Jeff Lorber Fusion

The Jeff Lorber Fusion is the debut album by keyboardist Jeff Lorber as leader of his band "The Jeff Lorber Fusion". Instrumental light jazz set that introduced Lorber as a leader and also featured contributions from a then unknown vocalist who went on to achieve Urban Contemporary success in her own right–Karyn White.

Jeff Lorber's funkiest album yet, featuring an amazing allstar lineup including Grammy winning jazz greats Jimmy Haslip, Paul Jackson, Jr, Snarky Puppy's Marc Lettieri, Gary Novak, David Mann and more! Grammy winning superstar keyboardist, writer, producer Jeff Lorber is renowned as a pioneer in the Jazz-Fusion movement. Scoring #1 radio hits with Jeff Lorber Fusion and as afounding member of Smooth Jazz super-group Jazz Funk Soul, Lorber performs constantly before his dedicated fans from coast to coast!! Highlights include the uber-funky "The Drop," the warm, intimate "Hang Tight," the bright, uplifting "Reception," and more Lorber originals.

For Immediate Release – Jeff Lorber Fusion, whose previous release Hacienda was praised for its “impeccable musicianship and deep grooves” by JazzTimes and its “funky, rollicking jams” by All About Jazz, returns on September 25, 2015, with Step It Up on Heads Up, a division of Concord Music Group. The fourth consecutive collaboration between GRAMMY®-nominated keyboardist/composer/producer Jeff Lorber and GRAMMY®-winning bassist/composer/ producer Jimmy Haslip since the two virtuosos reactivated Jeff Lorber Fusion five years ago, Step It Up features 11 new Lorber compositions, several co-written with Haslip. The longtime colleagues also co-produced the recording.

GRAMMY Award-winning keyboardist/composer/producer Jeff Lorber recalls seeing guitarist Mike Stern during his much-ballyhooed tenure with Miles Davis in the early ‘80s. “I’ve been a fan of his for a long time,” said the keyboardist, who was touring hard in support of his hit records Wizard Island and It’s a Fact in those analog days. “Jeff Lorber Fusion and Miles Davis were playing some of the same festivals back then, so I got to hear him play.” For his part, Stern offered, “To be honest, I was aware of him, and had heard a bunch of good things, but I had never really checked him out. We were just in different orbits, me and Jeff.”

Keyboardist/composer/producer Jeff Lorber, heralded as one of the founding fathers of fusion (Keyboard), returns with his GRAMMY®-nominated power trio the Jeff Lorber Fusion, featuring bassist/co-producer Jimmy Haslip and saxophonist Eric Marienthal. Since the late 1970s, this contemporary jazz collective has blended elements of jazz, funk, rock, R&B and world music into a distinctive sound that has connected with audiences from a variety of continents, cultures and generations. In more recent years, the group's studio efforts such as their 2010 release, Now Is the Time (2010) and Galaxy (2012), influenced by extensive touring throughout Europe and Asia, have been colored with vibrant shades of dance and house music.

As with previous release 'Now is the Time' Jeff Lorber is joined by the Yellowjackets' Jimmy Haslip on bass, Eric Marienthal on saxophones and Vinnie Colaiuta and Dave Weckl sharing drumming duties. Jeff once again takes some of his more popular tunes from the past, like "Wizard Island", "City" and "The Underground" and updates them with the new band. "Essentially this album is a part two", Lorber says. "It features the same rhythm section, but it's even more into the jazz fusion direction. It's more energetic and the performances are tighter." In total, 'Galaxy' includes 11 Jeff Lorber original compositions.

As with previous release 'Now is the Time' Jeff Lorber is joined by the Yellowjackets' Jimmy Haslip on bass, Eric Marienthal on saxophones and Vinnie Colaiuta and Dave Weckl sharing drumming duties.Jeff once again takes some of his more popular tunes from the past, like "Wizard Island", "City" and "The Underground" and updates them with the new band. "Essentially this album is a part two", Lorber says. "It features the same rhythm section, but it's even more into the jazz fusion direction. It's more energetic and the performances are tighter." In total, 'Galaxy' includes 11 Jeff Lorber original compositions.