Ben's top voted 30 Fusion Cover Tracks

Jimi Meets Miles - All Along The Watchtower

the classic Dylan track Hendrix made his own. Benny Sutton puts his own stamp on it. Do you recognise the bassline it starts with? It's almost Michael Jackson's Billie Jean and it is perfect to drive it. Some artistic licence is exercised here when it dives into some very modern Daft Punk, alternates classic Jimi and Miles, ending with the only vocal on the album.

Funkameleon

The classic Herbie Hancock jazz standard from his Headhunters era. My version features a Dubstep bass (along with the classic synth bass riff)

Jimi Meets Miles #1 Right Off

The greatest ever collaboration that never happened. I play Jimi style over a pastiche of Mile's track 'Right off' from his album 'jack johnson'

Jimi Meets Miles #7 Tutu

If only Jimi had played on the Miles Davis 1986 album Tutu along with Marcus Miller. How brilliant that would be!

Jimi Meets Miles - Big Time

What if Jimi and Miles Davis had collaborated in the 80's? It would sound modern for sure. Marcus Miller would be producer and playing bass.

Jimi Meets Miles #2 If 6 were 9

This is what it might have sounded like had Jimi survived to play with Miles Davis during Miles' Tutu/Amandla period (1986). For the first time Miles could embrace synthesizers, sequencing, and drum machines. No doubt Jimi would have too. Add to that a producer who could play bass every bit as well as he could produce, Marcus Miller, and you have a recipe for some awesome music.

Birdland, Weather Report collaboration

A modern re-imagining of the classic Weather Report track by the cream of jazz players on Soundcloud.

Jimi Meets Miles #8 Hey Joe

The classic Jimi groove revisited with a Miles Davis style solo at the end. I play or sequence all instruments on this pastiche in the style of Hey Joe. For full Jimi Hendrix album discography click here

Jimi Meets Miles #5 In a Silent Way

What if... Miles and Jimi collaborated on the classic Miles track "In a Silent Way"? Jimi could carry a tune, as proven by his rendition of "Star Spangled Banner". The melody to "In a Silent Way" is a lot tougher than that, mainly because it is really slow and stops/starts throughout. However, I have no doubt Jimi would excel on it. I speculate their version would not be a million miles away from this.

Little Sunflower

This is my first ever guitar duet collaboration so who better to do it with than the immensely talented Dan Van Den Berg @danarchxI

Jimi Meets Miles #6 Purple Haze

If Jimi and Miles had done a track in the style of Purple Haze in the 80's, they would have embraced synthesisers and funk. By then Jimi would probably be bored playing that iconic guitar riff motif at every gig, so I let the synth voice do a riff like it.

Jimi Meets Miles #14 Foxy Lady

WHAT IF... Jimi and Miles had played together on a high energy instrumental in the style of Foxy Lady? I play or sequence all instruments on my pastiche in the style of the classic track off Jimi's 1967 debut album Are You Experienced.

Jimi Meets Miles - Little Wing

The track every guitarist should learn how to play, though it does challenge you if a beginner!.

Jimi Meets Miles #4 Voodoo Chile

What if... Miles and Jimi run the voodoo down on a groove similar to Jimi's classic Voodoo Child in the 1980's? Miles did a track called "Miles runs the Voodoo down" on Bitches Brew (1970). It was limited by recording keyboard technology. I conceive a groove that morphs into an authentic late 1970's Jazz/Rock/Funk/Fusion piece using technology Miles and Jimi never had!

Jimi Meets Miles #10 Fire

What if Jimi and Miles Davis played with Fire? Sparks would fly! I play or sequence all instruments on this pastiche in the style of Fire.

Jimi Meets Miles #15 So What?

What if Jimi Hendrix played a groove like So What? In the 80's it would be more modern, tighter, and with a synth bass line! It might even be smooth jazz. Why not? Some Little Wing style rhythm guitar would fit perfectly. I play or sequence all instruments on this pastiche in the style of So What. For full Miles Davis discography click here

Jimi Meets Miles #9 Castles Made of Sand

Had Jimi and Miles did a track in the style of Castles Made of Sand, one of Hendrix's most beautiful, they would have captured its wistful qualities for sure. The track relies on Jimi's own distinctive brand of rhythm guitar playing that was both lyrical and melodic. Miles' horn would certainly have complimented that.

I play or sequence all instruments on this pastiche in the style of Castles Made of Sand.

Jimi Meets Miles #12 Third Stone from the Sun

What if Jimi and Miles had collaborated in the 80's in the style of Jimi's "3rd Stone from the Sun" track? Marcus Miller would be the producer and playing double bass (he did a version on his Jaco album).

Continuum

Not strictly a Weather Report track, Continuum was on the self named Album Jaco Pastorius before he joined the band.

Red Baron

This was one of the breakout track when the album Stratus Red Baron was first released. Of course that had the late Tommy Bolin on, and Jan Hammer. It's a popular track to cover, I enjoyed doing it too!

In a Silent Way

My version of the the iconic Miles track. I think it has most beautiful melody line ever, written by Joe Zawinul. Complete with Miles Davis' actual horn on the coda!

Tutu

My cover of the title track from Miles Davis Tutu album. Miles could play over any type of music from any era and make it sound great. Every decade brought a new sound. This was Miles Davis' post 70's fusion style. Much slicker. Technology had moved on in the 80's and he could now exploit synths, sequencers and drum machines. Drums by Michael Herndon.

Black Market - Weather Report

Here's one of my favourite Weather Report tracks. I bought it on Vinyl, cassette tape, and CD so the next logical step was to record it!

A Remark You Made

A modern re-imagining for guitar of the Weather Report track from the Heavy Weather album. On it I take the melody line Wayne Shorter plays and I play it on guitar. Written by Joe Zawinul

Bulan di Asia

"Bulan di Asia" is a beautiful jazz composition by Indonesian musician Indra Lesmana arranged by the immensely talented Devian Zikri. I don't get to do 3/4 often and appreciate the possibilities when I do. It made for a nice solo on high bass.

EG blues

this is a track by the Icelandic jazz funk outfit Mezzoforte

My most popular Fusion Cover Songs