Fusion and Beyond: The 1970s-1980s

Jazz Rock à la Française

As jazz-rock fusion emerged, French musicians created their own variants. Magma, founded by drummer Christian Vander in 1969, invented "Zeuhl"—a unique fusion of jazz, rock, and classical minimalism with lyrics in Kobaïan, Vander's invented language. Their influence spawned an entire movement of French progressive rock/jazz bands.

Gong, founded by Australian Daevid Allen in Paris, mixed Canterbury scene psychedelia with jazz improvisation and absurdist humor. Though international in lineup, their French base influenced their aesthetic.

Moving Gelatine Plates and Maajun represented more straightforward jazz-rock fusion but with distinctly French sophistication in composition and arrangement.

The Lumière Brothers

Brothers Patrice and François Jeannest formed Lumière, creating ethereal fusion that predated new age music. Their use of synthesizers, wordless vocals, and impressionistic compositions showed French musicians adapting fusion to their own aesthetic priorities.