U.S. Jazz Fusion: 1976
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URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=135487
Printed Date: August 23 2025 at 17:17
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: U.S. Jazz Fusion: 1976
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Subject: U.S. Jazz Fusion: 1976
Date Posted: August 19 2025 at 02:39
 1976: Blood, Sweat & Tears - More Than Ever - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nKbfIjjPvzB5AHYRtLUK7vNVQgTbrpNSE" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nKbfIjjPvzB5AHYRtLUK7vNVQgTbrpNSE  1976: The Brecker Brothers - Back to Back - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nNI3E4Pa7MmaYfOKQ7i9qV4gKLy69YRhM" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nNI3E4Pa7MmaYfOKQ7i9qV4gKLy69YRhM 1976: Chicago - Chicago X - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nfBGqMkNf0ld_zxXUs3c06yTK28RPItFA" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nfBGqMkNf0ld_zxXUs3c06yTK28RPItFA 1976: Stanley Clarke - School Days - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lD3OJwyeU-z4_fmlfIISkhsBQGnjUibv0" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lD3OJwyeU-z4_fmlfIISkhsBQGnjUibv0 1976: Billy Cobham - Life & Times - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mwJ6GZbZXFbIlcj15qmwuKA97VrADghsg" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mwJ6GZbZXFbIlcj15qmwuKA97VrADghsg 1976: Chick Corea - The Leprechaun - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kS4y9CxQvBeiGkRauiJfrdVlUH7QUcT6A" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kS4y9CxQvBeiGkRauiJfrdVlUH7QUcT6A 1976: Larry Coryell - The Lion and the Ram - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMcAyJX7t2dFOeW4pQbXviRsJLyHOduvN" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMcAyJX7t2dFOeW4pQbXviRsJLyHOduvN 1976: George Duke - Liberated Fantasies - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m22Wp3GwWELx_bbacgnxAfZe5UPxojuz0" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m22Wp3GwWELx_bbacgnxAfZe5UPxojuz0 1976: Herbie Hancock - Secrets - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m7VuhlUlB0Qqp1qOpkLfpG4fqvTnbA27s" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m7VuhlUlB0Qqp1qOpkLfpG4fqvTnbA27s 1976: Eddie Henderson - Heritage - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k9V8aL-o3fc8l7v0TyLgHg78oiYSUVXcQ" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k9V8aL-o3fc8l7v0TyLgHg78oiYSUVXcQ 1976: Alphonso Johnson - Moonshadows - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iusU_T_RrE" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iusU_T_RrE 1976: Alphonso Johnson - Yesterday's Dreams - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nCodRKKW5rdUxUJjolcAo_REPib4oiQrQ" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nCodRKKW5rdUxUJjolcAo_REPib4oiQrQ 1976: Mingo Lewis - Flight Never Ending - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lj9CMFMn6C7qcfryZvzSYvClw7vQry4EI" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lj9CMFMn6C7qcfryZvzSYvClw7vQry4EI 1976: Mahavishnu Orchestra - Inner Worlds - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k4vLsdeYIvy53t1t8Cl2Zxi3Ltm8oJAHU" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k4vLsdeYIvy53t1t8Cl2Zxi3Ltm8oJAHU 1976: Mandrill - Beast from the East - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm5HxUWwM7E" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm5HxUWwM7E 1976: Al Di Meola - Land of the Midnight Sun - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lj7QVPdI5_cG3sPAP17wDbesbQHRdJ6Hw" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lj7QVPdI5_cG3sPAP17wDbesbQHRdJ6Hw 1976: Pat Metheny - Bright Size Life - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lWdEnyk632p8nHwXICRGny_4VhAoOx4lw" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lWdEnyk632p8nHwXICRGny_4VhAoOx4lw 1976: Alphonse Mouzon - The Man Incognito - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFHnQ4g8uRn8cJ6R3vDZ6ftgBMcu0ORBB" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFHnQ4g8uRn8cJ6R3vDZ6ftgBMcu0ORBB 1976: Return to Forever - Romantic Warrior - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lSO1908xsMx80rZuQR9bg5q5jFPCPUn34" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lSO1908xsMx80rZuQR9bg5q5jFPCPUn34 1976: David Sancious - David Sancious - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKXRICk8WsY" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKXRICk8WsY 1976: Santana - Amigos - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_llsg5uABSZbQar_JmcdGNugyM1UQgORUs" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_llsg5uABSZbQar_JmcdGNugyM1UQgORUs 1976: Steely Dan - The Royal Scam - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m696mBG42MqgRg2-QgyZABk2EsEtaqkcM" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m696mBG42MqgRg2-QgyZABk2EsEtaqkcM 1976: Weather Report - Black Market - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxISohLjMqY" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxISohLjMqY 1976: Tony Williams Lifetime - Million Dollar Legs - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfJndz0utgONmvStVMpXiAnNHMU2LOZc_" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfJndz0utgONmvStVMpXiAnNHMU2LOZc_ 1976: Larry Young's Fuel - Spaceball - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLP0IenmeCOtxoIkmp1nTIJIu4AasPTC_x" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLP0IenmeCOtxoIkmp1nTIJIu4AasPTC_x
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Replies:
Posted By: b_olariu
Date Posted: August 19 2025 at 02:53
| Alphonso Johnson - Moonshadows |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: August 19 2025 at 02:54
| Alphonse Mouzon - The Man Incognito |
Posted By: Rick1
Date Posted: August 19 2025 at 03:06
| Fun fact: Alphonso Johnson nearly joined Genesis! |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: August 19 2025 at 03:29
Another fun factoid:- Jazz drummer Chester Thompson really did join Genesis - but only on tour. 
