Jazz Odyssey

In "This is Spinal Tap", Jazz Odyssey is the epic meandering free-form jazz exploration piece written by the band's bass player Derek Smalls; Spinal Tap's lowest point is performing this song at a fair. For many this is the only perceived crossroads of jazz and metal, but Southern Technical Death Metal would be in a different place without jazz. The same spirit of technical virtuosity that drove the drum solo behind Dave Brubeck's Take Five also inspired the blazing guitar behind Necrophagist.

Death Metal, like all Metal, really, breaks down into a number of sub-sub-genres based on identifiable aesthetic qualities. Those bands focusing on the highest degree of competency in their instrumentation fall into what's generally called Progressive or Technical Death Metal. Check out Floridian Metal Giants Atheist. Then check them out again, because seriously.

But I thought we were talking about jazz, here? Well, savvy music theorists and critics have compared jazz to metal for some time, particularly (though not exclusively) Death Metal as they're both in many ways quite distant from standard pop. But don't take my word for it - Anus has been at this game much longer than I and breaks it down fantastically.

For a seriously sweet jazz-metal hybrid experience, check out musical collective Shining. Starting off as a jazz quartet in Norway, Shining has always been extremely experimental and careened into metal with their latest, Blackjazz.

No foray into Jazz Metal would be complete without Ihsahn. The former frontman of Emperor, Ihsahn has been compared to a number of classical composers. My favorite, though, has to be this track from After. Holy Hell, that's a metal saxophone!

For some clean vocals, have a look at Cynic's Traced in Air. There's something very mystical yet synthesized about Cynic to my ears. Like a robot and an elf had a baby and it started playing Prog-Metal, which I mean in the best possible way.

Finally, let's look at the Death Metal band with the most obvious name, Death. I envy you, if you've never heard 1,000 Eyes before, because I'd love to hear it for the first time again.

Prof. Organgrinder