My favorite jazz fusion album is blow by blow by Jeff beck. I don’t consider it underrated, but it’s got a lot of sentimental value. Very guitar heavy record but the bass playing and the drums are unreal. Scatterbrain is my favorite track.
I found out many years later, that Richard Bailey, the drummer was 19 at the time of recording. Very few musicians on any instrument show the maturity he does at that age - all ears.
Jean Luc Ponty - Enigmatic Ocean or Mystical Adventures so underrated. Mahavishnu Orchestra’s Inner Mounting Flame is my all time favorite jazz-fusion record.
Kenny, your musical taste is excellent. These artists will never be bettered, I have enjoyed them all since I was a teenager, I’m seventy now and these recordings still sound fresh and vital today. I’m pleased to say currently, there are some very talented young players making it work in a very demanding environment, they have been inspired by those great guys who trail blazed before them. Best wishes to you from the UK
I appreciate that, thank you very much. It's my goal to explore some of the more current jazz musicians in 2025. Thank you very much for watching from the UK.
As a big Metheny fan, so wonderful to see his debut album featured as a runner-up in your video for the most under-rated record. I couldn't agree more. He was only 21 years old when he did this record with Pastorius and Moss. Will check out that Hancock album as I amnot familiar with it at all. Great vid!
Lenny White, Venutian Summer. "Prince of the Sea", messes me up every time I hear it. The dueling solos between Larry Coreyll and Al Di Meola are sublime.
I need to check that out…ive had that recording forever-all of lenny’s stuff-but never really dug into it. Didnt know there was a guitar-off between coryell and dimeola! Thnx for the tip.
Miles Davis' Jack Johnson was a particular favorite of our gang in the early 70s!! Played it all the time! That chugging groove on side 2 is just unbeatable. Like Jack!
@ Wonderful! Yes! I was fortunate to witness Allan in performance many times over the years. Every combo always tremendously inspiring. Such a humble man he was also. Great sense of humor. He is missed dearly.
You took me back to the 70s! I was a little girl and my brother was 10 years older than me, and he had so many of those albums. I remember staring at the Bitches Brew album cover and giggling at the “bad word” in the title😊 and being fascinated by the artwork. And I’d forgotten about On the Corner, which he also had, and I thought the album cover was funny. But, oh, my goodness! Light as a Feather. He had that too, and I loved Flora Purim’s voice. That’s all still good music. I have to check out some of the other albums you mentioned that I’m unfamiliar with. Thank you for sharing this music.
This stuff is invaluable, Kenny. I'm so glad I found this channel. You really are helping me to know deeper stuff about people I haven't heard ALL these artists have done. ALSO the people who left comments have given lots of advice which is so helpful.
@@dlsamsonMy 2¢: I think successful real, original, vintage British progressive is a pretty limited club. Yes, King Crimson, EL&P, Genesis, & Gentle Giant. Some people add kinda more experimental stuff like Soft Machine, Pink Floyd, Shadowfax, Gong, Mike Oldfield, Stomu Yamashta & his Go project-which had Steve Winwood & Al DiMeola guesting, for examples, but I don't think so. Brand X seems to've been the only Brit overtly American-style fusion group, tho Isotope came close with a couple of their tunes. It can be difficult to categorize or lump everything predominantly instrumental into one term, like Automatic Man's only 2 albums can literally be put into almost every ethnic, stylistic, & geographic descriptive including Hendrixian. 🤔
Moroccan Roll my favorite....saw them at Great S.E. Music Hall with my buddy Mac of Jesus Lizard fame in 79 I think. Nice video Kenny... takes me back.
@@angelstrawn5493 One of the albums I still play a lot is the live album Flora and Airto made “ Three Way Mirror” with Kei Akagi on keys, Joe Farrell on sax and Mark Egan and Randy Tico on bass. Strong throughout. This was the last recording ever with Joe Farrell.
Kenny is so cool. As a new jazz fan I love hearing the opinions of an experienced collector and learning more about the music I've come to love. Thanks for posting Kenny.
Thank you, liked and subscribed. I bought some of those albums in the late 70’s, especially the Herbie albums, and I remember I didn’t “get it” ! I was a rocker and the album that turned me on to fusion was Romantic Warrior by Return To Forever. Changed my life.
Bruh! To your point... At 9 years old, as a repercussion for doing something I shouldn't have, I had to stay behind while everyone else went to the Saturday afternoon cinema. I distinctly remember discovering the joys of: Billy Cobham Brazilian Dorian Dream Mahavishnu Weather Report - Heavy Weather Herbie Hancock - Thrust At home left by myself, (well the cat was there and she purred along to the music!) I discovered music which changed my life, my ears, my mind to this day! Thank you to my wonderful open minded mum! EDIT: Just recalled that I was afraid that I would get in even more trouble if I didn't handle her vinyls carefully, so it took me forever carefully sliding each one out of the sleeve, and on to the platter, and doing the reverse when the sides were done. :) Edit of the edit...: Just recalled also discovering Brand X, then later in life as my musical tastes continued to expand, Phil Collins (Genesis), Neil Peart's brother were in this band.
@@dcuss7294 Alan Holdsworth: his albums as leader, and guesting with others--JLP, Gong, Tony Williams, UK, even Level 42... AND Bill Bruford's "One Of A Kind" album!
@@michaelw.4434 my favorite was Transformation (The Speed of My favorite album of his is Tranformation (The Speed of Love). Sky Church Hymn # 9 is amazing.
Kenny I love your pick for #1. Mwandishi is truly a great early fusion album. The transition from Ostinato to You Know When You Get There is so sweet! Could hang out with you & talk for hours! Thanks
JL Ponty live recording from 1973 with Frank Zappa is excellent - Dupree's Paradise. His solo is the standout. George Duke is also excellent here. ruclips.net/video/qr6mTloYJJs/видео.html
Kenny...I must admit, as a youngster growing up, I wasn't much of a Miles fan. "In A Silent Way" even more than "Bitches Brew" opened my ears (so to speak)....Strong love to you too Kenny... thanks for what you do.
Glad you mentioned Joni. I think Jaco did some of his best work playing with her. Her songwriting seemed to leave just the right spaces for his playing to shine.