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Rick1 wrote:Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: August 19 2025 at 04:01
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Not my favorite year for US Jazz Fusion, but I do love Black Market & The Royal Scam. |
Posted By: Fercandio46
Date Posted: August 19 2025 at 04:01
It's true!!! Thanks to Phil Collins (who at the time was a great fan of jazz-rock fusion), Chester Thompson (whom he had heard with Weather Report) and Daryl Stuemmer (who came from Jean-Luc Ponty's band) were brought in. Thompson said that upon arriving in London and interacting with them, he felt like they spoke a different English! But just as Bruford struggled with such strict compositional rigor and little room for improvisation, Chester benefited from this different setting than the one he used to frequent. It's a shame they couldn't actively participate in the composition of the studio albums, because their contribution would have been invaluable. And perhaps the story would have been different. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: August 19 2025 at 04:06
In that case, you won't be surprised to hear that 1976 is my favourite year for U.S. Jazz Fusion. In fact, there were so many great albums to choose from for this year that I could've easily filled the poll up twice over with fifty entries.
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Posted By: Fercandio46
Date Posted: August 19 2025 at 04:09
If Romantic Warrior is in the poll...I have to vote for Return to Forever!!! 
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: August 19 2025 at 04:28
Romantic Warrior is one of only three CD albums I own in the poll.
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: August 19 2025 at 04:30
Luckily, Alphonse Mouzon was a last-minute entry, replacing Jean-Luc Ponty.
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Posted By: omphaloskepsis
Date Posted: August 19 2025 at 04:36
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1.Return to Forever 2. Weather Report - Black Market My husband would have picked The Royal Scam |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: August 19 2025 at 04:41
Santana - Amigos: maybe not the best album in the poll per se, but it's the album I'm on friendliest terms with. 
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Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: August 19 2025 at 05:03
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Posted By: Octopus II
Date Posted: August 19 2025 at 05:19
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Steely Dan - The Royal Scam Return to Forever - Romantic Warrior Weather Report - Black Market Santana - Amigos |
Posted By: Fercandio46
Date Posted: August 19 2025 at 06:27
While there are some good things after it, it was the last great classic-era Santana album for me. |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: August 19 2025 at 12:53
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Mingo Lewis – Flight Never Ending (I suspect more people need to hear this!) Weather Report – Black Market Al Di Meola – Land of the Midnight Sun Return to Forever – Romantic Warrior Pat Metheny – Bright Size Life Santana – Amigos Herbie Hancock – Secrets ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: progaardvark
Date Posted: August 19 2025 at 14:38
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Return to Forever's Romantic Warrior. ------------- ---------- i'm shopping for a new oil-cured sinus bag that's a happy bag of lettuce this car smells like cartilage nothing beats a good video about fractions |
Posted By: Mellotron Storm
Date Posted: August 19 2025 at 15:15
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Eddie Henderson Heritage. He has Julien Priester helping out. ------------- "The wind is slowly tearing her apart" "Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN |
Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: August 19 2025 at 18:35
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RTF - RW. My favorite fusion album. Stanley, Al, Lenny & Chick. What a band. ------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
Posted By: Awesoreno
Date Posted: August 20 2025 at 00:04
| The Leprechaun is one of Corea's crowning achievements. So many classic tracks, and an INCREDIBLE epic title track to cap it all off. |
Posted By: Big Sky
Date Posted: August 20 2025 at 00:17
| Return to Forever is the pick in a close 4 horse race with Weather Report, Steely Dan and Pat Metheny. |
Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: August 20 2025 at 00:54
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Posted By: BrufordFreak
Date Posted: August 20 2025 at 05:56
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Of the albums listed, Billy Cobham's Million Dollar Legs is my highest rated and favorite. But there are so many albums missing--including: Hermann Szobel's one and only(!!); Jean-Luc Ponty's Aurora AND Imaginary Voyage; Eddie Henderson's Heritage; Miroslav Vitous' Magical Shepherd; Donald Byrd's Caricatures; Freddie Hubbard's Windjammer; Larry Coryell's Eleventh House's Aspects; Michal Urbaniak's Body English; Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes' Reflections of a Golden Dream AND Renaissance. Szobel would've received my vote had it been on the list. Don't be deterred by the artist's names: these were albums recorded in the USA with an American (or mostly-American) cast of players, released by American record labels. ------------- Drew Fisher https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/ |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: August 20 2025 at 06:01
^ Sadly, I had to drop Jean-Luc Ponty from the poll in favour of Alphonse Mouzon.  This was the hardest Jazz Fusion poll to assemble so far, with an initial list of 50 albums that I somehow had to whittle down to 25. |
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: August 20 2025 at 06:19
 I will miss "Enigmatic Ocean" in the 1977 poll.
