There is a Jazz thread here, but I wanted to have a thread that focuses on Jazz-Fusion, particularly modern albums. There is plenty of room for discussion of contemporary jazz in the other thread, this specific topic can lead to music that might not otherwise be considered 'jazz'. Jazz-fusion tends to be disliked by "jazz purists" or is liked because "it's not just jazz". But the definition of jazz is surely at question when jazz-fusion comes up, along with other later styles of jazz. Fusion, for short, we'll be talking about jazz-rock, progressive jazz/rock, jazz-funk, progressive Latin jazz, or any jazz music that experiments with electronics in this thread. This isn't the thread for smooth jazz or pop-jazz, though there is sometimes overlapping between the styles.
So what is considered "modern" in the context of jazz-fusion?
I think it's obvious we're talking about post-1970s, but also, I think, post-1980s as well. Really anything released
since roughly 1995, as I think since around that time, jazz recordings have less 80s production values. Later recordings also present new sounds, or old retro sounds in better sonic quality. 1995 is not a strict cut off, of course. I can think of some early 90s albums that sound great and sound 'modern'.
What is 'jazz-fusion' in the modern era?
It can be progressive, mixing or combining elements of rock, funk, world music, folk music, electronic music, hip-hop, metal, bluegrass, or whatever is pushing the boundaries of jazz, in new ways (of course, there is progressive jazz which doesn't fit under the 'fusion' tag.)
It can be 'retro', playing classic 70s-style jazz-fusion (or 80s perhaps) but with modern production values.
It can be a fusion of both progressive and retro sounds.
I'm hoping to find some new discoveries in this thread. Please feel free to contribute. I'm going to list 1-2 albums at a time, to highlight them.
I'll start of with a recent album by Steve Gadd and the late Chick Corea: Chinese Butterfly (2018)
Fantastic album from start to finish. When you see an electric guitar on the album cover, I don't think you should expect post-bop or things of the sort.
Opening with everything you could want in a new jazz-fusion album. Blazing synths, bombastic drumming from the great Steve Gadd, tight funky bass, stacked electric piano chords. Some excellent acoustic piano from Chick as well here and there. The album also has a world music slant thanks to guitarist Lionel Loueke and percussionist Luisito Quintero. Chick himslf also incorporates a Latin jazz styling as he tends to do. There are some horns but mostly some appearance of flute by Steve Wilson (no, not that Steve Wilson) to add some color, but the feature is on Chick's keyboard work, and of course Gadd's drums, in this amazing band. Those who can't imagine an 80 year old Jordan Rudess playing all the things he does, listen to this album. Chick died this year at 79 and this album came out a couple of years ago, and his playing his better than when he was in his 20s and 30s, in my opinion. I actually feel like Chick's playing has been on fire for the last decade and a half. Such a major loss to the world of jazz.
The title track from Chick's 1972 release 'Return to Forever" is performed on this album, and a great rendition it is (maybe not as good as the original, but holds up well against it.) The 2nd disc is definitely the slightly more exploratory disc, but still retaining the high energy of the first. This was a surprise release for me, I only checked this album out recently after holding off on getting it for a while. It's proggy, but it isn't tied down to one style. Definitely one of the more enjoyable releases from Chick throughout his whole career.