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews Shadows and Light concert footage seeing young Jaco, Pat, Lyle, Don Alias and Michael Brecker, all these years later realizing it was a stage of musical giants.
I'm really impressed by the breadth of your jazz/fusion knowledge. You are right about Bitches Brew and On the Corner as a matter of fact you are right about every album and artist you mentioned that I am familiar with I am definitely going to check out the albums that you recommended that I am not familiar with. Two thumbs way up! Keep up the great work brother!
Hey, Two other Herbie Hancock albums I really enjoy are Flood(live) and Mr Hands. Great video btw, made my morning as I was listening to Joni Mitchell's Shadows and Light.
Kenny is speaking my language. This is my first view of the channel, love the info and respect your massive vinyl collection, gotta love album cover art. Thank you.
Wasnt aware of the Jonni Mitchel album!? I know what I'm listening to this afternoon :) excited to listen to a few of these!! Great public service for music lovers!
Kenny, great podcast. It's wonderful to see someone (re) introduce folks to these great masterpieces of music and especially the fusion genre. Kudos to you!
Love this video! So glad I found this channel. While maybe not underrated, I do love a lot of the Japanese Jazz Fusion. My personal fav is Mimiko Kikuchi - All Right from 1982. I recently got into collecting records and playing vinyl instead of just streaming everything and this was the first album I bought. .
Brother Kenny, thanks so much for giving some more love for Jazz Fusion! Your digging deep into your huge collection and finding Fusion lp's that I have either forgotten or have never heard of before. Herbie Hancock, that 'Mwandishi' album is one I'm not familiar with, so I will be definitely checking this out! Thanks also for giving my fav Pat Metheny some extra props as well. As always, Peace and Love to you my brother!
Forgot to add also that the Swahili word 'Mwandishi' was the adopted name for Herbie Hancock and it means 'Composer'. Forgive me if you already mentioned this.
Thank you SO much for that video. Although I had previously heard a couple of the albums you discussed, I wrote every title down on a list and I am going to devote some serious time to listen to them all.
True -- Spectrum WASN'T underrated, at least to those, like myself @ the time, who knew @ the time. Same for Herbie's HEADHUNTERS, and particularly Chameleon, IMO the most powerful musical composition of all time. Yeah Splash from On the Corner is also brilliant. Back to Herbie: to anyone who ISN'T aware of the track Shekere and Chameleon.. HIT THAT SEARCH BUTTON NOW!!
@@ianbuxton1730 😀Tell you how popular some Fusion songs were...I remember dancing to the 45 RPM of Herbie's "Chameleon" at house parties. Yes, it was that popular. I played in a Fusion band back in '77/'78 who would play "Freeway Jam," "School Days," along with several original Fusion songs written by the band at High School Graduation parties and talent shows. It cracks me up just thinking about all the admiration we received as teens playing Jazz and Jazz Fusion Songs of that era.
I've been listening to Jazz since I was about 12 years old my first Jazz album I fell in love with some Jazz Crusaders Lighthouse 1969 another bad mama jama Lenny white heavy metal monster
Coryell's " Eleventh House " is an amazing LP. ONE of my underrated fusion recordings is Miles' " Live Evil " . I would play it and people would get freaked out and scared...love that LP.... Great video.
Love this channel. " Mwandishi"...a truly haunting album...Herbie's Fender Rhodes piano sounds so beautiful. It reminded me of "'Big Fun" by Miles Davis, another underrated LP and not mentioned by many. Another one that I consider underrated was Donald Byrd's "'Electric Byrd" where he sounds very much like Miles.
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews Oh you'll love the Donald Byrd "'Electric Byrd"' ! It has got 5 star reviews ever since it was released yet it never gets mentioned...Also Byrd's other "Ethiopian Nights"' is superb with the unbeatable David T .Walker on guitar(what a sweet guy he is) Have fun Kenny!
My mind was kind of blown, a couple of years ago, by some video of Metheny and Pastorius playing live together in the early 70s, which eventually led me to Bright Size Life. It's a great piece of work, some of my favorite work by either player.
Wow! Thank you for introducing me to Thrust. What an amazing piece of Artistry. Yeah, I agree with you about underrated. Thanks for posting. Niice … 🤙🏼
First timer, great video Kenny! I've seen Metheny a few times including last year and his son was selling t-shirts at the venue! It was funny cuz no one knew till after the show and before the show he told me he was backstage with Pat (his dad) and the phenomenal Steve Hackett as Steve came to one of his shows. Also, I saw Pat with Joni, Jaco, and Lyle. You gave me some great music to check out and I appreciate that. I'm still learning at 67!
Mahavishnu Orchestra, “Vision Of The Emerald Beyond”, Miles Davis “Amanda”, George Duke, “Feel’, Weather Report “Tale Spinning”. Love your taste, keep the channel going.. Alphonso Johnson is underrated.. I also think the African Fusion of Salif Kieta is worthy of note “Soto”, “Amen” In conjunction with Joe Zawinul.
Kenny, I feel like we have the same record collection ! I’m 65 and am very familiar with all the records you talk about. It’s a nice trip back to my teen years. Thanks !
Kenny!! Hey brother!!! Great job here my friend!! The fact that you talk extensively about Herbie's Mwandishi band and record(s), you deserve RESPECT!!! What an incredible band!!! Mwandishi is one of the ,most overlooked early jazz/rock bands ever. Lenny White told me that it was initially referred to as "Jazz-Rock." The term "fusion" wasn't really around until about 1973-74. Check out "Crossings" by Mwandishi, their second record also on Warner Bros. One thing I wanted to point out about "Children of Forever" that you didn't point out; the great pat Martino is on guitar on two tracks! Herbie Hancock had a group that preceded Mwandishi. When he first left Miles Davis in 1968 he formed a group that recorded two records; "The Prisoner" and "Fat Albert Rotunda." Check those out. These two records directly precede the first "Mwandishi" record and they are fantastic. jazzy, but starting to bring in the funk. By the time you get to "Fat Albert Rotunda" you have a serious groove element coming into Herbie's music in an overt way for the first time that you later see of course in Headhunters. Mwandishi happened in between Herbie's initial sextet/septet and Headhunters. And YES, if you are wondering about that title "Fat Albert Rotunda," Herbie called it that because he was approached by Bill Cosby to compose music for his brand new weekend children's cartoon in 1969 called "Fat Albert and Friends.!!!!! Keep swingin' brother!
