My Favourite LIVE JAZZ FUSION ALBUMS | Ranked 

Nobody does it like @AndyEdwards, his commentary is bursting with sheer excitement and enthusiasm that is only surpassed by listening to the albums themselves. Kudos for acknowledging one of my favorite Mclaughlin albums that has one of the most kickass songs in "Pasha Love", the interplay between Mclaughlin, Eckart, and the indescribable Trilok Gurtu is otherwordly. Almost 5k, bro. You go!

Around 1973 my best friend and I were heavy into buying records. Deep Purple, Jethro Tull, etc. He said his father had a Miles Davis album that he did not like, my friend tried it and did not like it and he gave it to me. It was Live-Evil. It hit me and for some reason I got it. I put it on cassette and almost wore it out. I got Jack Johnson, In A silent way, most of the 60's releases. Then browsing through records I noticed Mahavishnu Orchestra with the guitarist from live-evil, Tony Williams Lifetime from Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock from Miles Davis, Billy Cobham Spectrum Because of Mahavishnu, Stanley Clarke because of Tony Williams and Jan Hammer , RTF because of Stanley Clarke. You can probably trace most fusion in the 70s back to someone associated with Miles Davis.

Heard the Live at the Royal Festival hall on tape when I was 17 and it blew my mind. over 30 years later it still has the same effect on me. What a brilliant recording ! Glad to see it here

I would have had Brand X's Livestock on that list. Feel like it was even more of a gateway album than Morroccan Roll.

Out of the Blue (1973) by Mackenzie Theory (Australia). Recorded live in front of a small studio audience. Female electric viola player. Rob Mackenzie ended up in the USA as the long term guitarist for Sha Na Na.

I got to see Jean-Luc Ponty perform in Chicago about six years ago. Small dinner club and I was sitting up front about 10 feet from him while he was setting that violin on fire. In his early 70’s and just as fast and virtuoso as when he was in Mahavishnu and Zappa.

Andy, I'm always fascinated by your absolute passion for music... As always, your selection is very personal and well-considered. I know and love all of these albums. Incidentally, I was also in the audience when Jan Akkerman's excellent album was recorded live in Montreux in 1978. Great memories! But what definitely got me into the genre was the live recordings of the Mahavishnu Orchestra during the Olympic games in Munich in 1972 and later the live recordings of Magma in the tavern of the Olympia in 1975. I have never heard anything similar...mindblowing!!!

You nailed it with Between Nothingness & Eternity. Hearing that for the first time changed my DNA. Btw, I "fixed" The Lost Trident Sessions by rearranging the running order to more closely mirror BN&E: Trilogy, I Wonder, Sister Andrea, Stepping Tones, John's Song, and Dream. Definitely improves the listening experience for me. Thanks for all the great videos!

Don’t forget about the “Unreleased Tracks from Between Nothingness & Eternety” album released in 2011. Fantastic release!

4 of these album have JM playing which really points to how important he is. Totally agree with the number one choice Between Nothingness and Eternity - that is the album that introduced me to jazz.

Zawinul Syndicate World Tour double CD from 1998. Just spectacular. Thanks for making these videos. Many times I have watched a video and gone right to the search engine to seek out tunes that you recommended. Always worth it. JT

LiveEvil gets taken to another level with the Cellar Door sessions and the Ponty and Di Meola live albums should have - and indeed could have - been doubles. Have boots of them both from the mid to late 70's, priceless stuff indeed. All I can say is that its just a damn shame the 73-76 RTF never put out a live album as I've got a few killer FM & Aud recordings of shows with Connors and Di Meola from 73 through to 76 although they did eventually put out Returns in 2008, not sure whether you'd class RTF LIve 1977 as fusion, possibly could as Chick's still using electronic keyboards, but i do like that one. There are also some great McLaughlin/Santana boots out there as well as those Mahavishnu ones. I do also enjoy Stanley Clarke's Live 1976-77, Eleventh House at Montreux, Brand X Livestock, Jeff Beck with the Jan Hammer Group live, and from my collection of boots, Colosseum II on In Concert and live in Cologne 1977.

A great list without a doubt. Others on YT do these lists but none with the love and passion you share Andy. Loving the growth of your subscribers….onward!

One ‘essential’ Live album that comes to my mind is by Scofield Pick Hits Live

One of your most inspired videos. I'm looking forward to discovering all these albums.

Another one would have been Pat Metheny's "Travels" 1983 and Jaco Pastorius's Birthday Concert 1981. Killer concert!!

Your analysis of live Holdsworth is spot on. The playing is almost too much to handle. Have you heard Live in Japan 1984? A posthumous release that came with bonus DVD footage and of course he is KILLING IT, just tearing it up unmercifully! Not only is it astonishing to listen to, but it's an insane visual experience as well. Sadly, the DVD is riddled with small glitches here and there which would not have passed Holdsworth's quality control I am sure, but I am happy to have it!