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Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: August 20 2025 at 08:52
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Weather Report - Black Market ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: August 20 2025 at 09:35
I hope that my listening to Happy the Man's debut may improve my perception of this masterpiece.  ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: August 20 2025 at 10:45
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Al Dimeola, "Land of the Midnight Sun" I love his first LP! He performed this material as the backup band to Weather Report when I saw them in Chicago (Al DiMeola, Weather Report - April 10, 1977 @ Uptown Theatre - Chicago) Jaco...Joe Zaiwanul...Alphonse...Al D....it was great! ------------- I am not a Robot, I'm a FREE MAN!! |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: August 20 2025 at 11:10
On the other hand though, if I HAD included Jean-Luc Ponty, someone would've said, "He's French. What is he doing in a U.S. Jazz Fusion poll?"
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Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: August 20 2025 at 11:54
| ^ I might have said that:) |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: August 20 2025 at 13:16
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Jean-Luc Ponty French? Tjah, I'd say, he's mostly like French American, and his music very much influenced by and a part of the American Jazz-Rock/Fusion. ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: August 20 2025 at 15:03
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^That makes Ponty a French fry. ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: August 20 2025 at 15:05
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Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: August 20 2025 at 15:39
with no offence of Ponty------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: August 20 2025 at 18:38
Ponty has mostly been a part of the American Jazz-Rock/Fusion scene, and I think, that's the most important in this context. ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: August 20 2025 at 22:33
| ^That's fair enough. I mainly thought it was weird with the "Jean-Luc Ponty French? Tjah?"-part. That's like asking if Lars Ulrich is actually Danish. I would personally have chosen to place Ponty's solo albums in a french-related poll, over an American one. But that's just my choice, and he was obviously part of the American scene from 1973 and onwards. I checked, and found out he was actually 31 before he moved (with at least 18 European solo+sideman releases under his belt prior to his relocation) |
Posted By: Hrychu
Date Posted: August 20 2025 at 22:53
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Romantic Warrior is an enjoyable prog record but it doesn't work that well as a jazz fusion record. You know what I'm saying? It feels like a fusion band wanting to make a prog rock album. ------------- 
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Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: August 21 2025 at 00:56
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Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: August 21 2025 at 04:43
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^Every time Romantic Warrior is mentioned you need to remind us how much you hate it. Thanks again. And for it being complex and hard to play. Not for these musicians. This is a very soulful album not showing off anything but how superb it is. |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: August 21 2025 at 07:19
The ethnical question is tricky. In Denmark and if to be politically correct, people are considered to be Danes when they live in Denmark, even they may be called "new Danes" if they had come from another country. ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: August 21 2025 at 09:51
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In my case, I was only 15 years old when my family moved to Denmark, and I got Danish citizenship at the age of 22, but anyway, I consider my self as a Dane of Polish origins. But of course, it can be very different for somebody around the 30 and depending on all the circumstances. ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: August 21 2025 at 17:23
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: August 22 2025 at 10:54
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^ I can promise there'll be no Danes in the next U.S. Jazz Fusion poll for 1977, but there may be the belated inclusion of a Frenchman - and maybe even a Czech.
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Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: August 22 2025 at 11:27
Didier or we riot. ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: August 22 2025 at 11:34
At least I remembered to include Didier Malherbe in the recent French Prog poll, and he even picked up a vote from Lewian too, despite being up against 24 other strong contenders. https://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=135407" rel="nofollow - https://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=135407 |
Posted By: A Crimson Mellotron
Date Posted: August 22 2025 at 11:48
| Steely Dan - The Royal Scam |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: August 22 2025 at 12:29
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About Romantic Warrior, it definitely portended new times in the Jazz-Rock genre. ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: August 22 2025 at 12:33
But you might think differently after living there 50 years. ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: August 23 2025 at 03:49
It's like a question of living in the past, or in the presence and future. ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: August 23 2025 at 12:12
Better to say heralded. There's nothing good about a portent. ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: August 23 2025 at 14:46
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Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: August 23 2025 at 16:06
exactly ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: August 23 2025 at 16:40
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