A roundup of instrumental fusion bands active in Japan

Fusion is a music genre that emerged around the 1970s.

Rooted in jazz, it blends elements from other genres such as rock and funk.

Its appeal is hard to sum up in a single sentence: technical guitar solos; groovy bass and drum phrases; expansive, powerful saxophone melodies; and flowing, captivating keyboards, to name just a few.

In this article, we’ll highlight instrumental bands active in Japan among the many fusion groups with such depth and allure.

In fact, Japan is home to a wealth of top-tier players that rival those overseas.

Whether you’re a longtime fusion fan or just getting into the genre, we hope you’ll enjoy this read.

Playlist

A roundup of instrumental fusion bands active in Japan
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	TRUTHT-SQUARE		Legendary fusion music of T-SQUARE
2	Blue WavesDimension		Dimension is a fusion band that debuted in 1992.
3	ASAYAKECASIOPEA-P4		CASIOPEA is a pioneer of Japanese fusion music.
4	Heart of the WorldDEZOLVE		DEZOLVE's distinctive jazz fusion sound
5	Space Antyajū ōkoku		Live performance of Beast Kingdom
6	We got readypiramiddo		Fusion trio, currently active as a duo
7	PRESENTTRIX		TRIX is characterized by a solid drum-and-bass groove.
8	TAKE OFFpurizumu		Description of the band's formation and activity history
9	SEA LINE “RIE”Kadamatsu Toshiki		Toshiki Kadomatsu’s trilogy is highly acclaimed and musically rich
10	BelievinNaniwa Ekisupuresu		History of Naniwa Express’s Activities
11	Alibabasupēsu sākasu		Transcendent bass technique and distinctive sound of Space Circus
12	HERCULESParachute		Fusion band that has continued since 1979
13	READY TO FLYSadisutikksu		A star-studded lineup was active from ’76 to ’78.
14	Detective Conan Main ThemeŌno Katsuo Bando		Musical activities of the Katsuo Ohno Band
15	In the SpacesupeKUTORAMU		Spectrum: a short-lived but highly influential fusion band
16	All of youLiquid Stella		Jazz-pop fusion band earns high acclaim
17	As You LikeThe Jazz Avengers		A jazz band of eight Japanese women launches
18	Ancient CapitalDEZOLVE		DEZOLVE is a fusion band with youthful sensibilities and exceptional performance skills.
19	VaisravanaEar Candy Jazz Factory		Introducing a skilled smooth jazz unit