List of jazz fusion musicians

The following are notable jazz fusion performers or bands.

For performers of smooth jazz, a more radio-friendly, pop-infused variant of fusion, see List of smooth jazz performers.

Name Instrument Year Style Jazz fusion connections Jazz fusion recordings A Guitar 1944–2017 Progressive jazz, jazz fusion, post bopBilly Cobham, Jack DeJohnette, Brecker Brothers, Gateway, Kenny KirklandAs leader: Timeless (1975), with Gateway: Gateway (1975) Percussion 1944 Jazz, jazz fusion, Afro-Cuban jazzWeather Report, John Patitucci, Joe Zawinul, Vladislav Sendecki, Larry Carlton, Alphonso Johnson, Brent Fischer, Koinonia, Abraham LaborielWith Weather Report: Black Market (1976), Heavy Weather (1977) Percussion 1939–2006 Jazz, jazz fusionMiles Davis, David Sanborn, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Michael Brecker, Jaco Pastorius, Pat Metheny, Weather Report, Jack DeJohnetteWith Miles Davis: Bitches Brew (1970), On the Corner (1972), with Jeremy Steig: Energy (1971), Fusion (1972), with The Tony Williams Lifetime: Ego (1971), with Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin: Love Devotion Surrender (1973), with Dave Liebman: Sweet Hands (1975), with Weather Report: Black Market (1976), with Jaco Pastorius: Jaco Pastorius (1976), Word of Mouth (1981), Invitation (1983), The Birthday Concert (1995), with Miroslav Vitous: Miroslav (1978), with Mike Stern: Time in Place (1988), Jigsaw (1989), Odds or Evens (1991), Give and Take (1997), with Marcus Miller: The Sun Don't Lie (1993), with John McLaughlin: The Promise (1995), with Pat Metheny Group: Imaginary Day (1997) Keyboards 1939 Jazz fusionBrian Auger and the Trinity, CABWith Brian Auger and the Trinity: Open (1967), Streetnoise (1969), Befour (1970), with Brian Auger's Oblivion Express: A Better Land (1971), Second Wind (1972), Closer to It! (1973), Straight Ahead (1974), with CAB: CAB (2000), CAB 2 (2001), CAB 4 (2003), Theatre de Marionnettes (2009) Clarinet 1976 Jazz fusionHewar B Bass 1960 Jazz, jazz fusion, popJoe Zawinul, Weather Report, Larry Coryell, Billy Cobham, Vladislav SendeckiAs leader: Low Blow (1999), That's Right! (2001), with Weather Report: Weather Report (1982 album) (1982), Procession (1983), Domino Theory (1984), Sportin' Life (1985), This Is This! (1986), with Steps Ahead: Live in Tokyo 1986 (1986), Magnetic (1986), Vibe (NYC, 1995), with Larry Coryell and Lenny White: Electric (2005), with Joe Zawinul: World Tour (1998), Faces & Places (2002), Brown Street (2007) Drums 1939-2019 Jazz, jazz fusion, blues-rock, psychedelic rock, hard rock, world musicGinger Baker's Air Force, Ginger Baker's African ForceAs leader: Ginger Baker's Air Force (1970), Ginger Baker's Air Force II (1970), Horses & Trees (1986) Keyboards 1941 Jazz, film score, theatre, world musicJohn McLaughlin Guitar 1957 Instrumental rock, hard rock, electronica, progressive rock, jazz fusionJeff Beck, Jennifer Batten's Tribal Rage Keyboards 1960 Jazz fusionJohn Scofield, Wayne Shorter, John McLaughlin, Mike Stern, Dennis Chambers, Bob Berg Guitar 1944-2023 Blues-rock, jazz fusion, instrumental rock, hard rock, electronica, progressive rockThe Jeff Beck Group, UppAs leader: Blow by Blow (1975), Wired (1976) Saxophone 1949 Jazz fusion Spyro Gyra Bass 1953 Jazz, jazz fusion, progressive rockBill Bruford, Patrick Moraz Keyboards 1938 Jazz, jazz fusionMike Mainieri, Steps Ahead, Kazumi WatanabeWith Jeremy Steig: Jeremy & The Satyrs (1968), This Is Jeremy Steig (1969), with Mike Mainieri: Journey Thru an Electric Tube (1968), White Elephant (1972), Wanderlust (1981), Free Smiles (1978), Live at the Seventh Avenue South (1996), with Kazumi Watanabe: To Chi Ka (1980), Dogatana (1981), with Steps Ahead: Modern Times (1984), Magnetic (1986) Bass 1967 Jazz fusion, world fusionLarry Coryell, Brecker Brothers, Kenny Kirkland, Mike Stern, Steve Gadd, Pat Metheny Group, Zawinul Syndicate Saxophone 1949–2007 Jazz, jazz fusion, funk, R&B, rockHerbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Kenny Kirkland, Jaco Pastorius, Vladislav Sendecki, Pat Metheny, Steps Ahead Trumpet 1945 