Jazz guitar vs Jazz fusion?

Question

Which do you prefer and why (technically speaking)?

Answer 1

I love both, but if I had to choose, I'd pick fusion. There have been so many groundbreaking albums that produced phenomenal players. I still love Jazz gtr., but fusion pickers send those cold chills up my spine. Tommy Bolin (especially) was like an open channel, fully in touch with his muse. Larry Coryell, John McLaughlin, Jan Akkerman, Carlos Santana, Sonny Sharrock, Blood Ulmer, Vernon Reid, Jeff Beck.....they all brought something new to the table. Even Hendrix's few forays into the genre showed he had a sense of the power of mixing rock and jazz.
Listen to "Spectrum", by Billy Cobham, a kickass jazz drummer, and notice how he's energized by the rock element. It's still fresh today.....some 30+ years later.
Great players are eventually gonna make great music. Weather Report, Return To Forever, Eleventh House, Herbie Hancock's Headhunters, and, of course MILES.

Answer 2

I am pretty much agreed with the above answer. I love jazz guitar, jazz fusion, and jazz fusion guitar. Fusion is what got me into jazz. Back then it was Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return To Forever, Larry Coryell Elenventh House, Jeff Beck - Wired, Billy Cobham - Spectrum, Allan Holdsworth. From these people my tastes evolved into Django Reinhart, Wes Montgomery, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and later Larry Carlton, Stanley Jordan, Lee Ritenour, etc.

Answer 3

I just want to say, listen to these answers, they know what they're talking about. I'm glad to see that people still have extraordinary taste in music. I could list so many others but just be glad that fusion ( jazz/rock 1st credited to Mile Davis' album Bitches Brew) is alive.