I have the Herbie Hancock "Crossings" album and it's very good 👍. You are correct about the great Pat Martin, I should have mentioned him in the video.
Cool video! Two of my favorite fusion records from waaaay back during my time at Berklee College of Music in the 80s were Herbie Hancock's "Mr. Hands" (specifically the track 4am) and Mitchel Forman's "Train of Thought". I love your room with the wall of records... reminds me of one of my Berklee teachers, Skip Hadden who had a similar magical room of incredible records.
I wish I saw this video before I went vinyl shopping. I saw Mwandishi today at the record store. You got me hoping it's still there tomorrow Great selections
Kenny….new to your channel and love your enthusiasm and knowledge. I have recently gotten more into jazz and jazz/fusion…the more I listen to and acquire, the more I’m sucked in! I find myself reaching for Spyro Gyra, Metheny, Ritenour, Jeff Lorber, Hancock, Davis, Coltrane, Rollins….on and on….while my rock records gather dust! My journey is still beginning and I’m having a lot of fun.
Brand X - Masques or Unorthodox Behavior Steps Ahead - Magnetic Tribal Tech - Face First Lydian Collective - Adventure Shrek Is Love These are just a few favorites of mine that I thought I'd add. Also, you mentioned some great albums on here.
Completely agree with your number 1 pick. An absolutely amazing LP. I have good memories listening to Bitches Brew on my walkman walking central park at night...surreal and sublime all at the same time.
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews I concur! I was fortunate enough to see him perform live twice! With his Lifetime band and The V.S.O.P. Quintet. Keep up the good work Sir!
I remember asking for the Man Child album for Christmas in 1975. I was 13-years old. That was the start of my own record collection, so I didn’t have to borrow my older brother and sister’s albums. 😊
Those are excellent choices as the work of black artists seemed to often get overlooked for their contributions in fusion. I would also add Norman Connors for the great "Dance of Magic" featuring the amazing Stanley Clarke tune "Blue" with Hancock , Airto and others, which jams so hard I can never listen to it once. That being said, I'd love to see you explore the R&B/Funk side of fusion with great artists such as Lonnie Liston Smith, George Duke, Eddie Henderson, Roy Ayers, Patrice Rushen and many other unherald greats. Thanks.
Wow! Found you at random, subscribed within 5 min - most of these albums I know and love. Huge jazz fusion fan. Well done and thank you for being here.
Dear Kenny, this is Harry from NW Greece, thank you for the informative video, I learnt quite many new albums to discover, my suggestion would be Dedalus - "Dedalus" (1973), the band was from Turin, Italy, and they play some insane avant-garde/fusion rock-jazz, with shots of psychedelia and some slow passages sounding like ambient or even concrete, you should check them out when you're in a sped-up listening mood, their musicianship is commendable!!!!!!
Have you heard "Joyous Lake" by Pat Martino? To me it is the most underrated fusion album. It is kick-ass fusion that has a very unique sound unlike anything else that Pat ever did. Definitely one of my top ten favorite albums! Also underrated are three albums by Bill Connors: "Step It", "Double Up", and "Assembler".
WOW !!! I agree with everything you say. I love all of the albums you mentioned. But I am also embarrassed to admit that I was not familiar with Mwandishi !!! I am now !!! Thanks for this great Video !!! Cheers.
As a mostly rock musician I greatly appreciated the late sixties early seventies records from Miles Davis, Tony Williams, Return to Forever, Mahavishnu, ,Herbie Hanocock' Zappa (whatever genre he resided in) Weather Report, Jeff Beck, etc. Interesting seeing many of the same musicians flourishing or making cameos in many of these great albums!! Lucky to do sound for Larry Coryell late in his life, and as a solo performer he was just great too!
I will always say that "Romantic Warrior" by Return to Forever is the "cleanest" recording of a fusion group ever. My friends and I would use it to adjust our stereo systems. I am not saying it is the best fusion album eventhough it is pretty good. 🎩🎼🎩
Great video Kenny & some excellent choices Selecting 2 underrated jazz fusion albums that definitely deserve more love Eddie Henderson: Realization Terumasa Hino: Hi-Nology
You forgot to mention Lonnie Liston Smith! Astral Travelling and Expansions are absolute masterpieces. Also, Sun Ra was creating Jazz fusion before it even became a thing. Great picks though! Keep up the excellent content. 👏🏾
Yours is taste and listening chops supreme. I’ve been a fan Mwandishi since I first heard it !!!! Also your take on Coryell is spot on as well. An absolute favorite that I agree is overlooked and has had significant impact on a lot of guitarists. Check out Crossings if you love Mwandishi, it’s the same band a little farther out. A truly overlooked Coryell album is called Offering. It’s Coryell and Steve Marcus in a band they called Foreplay. A truly hidden gem ❤️❤️❤️
great piece, Kenny. Thanks. 😂 I got a chance to "Sit with Herbie, with assistance of Julian Preister, during the Sextant, period circa 1973, at The Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, California.
Another excellent video Kenny you took me back to great period in time with a lot of those fusion albums ...you are a very knowledgable musicologist. 👍
Congrats! Very interesting video. Nice build-up to the "most underrated album" full of examples, and worthy candidates for the top prize. When artist have a long and extremely fruitful career it is very easy for some records to splip through the cracks. Keep 'em comin'. 👍
Kenny, I know your trying to get my blood pressure boiling but I'm not going to take the bait😄. Most underrated Jazz Fusion Album is Michal Urbaniak - Fusion III (1975)
Great video!! I have pretty much every LP you talked about. Herbie Hancock "Mwandishi" was incredibly important in my development as a professional musician!!
![Hunxho - Ball Forever [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/nki9ZTF9Uls/mqdefault.jpg)
My favorite jazz fusion album is blow by blow by Jeff beck. I don’t consider it underrated, but it’s got a lot of sentimental value. Very guitar heavy record but the bass playing and the drums are unreal. Scatterbrain is my favorite track.
constipated duck is nuts
I love Wired
A Bit easy Listening but Really really Good
I found out many years later, that Richard Bailey, the drummer was 19 at the time of recording. Very few musicians on any instrument show the maturity he does at that age - all ears.
