Jazz: Drumming Fusion

Fusion is another catch-all term which refers to a mixture of Jazz, Rock, Funk, often Latin and other styles. There are no rules on how they can be mixed or tampered with so you’ll want to be well schooled to think about it.

Originally, Fusion meant a mixture of jazz improvisation with the power and groove of rock. This genre emerged when some jazz musicians became bored with Hard Bop and Avante-Garde.

Fine examples include The Brecker Brothers, Chick Corea, The Crusaders, Herbie Hancock, John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny, Weather Report and Stanley Clarke. Some great drummers and pioneers in this style are Billy Cobham, Dave Weckl, Steve Smith, Omar Hakim, Rodney Holmes, Steve Gadd, Dennis Chambers and Alex Acuna.

Listening List:

The Brecker Brothers

Miles Davis

Let's make a phrase by altering the bass drum.

Here is the same feel with a funkier hi hat.
Once you are comfortable with this try opening the hi-hat on the "and."

This hi-hat pattern seems to be a staple of fusion tracks over funky beats as well. Once you are comfortable, try opening the hi-hat on the "and" or the beat ie: 1,2,3,4.

Here is a trick often used by Dave Weck. It breaks a
parradiddle-diddle between the hi-hat and the ride.