Written Assignment 4: Jazz-Rock Fusion
For this assignment, you will be listening to two jazz-rock fusion pieces: Mercy, Mercy, Mercy by The Cannonball Adderley Quintet (1966), and To the End of the World by The Pat Metheny Group (1994). Listen to both pieces attentively, and answer the following questions:
Listen to Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, one of the earlies examples of jazz-rock fusion, and To the End of the World, and describe some specific jazz-rock fusion elements for each piece.
Joe Zawinul is the keyboardist (and composer) playing on Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, and Lyle Mays is the keyboardist (and co-composer) playing on To the End of the World. At what points do their respective solos begin and end? Use counter numbers (minutes and seconds on your media player). Also, describe each of their solo styles.
At about 6:05 on To the End of the World, a new sound is added to the texture. What is the sound? Using counter numbers, when does Pat Metheny’s guitar synthesizer solo begin and end?
Based on what you can find online, what exactly is a guitar synthesizer and how is it played? Describe Metheny’s solo in this piece.
What are your impressions of the two pieces? Did you prefer one more than the other? if so, why? Are there some specific musical elements or solos in either of the pieces you really enjoy hearing? Please provide some specific examples by using counter numbers.