@@MikeO-dr7hn how about Tal Wilkenfeld? she was 17-18 when she toured with Beck
Jean Luc Ponty - Enigmatic Ocean or Mystical Adventures so underrated. Mahavishnu Orchestra’s Inner Mounting Flame is my all time favorite jazz-fusion record.
😊
@@JayRuybal Visions of the Emerald Beyond my favorite Mahavishnu album.
Jean Luc Ponty - Aurora!
Mystical Adventures is amazing.
I add JLP's Imaginary Voyage...
Romantic Warrior- RTF
Excellent album but I think it is highly rated
Killer album maybe my Favorite
The absolute best! Every now and then I get a hankering to hear that album and I’m so glad I have it in my digital collection.👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Stanley Clarke’s 2nd album.
@@cycleoflife565 And his first solo album.
Kenny, your musical taste is excellent. These artists will never be bettered, I have enjoyed them all since I was a teenager, I’m seventy now and these recordings still sound fresh and vital today. I’m pleased to say currently, there are some very talented young players making it work in a very demanding environment, they have been inspired by those great guys who trail blazed before them. Best wishes to you from the UK
I appreciate that, thank you very much. It's my goal to explore some of the more current jazz musicians in 2025. Thank you very much for watching from the UK.
Spectrum. Great video my friend. Keep up the great work. Love your taste.
I appreciate that, thank you 😊
As a big Metheny fan, so wonderful to see his debut album featured as a runner-up in your video for the most under-rated record. I couldn't agree more. He was only 21 years old when he did this record with Pastorius and Moss. Will check out that Hancock album as I amnot familiar with it at all. Great vid!
👍 although my favorite is “Travels”👏
And in only 2 days……that all the time ECM gave musicians to record albums.
I was at Berklee 73-77 and just about all these albums and artists were on my turntable. Helped shape me as a musician. Thanks...!
Thank you very much for your comments and watching 😊 ✌️
Blow by Blow by Jeff Beck with the incomparable Max Middleton on keys
I agree, it's a great album 👌 👍 👏
I thought that was Jan Hammer?
Lenny White, Venutian Summer. "Prince of the Sea", messes me up every time I hear it. The dueling solos between Larry Coreyll and Al Di Meola are sublime.
YES Sir! Those two dueling was awesome! Pure FIRE!!!!
I need to check that out…ive had that recording forever-all of lenny’s stuff-but never really dug into it. Didnt know there was a guitar-off between coryell and dimeola! Thnx for the tip.
💯
@@LisaBellaDonnaMusic 😊I can hear this record endlessly. A masterpiece.
Thank you so much for pointing me to this. BRILLIANT!!!
Miles Davis' Jack Johnson was a particular favorite of our gang in the early 70s!! Played it all the time! That chugging groove on side 2 is just unbeatable. Like Jack!
Still listen to Tribute to Jack Johnson.
@@willhunt7355 Yesternow 👍🏼
Tony Williams Lifetime, Believe it.
Allan Holdsworth making some serious history on that. Such a real live/raw record!
@@LisaBellaDonnaMusic Oh yes!👍
@@LisaBellaDonnaMusic Saw him once in a small venue. Chad Wackerman on drums. Just excellent!
@ Wonderful! Yes! I was fortunate to witness Allan in performance many times over the years. Every combo always tremendously inspiring. Such a humble man he was also. Great sense of humor. He is missed dearly.
MY FAVORITE FUSION ALBUM EVER! I have an autographed copy of it on vinyl (by Holdsworth)
You took me back to the 70s! I was a little girl and my brother was 10 years older than me, and he had so many of those albums. I remember staring at the Bitches Brew album cover and giggling at the “bad word” in the title😊 and being fascinated by the artwork. And I’d forgotten about On the Corner, which he also had, and I thought the album cover was funny. But, oh, my goodness! Light as a Feather. He had that too, and I loved Flora Purim’s voice. That’s all still good music. I have to check out some of the other albums you mentioned that I’m unfamiliar with. Thank you for sharing this music.
Thank you for sharing those memories and
watching my video ✌️
This stuff is invaluable, Kenny. I'm so glad I found this channel. You really are helping me to know deeper stuff about people I haven't heard ALL these artists have done. ALSO the people who left comments have given lots of advice which is so helpful.
I appreciate that, thank you 😊. I agree that the people in the comment are very knowledgeable.
Bruford's One of a Kind is one of my favorites! You can't beat Bruford-Holdsworth-Stewart-Berlin!!!
Holdsworth's BRILLIANT on the Nucleus album BELLADONNA.
((Yeah, Herbie's Mwandishi album's tasty as well.)
Love those three Bruford albums. Arguably underrated although it might be more Prog than Jazz Fusion
@@dlsamsonMy 2¢: I think successful real, original, vintage British progressive is a pretty limited club. Yes, King Crimson, EL&P, Genesis, & Gentle Giant. Some people add kinda more experimental stuff like Soft Machine, Pink Floyd, Shadowfax, Gong, Mike Oldfield, Stomu Yamashta & his Go project-which had Steve Winwood & Al DiMeola guesting, for examples, but I don't think so. Brand X seems to've been the only Brit overtly American-style fusion group, tho Isotope came close with a couple of their tunes. It can be difficult to categorize or lump everything predominantly instrumental into one term, like Automatic Man's only 2 albums can literally be put into almost every ethnic, stylistic, & geographic descriptive including Hendrixian. 🤔
Word!!
Thanks for mentioning these Greats! Had the Pleasure seeing Bill B/ Patrick Moraz in '84 incredible show
Brand X - Unorthodox Behaviour
Moroccan Roll my favorite....saw them at Great S.E. Music Hall with my buddy Mac of Jesus Lizard fame in 79 I think. Nice video Kenny... takes me back.
Absolutlely! Love' em all, but those first two are exceptional. 'Is There Anything About' is gorgeous. Mood infused.
Thank you! Completely agree and the reason I became a musician.
Phil Collins in Brand X…so good
💯
I absolutely agree with your assessment of Flora Purim. I bought all of her albums on vinyl. Her voice is just heavenly.
Magnificent voice and performer 🎶
@@angelstrawn5493 I love her voice even when she is talking. Have seen her live 4-5 times starting in the late 70’s. A wonderful lady.