Nobody burns like Mahavishnu Orchestra! Fabulous list, love 70’s Jean-Luc Ponty! Jerry Goodman did a live album, which has some good tunes on it, but it was never quite achieved stratospheric fierceness like any of these

Agree with the Royal Festival Hall. That is a great record. And yes Gurtu drum solo is like an elastic band relaxing and pulling. Brill. Blue in Green is a wonderful version. Remember seeing him with this band in Manchester a little after this. Phenomenal

Inner Mounting Flame is the Never Mind The Bollocks of jazz fusion LMAO 😂

Love the video and took away some home work, need to dig into a few of these albums I don’t know / have. I always liked the live tracks on the Trio of Doom album with Jaco, John and Tony. Cheers.

My all time favorite is Mahavishnu Orchestra Between Nothingness and Eternity; it's raw energy and the one that got me hooked. You are correct about the mix being muddy, I was not aware that there is a new mix and have to find it. Also, not necessarily a fusion album but Focus Live At The Rainbow. Jan Akkerman and the rest of the band really burn. Honorable mention would be The Eleventh House Live at Montreux

In one word, fantastic! We will never forget:)

Alan Holdsworth live at the Bass Clef Hoxton can be found on You Tube, audio with some photo's.

Bought a copy of Between nothingness and eternity at a vinyl fair about 5yrs ago for $6 aud from old fellow who was selling his personal collection. On the cover in the middle of the orange bit was a signature, the signature just happens to be that of Billy Cobham 😊

Great video Andy, great list. Almost perfect… I must complain about the inclusion of the live Miles as true Fusion… Just joking… absolutely wonderfully perfect list of your favorites, and completely supported by your experience, logic and intelligence. Again for me a fun trip down memory lane. Looking forward to the live Prog Video.

New to the channel, This engaging content is giving me such a musical education whilst making me laugh with the verbal freestyle.

Very good list! I agree that Holdsworth's Then! is absolutely mind-boggling. I think it captures Allan's virtuosity at its peak and also how great that band was.

Fantastic presentation Andy. Way to go 👏. Been spinning album after album since y’day from the amazing listing. Five Peace band live - Chick Corea and John McLaughlin is amongst my fav albums.

Hip Pickles by Blood Sweat and Tears is bloody fantastic.

Your no 8 is my no 1 I know. It's subjective. Heard it when it came out at friends place on super stereo system. Managed to do tape and finaly 30 years later got it on cd. Love Jeff beck and Jan hammer Miles Davis, for sure ...... Great video. Finally to hear somebody say jazz-rock😂

Larry Carlton " Mr 335 live in Japan" , essentially tunes from his first album but played with a less silky , live sound. " Rio Samba" is particulary great.

Brilliant show again.

I have to say that I look forward to your videos more than any other of the RU-vid contributors that I follow. This one was another epic, thank you! On a separate topic I wonder if you would consider ranking the IQ albums; perhaps a bit tricky given your close association but would still make very interesting viewing. Also, how about your top ten Steve Hackett solos? Finally, just like to say how great it is to see your subscriber numbers shooting up👍👍👍👍

It is interesting to note that Al Di Meola, on his youtube channel, said when doing an unboxing of the new Saturday Night album that the Fri and Sat night shows actually had the same setlists. So the Saturday night album just covered the other songs that weren't on the Friday night album but each night had the same set of songs. Enjoyed another great video.

Your narrative about Billy Cobham would be more complete if you mentioned also Live On Tour in Europe with George Duke, Alphonso Johnson and John Scofield, a less conspicuous but a huge success in the Montreux Jazz Festival, one of Cobham's life highlights.

Love live at the RFH too...saw them the night before this gig. Saw JLP with that band at The Rainbow...absolutely awesome gig!! Also saw Al on the same tour at Hammersmith with Jan Hammer. Think he had Simon Phillips on drums if I remember correctly!! My favourite electric Miles is "We Want Miles" one of my favourite MD albums... period!! As regards Weather Report I would put "Night Passage" as a lot of it was recorded live, albeit with an invited audience! Totally agree with you about Acuna and Badrena...saw them twice with Acuna on drums he was awesome!!!! I also like "The Eleventh House Live at Montreux" although it isn't great recording quality. I would also include Jeff Beck at Ronnie's, although it's not 70's so perhaps the Jan Hammer/Jeff album.....Jeff has to be on the list!!!

I was listening for years to 8:30 when I got hold of Live & Unreleased. Alex Acuna's started as a percussionist in the band but it's his drumming I like. It is him who is doing most of the drumming on Heavy Weather where he, somehow, is "limited" by the studio format. He is more in his element live. He is on some songs on Live & Unreleased and there are some live videos on YT with him on the drums. I like his "airy", light, "floating" playing.

