Last year Lorber marked his 40th recording anniversary and in January 2018, he scored his first Grammy win for his Jeff Lorber Fusion recording Prototype in the category of Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. He scored his first Grammy nomination in 1985 for his radio hit “Pacific Coast Highway” from his album Step By Step. In 1982 Lorber made his solo debut with It’s A Fact.
The ensemble quickly gained traction and became one of the most popular jazz acts, touring nonstop. Their 1980 album Wizard Island made the introduction of a then little known Kenny G. “Some of these icons that come to mind are Bill Evans, Thelonious Monk, McCoy Tyner and Bud Powell.” In 1977 Jeff Lorber Fusion released their self-titled debut. Want to find more albums like it, like 70s Jazz, Jazz, Fusion, 70s Take a look around Ominous Synths Records. “Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea have been major influences but I had to go back and try to figure out who they listened to and were inspired by,” says Lorber.
A true clinician, Lorber has made it a point to study the long line of modern jazz pianists since 1945. Jeff Lorber Fusion came to life in the 70s when the pianist attended Berklee College of Music. A groundbreaking Fender Rhodes pioneer along with Herbie Hancock, Joe Sample and Bob James, Lorber has triumphed as one of the most innovative musical minds in contemporary jazz. Trailblazing pianist, composer, producer and bandleader Jeff Lorber has hit a career stride and shows no signs of slowing down. The velocities of his virtuosic solos hitting the right momentum create an electric field of pure joy. His pressure-cooked grooves are kinetic energy at work. Jeff Lorber Fusion and Miles Davis were playing some of the same festivals back then, so I got to hear him play. Those who know Lorber’s music are probably not surprised, as he is a force of nature. 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. “I’m a science fan and like to watch youtube from videos from different lectures about various scientific subjects especially physics,” confesses Jeff Lorber.