I seem to gravitate to the Flora albums that had George Duke on keys. He wrote a lot of the material.
@@angelstrawn5493 One of the albums I still play a lot is the live album Flora and Airto made “ Three Way Mirror” with Kei Akagi on keys, Joe Farrell on sax and Mark Egan and Randy Tico on bass. Strong throughout. This was the last recording ever with Joe Farrell.
she will sing you right into dreamland
Kenny is so cool. As a new jazz fan I love hearing the opinions of an experienced collector and learning more about the music I've come to love. Thanks for posting Kenny.
I appreciate that, thank you very much 😊 ✌️
Own them all. Agree with you, all incredible albums. Thanks for this
Thank you very much for watching ✌️
Thank you, liked and subscribed. I bought some of those albums in the late 70’s, especially the Herbie albums, and I remember I didn’t “get it” ! I was a rocker and the album that turned me on to fusion was Romantic Warrior by Return To Forever. Changed my life.
That's a nice album by Return to Forever and a great time for jazz fusion. Thank you very much for subscribing 😊
Kenny is a gold mine of great music knowledge and history. Thank you!!!
Thank you very much 😊 ✌️
@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews Yes he DEFINITELY SEEMS so.
Sadly, not such good taste around "these days", I fear.
My playlist increased a lot after watching this video. Thank you very much, sir! Greetings from 🇧🇷.
Thank you very much for taking the time to watch my video ✌️
Same here! Now my high end earbuds go in and time to sample!
In a Silent Way changed my life. Great fusion review. I didn't know Mwandishi. Turn on!
In a Silent Way is a great album 👌 👏...I hope that you enjoy Mwandishi ✌️
Same here. It's my absolute favorite record and I never tire of listening to it.
Listen to all that stuff in the 70's.
Then I heard Weather Report's Heavy Weather. Changed everything!
Bruh!
To your point...
At 9 years old, as a repercussion for doing something I shouldn't have, I had to stay behind while everyone else went to the Saturday afternoon cinema.
I distinctly remember discovering the joys of:
Billy Cobham
Brazilian Dorian Dream
Mahavishnu
Weather Report - Heavy Weather
Herbie Hancock - Thrust
At home left by myself, (well the cat was there and she purred along to the music!) I discovered music which changed my life, my ears, my mind to this day!
Thank you to my wonderful open minded mum!
EDIT: Just recalled that I was afraid that I would get in even more trouble if I didn't handle her vinyls carefully, so it took me forever carefully sliding each one out of the sleeve, and on to the platter, and doing the reverse when the sides were done. :)
Edit of the edit...: Just recalled also discovering Brand X, then later in life as my musical tastes continued to expand, Phil Collins (Genesis), Neil Peart's brother were in this band.
Yeah Moroccan Roll is not only a cunning pun, it's also a good album.
Have uu heard Between the Thighs from WR's Tale Spinnin' album? If nor, don't hesitate!!
@@ianbuxton1730 Gotta check that out! Love the title! 😋
@@dcuss7294 Alan Holdsworth: his albums as leader, and guesting with others--JLP, Gong, Tony Williams, UK, even Level 42...
AND Bill Bruford's "One Of A Kind" album!
My favorite underrated jazz/fusion/funk band is War. Their Platinum jazz album is fantastic! As well as their Jazz series albums.
Great choice 👌 👍 👏 🎶
The World is a Ghetto is one of the greatest albums of the 70s. Period!
No doubt, it's a great album 👌 👏 🎶
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviewsEddie Fisher & The Next One Hundred Years.
BB Dickerson.. The man who made me give up piano to pick up a bass.
So many Greats!...but one I don't see mentioned much is David Sancious, Forest of Feeling's... Awesome Album!!
@@michaelw.4434 my favorite was Transformation (The Speed of
My favorite album of his is Tranformation (The Speed of Love). Sky Church Hymn # 9 is amazing.
@@rey1953Agree with Transformations but is it underated?
Kenny I love your pick for #1. Mwandishi is truly a great early fusion album. The transition from Ostinato to You Know When You Get There is so sweet!
Could hang out with you & talk for hours! Thanks
Thank you very much ✌️ 😊.
Ponty- live in Hamburg live recording
Lenny White- Venusian summer
YES!!!!!
JL Ponty live recording from 1973 with Frank Zappa is excellent - Dupree's Paradise. His solo is the standout. George Duke is also excellent here.
ruclips.net/video/qr6mTloYJJs/видео.html
Kenny...I must admit, as a youngster growing up, I wasn't much of a Miles fan. "In A Silent Way" even more than "Bitches Brew" opened my ears (so to speak)....Strong love to you too Kenny... thanks for what you do.
Thank you very much, I appreciate that 😊
Glad you mentioned Joni. I think Jaco did some of his best work playing with her. Her songwriting seemed to leave just the right spaces for his playing to shine.
They really performed great together along with Pat Metheny.
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews Shadows and Light concert footage seeing young Jaco, Pat, Lyle, Don Alias and Michael Brecker, all these years later realizing it was a stage of musical giants.
Zappa Hot Rats IMO is the greatest. Most underrated... Maybe something by Coryell.
I’d say it’s not underrated.
Great overview. I got turned onto Bright Sized Life and Feel in the Fall of 1974. You touched all my old favorites along the way. I'm right with you.
Thank you very much. That is a fantastic album 👌 👏.
I'm really impressed by the breadth of your jazz/fusion knowledge. You are right about Bitches Brew and On the Corner as a matter of fact you are right about every album and artist you mentioned that I am familiar with I am definitely going to check out the albums that you recommended that I am not familiar with. Two thumbs way up! Keep up the great work brother!
I appreciate that 😊 🙏 thank you very much ✌️
you laid up some great albums..a few I have. I was a Fusion man in the late 70s to 80s. a huge intro to jazz love
Hey, Two other Herbie Hancock albums I really enjoy are Flood(live) and Mr Hands. Great video btw, made my morning as I was listening to Joni Mitchell's Shadows and Light.
mr hands is amazing
@@b4knowing Definitely! Mr. Hands covers all styles.👍👍
Mr. Hands is in my collection and it's a very good album for sure 👌 👏
Underated, George Duke, "Feel"
@@paulwbranner6609 My favorite George Duke album. The synth solo on title song Feel one of the best ever.
