Merge Left.

Change lanes, swerve, adjust, slow down, right lane closed ahead....merge left. Everyday we see signs of change, construction, destruction. One more gray hair. Another year celebrated or dreaded. Change is the most natural thing in life, however many of us have a distinctly un-natural response to change. We freak out! Panic, avoid, delay, fight against...when perhaps it is best to observe and accept. Not all change is bad. True some changes in life are more complex and difficult then others, but the level of our acceptance will determine our ability to rise to the challenges and difficulties of the change.

Jazz music is constantly changing, because part of the creative process is discovery. When an artist ceases to discover new styles and techniques then that artist ceases to grow. Improvisation is at the heart of jazz creation...and improvisation invites change. A major shift occured in jazz music during the late 1960 and continues to this day...the change was dubbed "Fusion" and on this episode of Jazzism, we feature some music of that period (1975-76). Artist like Gil Scott-Heron, Pharoah Sanders, Roy Ayers, Chick Corea and the group Weather Report - as well as our usual mix of great jazz performances. So embrace this change and merge left into the Fusion lane and I promise smooth driving all along the way.

Enjoy,

Brian "Katzpheno" Phoenix

featuring:
Pharoah Sanders - "Tomoki" (1996)
Gil Scott - Heron & Brian Jackson - "Summer of '42" (1976)
Weather Report - "Herandu" (1976)
Chick Corea - "Spanish Fantasy part 2 (1976)
Dianne Reeves - "Detour Ahead" (1994)
Ellis Marsalis - "Softly as in a Morning Sunrise" (1998)
Greg Osby - "Shaw Nuff" (2003)
Roy Hargrove - "The Thang" (1992)
Ronny Jordan - "5/8 In The Flow" (2000)
Roy Ayers - "Mystic Voyage" (1975)