Flushing the Categories Away: Psychedelic Jazz

In this week's episode Tim and Jeremy describe the genres of psychedelic jazz and fusion. Drawing on rock, modal and free jazz and funk, as well as a wider pool of international musics, we hear how artists like Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock and Weather Report created - through processes of fusion and fission - a new sound. Tim and Jeremy consider the impact hearing the Grateful Dead had on Miles, the virtuosity and immanence of his trio of fusion albums, and the struggles he had in marketing this new music (with little understanding or help from the label suits).

We also hear about the various psychedelic qualities of the music and musicians, how rock displaced folk and jazz as the countercultural music of the moment, and join the dots between American jazz musicians and the improvisatory brilliance of the Indian Classical tradition.

Tim Lawrence and Jeremy Gilbert are authors, academics, DJs and audiophile dance party organisers. They’ve been friends and collaborators since 1997, teaching together and running parties since 2003. With clubs closed and half their jobs lost to university cuts, they’re inevitably launching a podcast.

Produced and edited by Matt Huxley.

Tune in, Turn on, Get Down!

Tracklist:
Joe Harriott - Mishra Blues
The Grateful Dead - The Other One
Miles Davis - Shhh
Miles Davis - On The Corner
Dorothy Ashby - For Some We Loved
Weather Report - Orange Lady
Les McCann - The Lovers
Herbie Hancock - Raindance
Mahavishnu Orchestra - Birds of Fire

Books:
Phil Freeman - Running the Voodoo Down: The Electric Music of Miles Davis
Kevin Fellezs - Birds of Fire
David Toop - Ocean of Sound