I thanked George Duke for FEEL when I shook hands with him after a show in San Diego. The smile he shined--' wow! It's a moment I'll never forget!
Yep!
Agreed! Always loved George's work and Feel is a brilliant record!
@@rey1953 George Duke with Frank Zappa is a killer.
Kenny is speaking my language. This is my first view of the channel, love the info and respect your massive vinyl collection, gotta love album cover art. Thank you.
Thank you for that, I appreciate your comments 😊. Thank you for watching ✌️
the videos of Shadows and Light is great! Jaco was the bandleader for Joni on that tour.
I agree, it's cool seeing those legends on stage together, it was a great performance 👏
Love that album
Kenny, I appreciate you taking the time to respond to my comment. Happy holidays! 🌅🙌🙏✌️
Wasnt aware of the Jonni Mitchel album!? I know what I'm listening to this afternoon :) excited to listen to a few of these!! Great public service for music lovers!
Thank you very much...that Joni Mitchell album is great 👍 👌 👏
Kenny, great podcast. It's wonderful to see someone (re) introduce folks to these great masterpieces of music and especially the fusion genre. Kudos to you!
I appreciate that very much, thank you 😊 ✌️
McCoy Tyner. Fly With the Wind is one of my favourites.
That is one of my favorite jazz albums 👏
Love this video! So glad I found this channel. While maybe not underrated, I do love a lot of the Japanese Jazz Fusion. My personal fav is Mimiko Kikuchi - All Right from 1982. I recently got into collecting records and playing vinyl instead of just streaming everything and this was the first album I bought. .
Brother Kenny, thanks so much for giving some more love for Jazz Fusion! Your digging deep into your huge collection and finding Fusion lp's that I have either forgotten or have never heard of before. Herbie Hancock, that 'Mwandishi' album is one I'm not familiar with, so I will be definitely checking this out! Thanks also for giving my fav Pat Metheny some extra props as well. As always, Peace and Love to you my brother!
Peace and love and I hope that you enjoy the Mwandishi album 🙏 ✌️
Forgot to add also that the Swahili word 'Mwandishi' was the adopted name for Herbie Hancock and it means 'Composer'. Forgive me if you already mentioned this.
I mentioned it in my video 😊
Thank you SO much for that video. Although I had previously heard a couple of the albums you discussed, I wrote every title down on a list and I am going to devote some serious time to listen to them all.
Billy Cobham Spectrum
💯💯💯💯👍🏽👍🏽
I would never classify "Spectrum" as an underrated release.
True -- Spectrum WASN'T underrated, at least to those, like myself @ the time, who knew @ the time.
Same for Herbie's HEADHUNTERS, and particularly Chameleon, IMO the most powerful musical composition of all time.
Yeah Splash from On the Corner is also brilliant.
Back to Herbie: to anyone who ISN'T aware of the track Shekere and Chameleon.. HIT THAT SEARCH BUTTON NOW!!
@@ianbuxton1730 😀Tell you how popular some Fusion songs were...I remember dancing to the 45 RPM of Herbie's "Chameleon" at house parties. Yes, it was that popular. I played in a Fusion band back in '77/'78 who would play "Freeway Jam," "School Days," along with several original Fusion songs written by the band at High School Graduation parties and talent shows. It cracks me up just thinking about all the admiration we received as teens playing Jazz and Jazz Fusion Songs of that era.
@@nycfunk but it should’ve been included in this list. Bright size life, thrust, those are not underrated. Those are very popular jazz fusion records.
I love Miles "On The Corner". Great listen.,
My fave
I agree! And the "Complete Sessions" version contains even more great cuts (available on RUclips).
So do I. For months, I listened to it everyday.
Again your eclectic choices make my choices and monies worth the adventure
I've been listening to Jazz since I was about 12 years old my first Jazz album I fell in love with some Jazz Crusaders Lighthouse 1969 another bad mama jama Lenny white heavy metal monster
You're the man! Great review and more shopping for me. Mehr einkaufen!
I appreciate that, thank you very much 😊✌️
Rick Beato really must interview you because you deserve to reach a much larger audience and that audience deserves your far-reaching musical insights
I want to sincerely thank you for your kind words...Rick Beato is the man...he's the best by far.
Coryell's " Eleventh House " is an amazing LP. ONE of my underrated fusion recordings is Miles' " Live Evil " . I would play it and people would get freaked out and scared...love that LP.... Great video.
That is a nice album 👌 👏 👍...thank you for watching ✌️
Live Evil is amazing! Have listened to it many, many times and still pick up something new...
Love this channel. " Mwandishi"...a truly haunting album...Herbie's Fender Rhodes piano sounds so beautiful. It reminded me of "'Big Fun" by Miles Davis, another underrated LP and not mentioned by many. Another one that I consider underrated was Donald Byrd's "'Electric Byrd" where he sounds very much like Miles.
Thanks for your comments. I think "Big Fun" is a awsome album.. I'll have to check out that Donald Byrd album.
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews Oh you'll love the Donald Byrd "'Electric Byrd"' ! It has got 5 star reviews ever since it was released yet it never gets mentioned...Also Byrd's other "Ethiopian Nights"' is superb with the unbeatable David T .Walker on guitar(what a sweet guy he is) Have fun Kenny!
My mind was kind of blown, a couple of years ago, by some video of Metheny and Pastorius playing live together in the early 70s, which eventually led me to Bright Size Life. It's a great piece of work, some of my favorite work by either player.
M & P playing as part of Joni Mitchell's band for the Shadows & Light Tour. Stunning, beautiful. (easily found on YT)
Wow! Thank you for introducing me to Thrust. What an amazing piece of Artistry. Yeah, I agree with you about underrated. Thanks for posting. Niice … 🤙🏼
I appreciate that....thank you very much for watching 😊
So many great jazz albums...
You been reding my mail.
Peace on earth.
Great list of fantastic albums! I'm looking forward to checking out the ones I've not heard yet! Thank you!
Thank you and I hope that you enjoy the music 🎶
damn i already don;t have enough time reading all the books i want and now you are hitting me with all these great records THANK YOU !!!!!