Jazz, fusion, funk, R&B, rockBrecker Brothers, Billy Cobham, Kenny Kirkland, Frank Zappa, Vladislav Sendecki, Jaco Pastorius Bass 1943–2014 Blues-rock, psychedelic rock, jazz fusion, hard rock, acid rockJohn McLaughlin, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Jon Hiseman, Larry Coryell, Mitch Mitchell, Tony Williams Lifetime, Tony Williams, Kenny Kirkland, Larry Young Drums 1949 Progressive rock, instrumental rock, jazz fusionAllan Holdsworth, Dave Stewart, Jeff BerlinAs leader: Feels Good to Me (1978), One of a Kind (1979), The Bruford Tapes (1979), Gradually Going Tornado (1980) Bass 1950 Jazz fusionChick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, CAB Guitar 1955–2008 Jazz, jazz fusionJaco Pastorius, Brecker Brothers, Marcus Miller, Steps Ahead Bass 1957 Jazz, jazz fusion, funkMichal Urbaniak, Harold Ivory Williams, Dennis Chambers Vibraphone 1943 Jazz, jazz fusionLarry Coryell, Pat Metheny, John Scofield, Peter Erskine, Mitchel Forman, Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, Dave HollandAs leader: Duster (1967) Trumpet 1932–2000 Jazz, jazz fusion, funkHarvey Mason, Alphonse MouzonAs leader: Electric Byrd (1970), Ethiopian Knights (1971) C Guitar 1948 Jazz, smooth jazz, jazz fusion, pop, rockSteve Lukather, Robben Ford, Kenny Kirkland Bass 1955 Jazz, jazz fusionUzeb, Didier Lockwood Drums 1959 Jazz, jazz fusion, funk music, Latin rockJohn Scofield, Brecker Brothers, John McLaughlin, Mike Stern, Cristiano Parato Trumpet 1934–1974 Jazz rockChaseAs leader: Chase (1971), Ennea (1972), Pure Music (1974) Drums 1990 Jazz, jazz fusion, progressive rock, funk, bebop, post bop, hard bopDick Lee, Jeremy MonteiroWith The Sam Willows: Take Heart (2016) Bass 1951 Jazz, jazz fusion, funk, rock, pop, R&BReturn to Forever, Chick Corea, Jeff Beck, SMV, George Duke, Kenny KirklandAs leader: Stanley Clarke (1974), School Days, with Return to Forever: Light as a Feather (1973), Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy (1973), Where Have I Known You Before (1974), Romantic Warrior (1976), Musicmagic (1977) Drums 1944 Jazz, jazz fusion, post-bop, funk, progressive rock, rock and roll, soulMiles Davis, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jack Bruce, Kenny Kirkland, John McLaughlin, Vladislav SendeckiAs leader: Spectrum (1973), with Mahavishnu Orchestra: The Inner Mounting Flame (1971), Birds of Fire (1972), Between Nothingness and Eternity (1973), The Lost Trident Sessions (1973) Drums 1956 Jazz, jazz fusion, rock, funk, thrash metal, heavy metalFrank Zappa, Chick Corea, Jeff Beck, Herbie Hancock, John McLaughlin, Christian McBride, Five Peace Band Guitar 1949 Jazz, jazz fusionReturn to Forever, Stanley ClarkeWith Return to Forever: Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy (1973), with Stanley Clarke: Stanley Clarke (1974), with Corea, Clarke & White: Forever (2011) Keyboards 1941–2021 Jazz, jazz fusion, post bop, Latin jazz, classical music, avant-garde jazzReturn to Forever, Five Peace Band, Chaka KhanAs leader: Return to Forever (1972), The Leprechaun (1976), My Spanish Heart (1976), with Return to Forever: Light as a Feather (1973), Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy (1973), Where Have I Known You Before (1974), Romantic Warrior (1976), Musicmagic (1977) Guitar 1943–2017 Jazz, jazz fusion, jazz rock, post-bop, free jazzThe Eleventh House, John McLaughlinAs leader: Barefoot Boy (1971), Introducing Eleventh House with Larry Coryell (1974), with Gary Burton: Duster (1967) Keyboards 1941 Jazz fusion, crossover jazzBilly Cobham, Larry Coryell, Frank Gambale, Vital Information Drums 1956/1957- Jazz fusionTribal Tech, Gary Willis, Scott Henderson, John Humphrey, Allan Holdsworth, Joe Zawinul D Trumpet 1926–1991 Jazz, hard bop, bebop, cool jazz, modal, fusion, third stream, jazz-funk jazz rapWayne Shorter, John McLaughlin, Herbie Hancock, Billy Cobham, Chick Corea, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette, Joe Zawinul, Tony WilliamsAs leader: Filles de Kilimanjaro (1969), In a Silent Way (1969), Bitches Brew (1970), Miles Davis at Fillmore: Live at the Fillmore