THE ELEMENTS INFLUENCING THE MUSICAL DIRECTION OF FUSION JAZZ ARTISTS: A STUDY OF LEE RITENOUR

Abstract

Traditional Jazz is characterized by swing rhythm, the use of blues notes, syncopation, and improvisation. Jazz music has gone through evolution, birthing multiple iterations of a genre. One such iteration is Fusion Jazz as a combination of Jazz and Rock music. This music has undergone changes, adopting musical elements from various genres such as Funk, R&B, Blues, and other popular music, including the occasional use of computer programing. This study analyzes and studies the elements that have influenced fusion jazz artists. During the process of producing, recording, and performing, musicians often discover their personal musical strengths and weaknesses. This greatly improves or changes the musician’s tendencies on music. This research is to explore the life, career, and musical contributions of guitarist Lee Ritenour, with a specific focus on his impact on the jazz and contemporary music scenes. This study aims to examine the influence he exerted on the fusion jazz world by analyzing the various musical elements present in his compositions. Thus, this study will also predict possible future trends of Fusion Jazz.