First timer, great video Kenny! I've seen Metheny a few times including last year and his son was selling t-shirts at the venue! It was funny cuz no one knew till after the show and before the show he told me he was backstage with Pat (his dad) and the phenomenal Steve Hackett as Steve came to one of his shows. Also, I saw Pat with Joni, Jaco, and Lyle. You gave me some great music to check out and I appreciate that. I'm still learning at 67!
Mahavishnu Orchestra, “Vision Of The Emerald Beyond”, Miles Davis “Amanda”, George Duke, “Feel’, Weather Report “Tale Spinning”. Love your taste, keep the channel going.. Alphonso Johnson is underrated.. I also think the African Fusion of Salif Kieta is worthy of note “Soto”, “Amen” In conjunction with Joe Zawinul.
INNER MOUNTING & BIRDS OF FIRE...LIFE CHANGERS!...AUM ❤
Kenny, I feel like we have the same record collection ! I’m 65 and am very familiar with all the records you talk about. It’s a nice trip back to my teen years. Thanks !
Kenny!! Hey brother!!! Great job here my friend!! The fact that you talk extensively about Herbie's Mwandishi band and record(s), you deserve RESPECT!!! What an incredible band!!! Mwandishi is one of the ,most overlooked early jazz/rock bands ever. Lenny White told me that it was initially referred to as "Jazz-Rock." The term "fusion" wasn't really around until about 1973-74. Check out "Crossings" by Mwandishi, their second record also on Warner Bros. One thing I wanted to point out about "Children of Forever" that you didn't point out; the great pat Martino is on guitar on two tracks! Herbie Hancock had a group that preceded Mwandishi. When he first left Miles Davis in 1968 he formed a group that recorded two records; "The Prisoner" and "Fat Albert Rotunda." Check those out. These two records directly precede the first "Mwandishi" record and they are fantastic. jazzy, but starting to bring in the funk. By the time you get to "Fat Albert Rotunda" you have a serious groove element coming into Herbie's music in an overt way for the first time that you later see of course in Headhunters. Mwandishi happened in between Herbie's initial sextet/septet and Headhunters. And YES, if you are wondering about that title "Fat Albert Rotunda," Herbie called it that because he was approached by Bill Cosby to compose music for his brand new weekend children's cartoon in 1969 called "Fat Albert and Friends.!!!!! Keep swingin' brother!
I have the Herbie Hancock "Crossings" album and it's very good 👍. You are correct about the great Pat Martin, I should have mentioned him in the video.
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews MartinO!. Lol. You are a good brother Kenny! I enjoy your channel.
Sorry for messing up the name of the great Pat Martino 🤣
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews you're a good dude Kenny.
Cool video!
Two of my favorite fusion records from waaaay back during my time at Berklee College of Music in the 80s were Herbie Hancock's "Mr. Hands" (specifically the track 4am) and Mitchel Forman's "Train of Thought".
I love your room with the wall of records... reminds me of one of my Berklee teachers, Skip Hadden who had a similar magical room of incredible records.
I have the Herbie Hancock "Mr. Hands" album in my collection...very good album 👌.
Thank you very much for your comments 😊 ✌️
I love this video. I would add Caldera's Sky Islands, one of my picks from the 1970's.
Angela Bofill's version of Sky Island is my fav.
Totally agree - seems like hardly anybody knows that album. Another one that was influential on my mind and ears was Lenny White’s Astral Pirates.
@graylunsford Astral Pirates...one of my favorites too!
Thanks for introducing me an overlooked album. Keep up the great work. A new fan from California.
Thank you very much I appreciate that and thanks for watching my video 😊 ✌️
I wish I saw this video before I went vinyl shopping. I saw Mwandishi today at the record store. You got me hoping it's still there tomorrow Great selections
😊😁...I hope that you are able to buy it....thank you very much for watching my video ✌️
Kenny….new to your channel and love your enthusiasm and knowledge. I have recently gotten more into jazz and jazz/fusion…the more I listen to and acquire, the more I’m sucked in! I find myself reaching for Spyro Gyra, Metheny, Ritenour, Jeff Lorber, Hancock, Davis, Coltrane, Rollins….on and on….while my rock records gather dust! My journey is still beginning and I’m having a lot of fun.
Brand X - Masques or Unorthodox Behavior
Steps Ahead - Magnetic
Tribal Tech - Face First
Lydian Collective - Adventure
Shrek Is Love
These are just a few favorites of mine that I thought I'd add. Also, you mentioned some great albums on here.
@@illusionvii no MorroconRoll?
Completely agree with your number 1 pick. An absolutely amazing LP. I have good memories listening to Bitches Brew on my walkman walking central park at night...surreal and sublime all at the same time.
Thank you for sharing that cool memory of that amazing album 😊✌️
Excellent choices! I love Tony Williams' Lifetime-Believe It
Tony Williams lifetime was great and he does not get the attention that he deserves in the jazz fusion genre.
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews I concur! I was fortunate enough to see him perform live twice! With his Lifetime band and The V.S.O.P. Quintet. Keep up the good work Sir!
Grest great album w Alan Holdsworth
I picked up open Your Eyes w Flora great w Airto
I interviewed him Pat Metheny when this album came out excellent!BSL
Herbie thrust and man child are two of my favs
I have both and they are great albums, especially Thrust.
The criminally underrated, "Actual Proof" should be a jazz fusion anthem.
Yes on the Corner Miles
I remember asking for the Man Child album for Christmas in 1975. I was 13-years old. That was the start of my own record collection, so I didn’t have to borrow my older brother and sister’s albums. 😊
Secrets is also great, Thrust is my favorite
Those are excellent choices as the work of black artists seemed to often get overlooked for their contributions in fusion. I would also add Norman Connors for the great "Dance of Magic" featuring the amazing Stanley Clarke tune "Blue" with Hancock , Airto and others, which jams so hard I can never listen to it once. That being said, I'd love to see you explore the R&B/Funk side of fusion with great artists such as Lonnie Liston Smith, George Duke, Eddie Henderson, Roy Ayers, Patrice Rushen and many other unherald greats. Thanks.
L L Smith absolutely!
Wow! Found you at random, subscribed within 5 min - most of these albums I know and love. Huge jazz fusion fan. Well done and thank you for being here.
Phenomenal list right here. Great video!