A couple of WR nuggets: Night Passage - all tunes except for one were recorded live in front of an audience. Live and Unreleased was recorded over a number of years with different personnel. I never get tired of listening to WR - as a guitarist, I love that they don't have a guitarist.

I have two albums on your list,jean luc ponty live and 8:30 by weather report,speaking of billy,there's that famous 76 album,billy cohbam and George Duke band ,with a very young John scotfield.

I have the complete tapes of both 1973 Mahavishnu shows in New York from where the official Between Nothingness and eternity was taken, and its not a case that one night they played the old stuff and the other the new. On the night of the 17th of August (three tracks made it into the bonus disc of the columbia box) the setlist was: Trilogy Sister ANdrea Hope / Awakening Dream You Know You Know One Word The Dance Of Maya and on the 18th of August (The night Between Nothingness and Eternity was recorded): Trilogy Sister Andrea Awakening I Wonder One Word Stepping Stones / Vital Transformation Dream BAck in the day I bought thirtysome soundboard recordings from Wolfgang's Vault, including these two, no idea if they are still available, or if you already have them. But if they are no longer available, drop me aline and Ill upload them somewhere. CHeerz and thanks for the cool videos!

Completely agree with you regarding the Friday Night and Saturday Night recordings. The only reason I can think of regarding the exclusion of Meetings of the Spirits on Friday Night must have to do with money, personalities and song credits because that cut (Meeting) is as good if not better than any tune on Friday Night. I hope they release more of these recordings.

Resplendent list. When it comes to anything jazz, I generally prefer live albums. Just purchased ShaBazz on your recommendation.

You are right on point about the Mahavishnu album!! I was just about ready to write my disapproval comments,(lol!), when BOOM.......you nail it at number one!! Intense and inspired doesn't begin to describe how great it is......maybe spiritual would do it.....

I was listening to Mahavishnu bootlegs at work years ago. What felt like two hours was actually 7 minutes. It's best suited for the drive home.

Great one! Thumb up! The problem is the sujet. There are not so much live records A very early I want not miss: Ginger Bakers Airforce live 1970 I can add a Stanley Clarke live Collectionalbum from 1991 to the list. BTW Zwaninul was exploding when they called WR fusion

Have to confess that as much as I love jazz fusion I could barely think of a live LP in that genre! I have a lot of bootlegs though.

I was at the Festival Hall gig as well!

I am bit suprise not to see Jeff Beck's "Live with the Jan Hammer group", surely due to you love for both artists. It must at least be around your top tiers, or how so?

I'm putting We Want Miles over Live Evil for Miles Davis with (Marcus Miller & Mike Stern). The issue with Allan Holdsworth's Then! which is a great live album is that I would have preferred instead of the three Zones improv pieces, they should have selected Devil Take the Hindmost, Shallow Sea and Looking Glass from that concert. Then I think that would have been #1 The other interesting fact about the Weather Report 8:30 album is this engineer messed up the four tracks from the concert, then WR had to go back in the studio to cut 4 tracks. They were going to release a live version of the tracks: River People, Mr. Gone, Waterfall, and Young & Fine. They eventually did release Waterfall and River People on Live & Unreleased decades later, but had that engineer not messed it up, that album would have been #1. On my list, I would have Hellborg Lane Sipe Temporal Analogues of Paradise, and Shawn Lane's Powers of Ten Live.

Fantastic list !! My favorite fusion live album is Shut up and play your guitar by Zappa but like you say Zappa is a genre on his own

Interesting list. My favourite at no. 1. But here’s a suggestion which didn’t make your list…”Games” by Bob Berg / Mike Stern Band with Lincoln Goines and Dennis Chambers. They’re all smoking on this. Stern is at the top of his game. Berg’s solos are fantastic too. And as a bonus the concert video is available on youtube.

A great live album you didn't mention is Jeff beck live with jan hammer group * also Stanley Clark i wanna play for you is great

What do you think of the Yellowjackets and their 1992 live album Live Wires?

Would absolutely love a best live jazz album video. So many great ones, would appreciate your thoughts.

Respect! 👍❤️

I've listened to Some Skunk Funk approximately 700 times, and I still can't enough of Michael's fiery solo and that great agogo part near the end. They added Some Skunk Funk into "The Real Book." That alone made the book worth the $40 price tag.

I've not heard enough of these to debate your opinions, but my God you have got me juiced up to do the research. I'm not convinced I'm gonna find much fault with your opinions based on the ones I am familiar with. Fusion forever!

