Fusion jazz

Jazz rock

Jazz rock bands such as Chicago, the Ides of March, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Chase, Lighthouse, Santana, Colosseum, Soft Machine, Nucleus, Brand X, the Mothers of Invention and IF blended jazz and rock with electric instruments. Miles Davis' fusion jazz was "pure melody and tonal color", while Frank Zappa's music was more "complex" and "unpredictable". Zappa released the solo album Hot Rats in 1969. The album contained long instrumental pieces with a jazz influence. Zappa released two albums, Waka/Jawaka and The Grand Wazoo, in 1972, which were influenced by jazz. George Duke and Aynsley Dunbar played on both. 1970s band Steely Dan has been lauded by music critic Neil McCormick for their "smooth, smart jazz-rock fusion".