Thank you 😊 ✌️
Dear Kenny, this is Harry from NW Greece, thank you for the informative video, I learnt quite many new albums to discover, my suggestion would be Dedalus - "Dedalus" (1973), the band was from Turin, Italy, and they play some insane avant-garde/fusion rock-jazz, with shots of psychedelia and some slow passages sounding like ambient or even concrete, you should check them out when you're in a sped-up listening mood, their musicianship is commendable!!!!!!
Thank you very much Harry for watching my video from from Greece. I really appreciate your recommendation 😊
Bright Size Life is MEGA!!! ...also Larry Coryell + Philip Catherine Twin House + Splendide
All of your recommendations are on point! 🤙🏼
Thank you 😊 ✌️
Have you heard "Joyous Lake" by Pat Martino? To me it is the most underrated fusion album. It is kick-ass fusion that has a very unique sound unlike anything else that Pat ever did. Definitely one of my top ten favorite albums! Also underrated are three albums by Bill Connors: "Step It", "Double Up", and "Assembler".
That Pat Martino album is very good 👍 👌 👏 🎶
Also, his last LP before having his brain aneurysm, I believe. And having to relearn to play afterward
WOW !!! I agree with everything you say. I love all of the albums you mentioned. But I am also embarrassed to admit that I was not familiar with Mwandishi !!!
I am now !!!
Thanks for this great Video !!!
Cheers.
As a mostly rock musician I greatly appreciated the late sixties early seventies records from Miles Davis, Tony Williams, Return to Forever, Mahavishnu, ,Herbie Hanocock' Zappa (whatever genre he resided in) Weather Report, Jeff Beck, etc. Interesting seeing many of the same musicians flourishing or making cameos in many of these great albums!! Lucky to do sound for Larry Coryell late in his life, and as a solo performer he was just great too!
Yes, thanks for the shout out for Larry Coryell.
Great reviews and love your enthusiasm for the music.
I appreciate that 😊 🙏 thank you ✌️
Many thanks as always Kenny, thanks for the knowledge
Hey DBD, hope all is well. Just wanted to say hi
Have a great day
@djjoeykmusic I'm doing good, it's just a beautiful woman that's always on my mind, that's all it is.shes something man!
@@dimebagdave77 yea man, they do that. The best songs are about women.
Cool, glad you good.
Have a wonderful one brother
Thanks for the trip down jazz fusion lane! You recommended some recordings I wasn’t aware of so I will look for them. Cheers 🍻
I appreciate that, thank you very much ✌️
I will always say that "Romantic Warrior" by Return to Forever is the "cleanest" recording of a fusion group ever. My friends and I would use it to adjust our stereo systems. I am not saying it is the best fusion album eventhough it is pretty good.
🎩🎼🎩
I would say it's DAMN good and really a masterpiece at this point.
Great video Kenny & some excellent choices
Selecting 2 underrated jazz fusion albums that definitely deserve more love
Eddie Henderson: Realization
Terumasa Hino: Hi-Nology
You forgot to mention Lonnie Liston Smith! Astral Travelling and Expansions are absolute masterpieces. Also, Sun Ra was creating Jazz fusion before it even became a thing. Great picks though! Keep up the excellent content. 👏🏾
Nice choices on your part but I prefer the Lonnie Liston Smith "Cosmic Funk & Spiritual Sounds" album. Thank you for watching 😊 ✌️
That’s Doctor Lonnie Liston Smith.
Yours is taste and listening chops supreme. I’ve been a fan Mwandishi since I first heard it !!!! Also your take on Coryell is spot on as well. An absolute favorite that I agree is overlooked and has had significant impact on a lot of guitarists. Check out Crossings if you love Mwandishi, it’s the same band a little farther out. A truly overlooked Coryell album is called Offering. It’s Coryell and Steve Marcus in a band they called Foreplay. A truly hidden gem ❤️❤️❤️
great piece, Kenny. Thanks. 😂 I got a chance to "Sit with Herbie, with assistance of Julian Preister, during the Sextant, period circa 1973, at The Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, California.
Thank you very much ✌️
Great video and EXTREMELY INFORMATIVE! PLEASE keep up the great work!❤
Thank you very much 🙏...I appreciate the encouragement 😊 ✌️
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews As I appreciate you! I subscribed, please keep it up.
my fav is ronnie laws flame. 🎉
Love Flame! Grace is my favorite track. Album not on Spotify though
Another excellent video Kenny you took me back to great period in time with a lot of those fusion albums ...you are a very knowledgable musicologist. 👍
Thank you very much. That period was a great time in music history 🎶
Kenny picked up both Shadows and Light and 11th house w the great drummer Alphonse Mouzon great fusion albums!
Thank you Dave for watching ✌️
Great video. I had to look up Larry Coryell. What an impressive sound.
Thank you for watching....Larry Coryell was fantastic 👏
Alivemuthaforya... live album.. Tom Scott, Billy Cobham, Alphonso Johnson and Steve Khan
Hell yes! Flora!
Congrats! Very interesting video.
Nice build-up to the "most underrated album" full of examples, and worthy candidates for the top prize.
When artist have a long and extremely fruitful career it is very easy for some records to splip through the cracks.
Keep 'em comin'. 👍
Kenny, I know your trying to get my blood pressure boiling but I'm not going to take the bait😄. Most underrated Jazz Fusion Album is Michal Urbaniak - Fusion III (1975)
😁🤣...I have a few Michal Urbaniak albums but I have not listened to them lately.
I will listen!
Great video!! I have pretty much every LP you talked about. Herbie Hancock "Mwandishi" was incredibly important in my development as a professional musician!!
Thank you for watching and sharing your appreciation for Herbie Hancock ✌️
Night of the living dred. Dixie Dregs
One of my all time favorite albums but don’t think I would call it jazz fusion
Thank you Kenny for introducing us to these great albums and making a great presentation. I will definitely check them out.
I appreciate that and thank you for watching 😊✌️
Inner Mounting Flame - MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA, Romantic Warrior - RETURN TO FOREVER, Enigmatic Ocean - JEAN-LUC PONTY
Enigmatic Ocean - JEAN-LUC PONTY is the one of all time for me, but I don't know that it's underrated.
Great choices
None of these albums are underrated.