Another great list - no issues. Never been a fan of live albums have always preferred to see the band perform - so live dvd / video was always better. Live Evil is a magnificent album and would be my number one choice.

Jeff beck and Jan hammer group pretty good as well, totally agree with number one bloody amazing lp

It is very weird that the classic fusion bands had so few live releases in the 70's. Especially so given that they had the musicianship to deliver the goods live and offer alternative takes on tunes that would make it worth the fans while to invest in them. Nice picks though, can't argue with any of those. I would give honorable mentions to 'Eleventh House - Live at Montreux', 'Santana - Lotus' and (if you need to chill out after the fusion frenzy) George Benson - Weekend in LA'.

You listened to Big Rooster Jeff's debut, "The Good Notes", yet?

So you are not digging back to the late 50's when this was first layed down? Thank you for your personal edit of what bands were good without playing any music.

When you said that the original Guitar Trio cameraderie wasn't the same later on: that reminded me of the story Al told in an interview about how John thought he was the main attraction of the trio and was getting paranoid that Al was turning up the volume on his Ovation Electro Acoustic in order to be the loudest. So Al had a special modified guitar made that had the volume control hidden in the strap button! Petty egos and jealousies need to be kept at bay in every band, so it seems! lol

From what I can gather the obviously superlative Blues For Tony (with A.H.) is a live album, (I was lucky to be at Yoshi's while it was recorded) and really have to claim that it eclipses a few of the picks here. Agharta is arguably is more rock than Live Evil... so of course you could put it on. Soft Machine Live and Well Recorded in Paris could maybe hang as well. You know what they say about favorite fusion live albums. Love the Nevermind The Bollocks declaration getting assigned to IMF.

I regretted that Weather Report featured less of Wayne Shorter as they added more artists. Felt like he could have contributed so much more.

I picked up weather report live and unreleased recently, even better than 8:30

Great vid, thank you! As a musician, when you hear these, do you think "I couldn't do that" or "I wish I'd thought of that first"? Or, can you simply sit back and enjoy it?

Live albums are my favorite albums ever, so many live albums have got me interested in the artist or band. Are you into soul or R&B? I do mean real soul and not the shite that passes as soul today. A top ten of soul live albums would be good. 8.30's a great sounding album from a sound aspect, probably been doctored, comparing it with other Weather Report live stuff I've heard.

I would add Lotus from Santana

Thanks for that great discourse Andy. I like 8.30, but Live in Tokyo is sublime, but maybe pushes beyond fusion. For me Weather Report was at its best before Jaco Pastorius. It is almost as if he is too good, too dominant and he unbalances that ineffable mystique that this band collectively produced. I like Live Evil but I adore Agartha. It also probably pushes beyond the genre somehow. It is such a cohesive behemonth from that band, rather than a vehicle for Miles.

I like your list and appreciate that you included a Billy Cobham album but I think the Billy Cobham/ George Duke live in Montreux was more classic , especially since Scofield was introduced.

The Ponty live is great but too short! Two other great ones : Herbie Hancock "Flood" and Stanley Clarke 'Live 76-77". Two borderline ones : Earth Wind and Fire "Gratitude" and Magma "Live 75". Return to Forever "Live" is an hit and miss for me : love Opening 77 and The Endless Night, don't care much for the rest.

Jesus H Christ, how did I not know there was a Saturday Night in San Francisco ?! Alexa, order it now!

I would not disagree with any of your choices. I am going to make a suggestion for a future theme video. Single live albums that should have been double albums.

fusion so intense and virtuosic that the players refute their heterosexuality as a result !!! hahahahahaha

What about Blood sweat and tears.

Return to Forever Live- 4 Album version.

RETURN TO FOREVER, Live?????

here’s my favorate, not on the list: Miles Davis - (1970) Cellar Door sessions Santana - (1974) Lotus Herbie Hancock - (1974) Flood Zawinul Syndicate - (1998) World Tour

Miles Davis Bitches Brew Live at # 1 & Allan Holdsworth All Night Wrong at #2. Y’all can fill in the rest

Scofield once said, his punk was in 1916. Really???

*between nothingness & eternity* has been that underrated. it sounds that heavy and didn't make any prisoners. even black sabbath wasn't that heavy! ... also like the funky black fusion of *flood* by herbie hancock

The bootleg of holdsworth and vinnie late 80sft lauderdale is not of this earth

No Dixie Dregs?!?! I mean, c'mon... 😁

Bitches Brew is too experimental. I like Miles albums but not this one.

Now, something completely different. I know, that You, Andy have nothing to do with the broadcasted adds. But with this video comes a spot with the flamish Nazis/Fascists. I don’t think, you woulkd like to be associated with them?

Jeff Beck live with The Jan Hammer Group. That is the shit right there...

Jeff Berlin was never in a JM band