How Al Kooper Formed the Jazzrock Group

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Al Kooper was a visionary of his time, who wanted to find a way to bridge the gap between jazz and rock music. In the mid-1960s, he formed a group of musicians whose backgrounds and experiences blended styles from both genres. This “jazzrock” group consisted of Al Kooper on keyboards, together with drummers/percussionists Harvey Brooks and Bobby Colomby; bassists Jim Fielder and Abraham Laboriel; guitarist Barry Goldberg; plus guitar/vocalist Stephen Stills. Although this specific combination played only a short time together (early 1968 – mid 1969), it was through their efforts that an entire new form of popular music emerged – blending the improvisational freedom of jazz with an aggressive electric energy found in rock music.

Al Kooper felt that by combining some of the most talented crossover players, he could create something special that would stand out above all else. He gathered friends such as former bandmates Stephen Stills (formerly of Buffalo Springfield) and Barry Goldberg (The Electric Flag). He also sought out session professionals such as two prolific drummers: Harvey Brooks (100%cotton), Bobby Colomby (The Blues Project/Blood Sweat & Tears); plus bassist Jim Fielder (Mama Cass Elliot’s Mamas & Papas). Abraham Laboriel joined them for the final recordings, creating an instrumental lineup no one had attempted before. Through their collaborative spirit and willingness to allow each player’s sounds – amplified or acoustic – to be heard without stepping over each other, the creative team was born!

The result was classic Album cuts like “Mercy Mercy Mercy” which allowed Kooper’s organ playing, Collins epic vocal performances and extended solos to intertwine during its 10-minute run time; while album closer “Tapestry From An Asteroid” featured intense orchestrations unlike anything else at the time: ominous intro and piano opening crystallizing into weird sound textures while heavy fuzz guitar ripped away in between resulting in keyboard ebbs & flows culminating into one distinct collective piece following Al’s bold lead . By challenging widely held perceptions of what rock music could be – loud fixed ahead rhythms— often leaving place for sensitive harmonics interplay which still lived at heart— this JazzRock collective experimented boundaries successfully allowing us now cover bands for song like “I Stand Alone or Earthquake Country” with either fusion /heavy elements or straight up funkier pace setters still holding unique sound signature from Al Kooper himself proving once you master one idiom , experimenting another style can bring viable original opus move beyond what established before

Overall , by balancing individual personalities within genre specificity framework Al Kooper managed to blend contrasting concepts pushing forward arguably first key JazzRock effort setting high standards today’s acts alike!