East (1970), A Tribute to Jack Johnson (1971), Live-Evil (1971), On the Corner (1972), Black Beauty: Live at the Fillmore West (1973), In Concert (1973), Big Fun (1974), Get Up With It (1974), Agharta (1975), Pangaea (1975), Dark Magus (1977), We Want Miles (1982), Star People (1983), Live at the Fillmore East, March 7, 1970: It's About That Time (2001), The Cellar Door Sessions 1970 (2005), Bitches Brew Live (2011) Guitar 1965 World fusion, jazz fusionMichael Brecker, Billy Cobham, Alphonse Mouzon, Steve Smith, Pat Metheny Saxophone 1946–2006 Free jazz, jazz fusion, post-bopSoft MachineWith Soft Machine: Third (1970), Fourth (1971), Fifth (1972), as leader: Elton Dean (1971) Drums 1942-2025 Jazz, jazz fusion, new ageMiles Davis, Keith Jarrett, Kenny Kirkland, John Scofield, John Abercrombie, Dave Holland, Gateway, Compost, Trio BeyondWith Freddie Hubbard: Straight Life (1970), First Light (1971), with Miles Davis: Live-Evil (1971), On the Corner (1972), Black Beauty: Live at the Fillmore West (1973), Big Fun (1974), with Joe Zawinul: Zawinul (1971), with Joe Farrell: Moon Germs (1972), with John Abercrombie and Jan Hammer: Timeless (1974), with Gateway: Gateway (1975), with Terje Rypdal and Miroslav Vitous: Terje Rypdal / Miroslav Vitous / Jack DeJohnette (1978), To Be Continued (1981), with Michael Brecker: Michael Brecker (1987), Nearness of You: The Ballad Book (2001) Guitar 1954 Jazz fusion, post-bop Drums 1958 Jazz fusion, world musicYellowjackets Guitar 1954 Jazz, jazz fusion, Latin jazz, world fusionReturn to Forever, Stanley Clarke, Jan Hammer, Jean-Luc Ponty, John McLaughlinAs leader: Land of the Midnight Sun (1976), Elegant Gypsy (1977), Casino (1978), Splendido Hotel (1980) Drums 1958 Progressive metal, jazz fusionPlanet X, Derek Sherinian, Tribal Tech, Scott Henderson, Tony MacAlpine Keyboards 1946–2013 Jazz fusion, R&B, funk, alternative rock music, rock and roll, jazz popFrank Zappa, Jean-Luc Ponty, Stanley Clarke, Billy Cobham, Kenny Kirkland, Steps Ahead E Bass 1957 Jazz, jazz fusionThe Crusaders, Stanley Clarke, Chick Corea, Pino Daniele, Robben Ford, Cleto and the Cletones Bass 1951 Jazz, jazz fusionElements, Pat Metheny Group Drums 1954 Jazz, jazz fusionWeather Report, Steely Dan, Jaco Pastorius, Brent Fischer, Bob Mintzer, Yellowjackets, Steps Ahead, Maynard Ferguson, Stan Kenton, Eliane Elias Piano 1958 Jazz, jazz fusionMiles Davis, John McLaughlin F Saxophone 1937–1986 Jazz, jazz funk, fusion, crossover jazz, hard bopJohn McLaughlin, Chick Corea, Jack DeJohnette, Dave Holland, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Return to Forever, Fuse One, Flora PurimAs leader: Moon Germs (1972), Penny Arcade (1973), Upon This Rock (1974), Canned Funk (1975), with Chick Corea: Tones for Joan's Bones (1968), The Leprechaun (1976), The Mad Hatter (1978), with Herbie Hancock: Mwandishi (1971), with Return to Forever: Light as a Feather (1973), Return to Forever (1972), Musicmagic (1977), Live (1977), with Billy Cobham: Spectrum (1973), with Santana: Welcome (1973), with The Jeff Lorber Fusion: Soft Space (1978), Water Sign (1979), with Flora Purim: Carry On (1979), with Fuse One: Fuse One (1980), Silk (1981), Ice (1984), with Bunny Brunel: Ivanhoe (1983) Guitar 1950 Jazz, jazz fusion, rockScott Ambush, Bob Berg, Will Calhoun, Dennis Chambers, Lafayette Gilchrist, Mike Pope, Victor Wooten Bass 1964 Jazz, jazz fusion, funk, Latin jazz, world musicAlex Acuna, Peter Erskine, Steve Khan Banjo 1958 Jazz, jazz fusion, bluegrass, folk, classical, world musicTrio!, Chick Corea, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones Guitar 1951 Blues, jazz/fusion, rockYellowjackets, Chick Corea, Kenny Kirkland Keyboards 1956 Jazz fusion, jazzJohn McLaughlin, Wayne Shorter, John Scofield, Mike Stern, Dave Samuels, Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Simon Phillips, Bill Evans Guitar 1960 Smooth jazz, jazz fusion, jazz-popThe Rippingtons Guitar 1951 Jazz, jazz fusion, alternative country, experimental rock, world music G Guitar 1958 Jazz fusion, smooth jazz, jazz, instrumental rockJean-Luc Ponty, Chick Corea Elektric Band,