Goodbye pork pie hat

With Planet X:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Hn_WLRpZcY&feature=related"]YouTube - Planet X - Desert Girl

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnCUHBpil2k&feature=related"]YouTube - Planet X - Matrix Gate

Stay Brown,
Rev J