The Jeff Lorber Fusion

[PS Audio]

<p>The once flourishing fusion era produced many great bands including Return to Forever, Weather Report, John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra, Herbie Hancock and Jean-Luc Ponty. One of my favorite fusioneers is The Jeff Lorber Fusion. Keyboardist, composer, arranger and producer Jeff Lorber initially planned to major in chemistry. Even though he swapped his test tubes and Bunsen burner for a piano and synthesizer, Mr. Lorber has been formulating some savory grooves since The JLF’s debut project in 1977, <em>The Jeff Lorber Fusion.</em></p>
<p>Joining Jeff on this project as the core group were drummer Dennis Bradford, bassist Lester Barfield and saxophonist/flautist Terry Layne. These same superb musicians would be accompanied by percussionist Ron Young the 1978 disc <em>Soft Space</em> along with special guests Chick Corea on minimoog, Joe Farrell on soprano sax and flute, Bruce Smith on percussion and Dean Reichart on acoustic and electric guitar. The next release in 1979, <em>Water Sign</em>, would mark the beginning of a new direction infusing *funkier grooves with new bass phenom Danny Wilson joining stellar time keeper Bradford to form, in the author’s opinion, one best rhythm sections in fusion history. (Lorber obviously was sold on Bradford and Wilson since he used them on the next two releases.* Having experienced this edition of the JLF live in concert, it’s easy to see why!) The expanded lineup on this project included new saxophonist Dennis Springer, special guests Joe Farrell on flute and Freddie Hubbard on flugelhorn in addition to percussionist Bruce Smith and guitarists Doug Lewis and Jay Koder.</p>
<p>The infectious recipe was injected with even more savoriness on 1980

[Source: http://www.pstracks.com/music/the-jeff-lorber-fusion/12847/]

 

[asindc]

Little known fact: Kenny G was a member of JLF at one point.

 

[Glareskin]

Little known fact: Kenny G was a member of JLF at one point.

Did you really have to say that? :lol: This will scare people away and I agree with PS Audio that especially the album Soft Space is really nice.

 

[veindoc]

I saw JLF with KG in an outdoor summer concert circa 1986. It was one of the funkiest jazz bands I ever heard. Sadly Kenny lost all the excitement when he sold out and began musak and golf. But at this concert he was really showing off his chops.

Nick

 

[asindc]

Did you really have to say that? :lol: This will scare people away and I agree with PS Audio that especially the album Soft Space is really nice.

I saw JLF with KG in an outdoor summer concert circa 1986. It was one of the funkiest jazz bands I ever heard. Sadly Kenny lost all the excitement when he sold out and began musak and golf. But at this concert he was really showing off his chops.

Nick

Nick,

You beat me to it. The real shame of Kenny G, beyond the Musak-quality music he started playing when he went solo, is that he truly does (did?) have the chops to do much, much more. I saw him in concert years ago after he had gone solo mainly because the tickets were free and my then girlfriend wanted to go. At that point at least, he could really turn it on when he wanted. But alas, enough of him. This thread is about JLF.

I still like Jeff Lorber's work, but his work during the JLF days is still his best, IMO. They were probably my favorite jazz/funk fushion band back then.