In recent years I’ve seen a rekindled interest in 70s jazz fusion; Miles’ electric period along with spin-off bands Weather Report, Return To Forever, Mahavishnu Orchestra have inspired a new generation of jazz-rock acts that taps into their innovative genius in melding the sophistication and improvisation nature of jazz with the direct power of rock and funk.
But what about 80s fusion? The genre of that time took on its own vibe as grooves got tighter, melodies got catchier, songs got more precise and the production got sleeker. I love 70s fusion as much as the next guy but as it progressed into the next decade, it got a lot less self-serious and much of it was just plain fun. It wasn’t long after this style emerged that a watered-down version of it called ‘smooth jazz’ began to catch on and took up most of the larger contemporary jazz space; aside from the Pat Metheny Group, the more artistically-minded fusion of this period were forgotten for the most part.
So, that’s been a largely untapped area that’s been begging for a revisit. There’s one band I know of that’s recapturing that zeitgeist, and that’s Ottawa-based Finely Tuned Elephant. Originally started in 2019 by guitar whiz Jordan Robinson (who had just released a solo album, Finely Tuned Elephant) along with drummer Kyle Iveglia, the quartet is completed with Cyrus Robertson Orkish (electric bass) and Alex Lugli (keyboards).
They got to work at the height of Covid and made their first album Perfect Coincidence in 2020, then followed it up with The Fast Life a couple of years later. Both of these albums offered a headier brand of feel-good fusion that’s been largely lacking for a while, but now their third album is finally coming after a four-year lull in release activity.
No Goats (out March 27, 2026) is the culmination of years of touring and honing their band chemistry. It’s also a step up in the composing department, where the songs even more tend to move forward and avoid repeating the same riffs in the same way. You could say that the Finely Tuned Elephant has taken a good start with a clear mission and finely-tuned it.
The band uses just the right doses of jazz, rock and funk, leaning on a good dose of musicianship to make your head, heart and feet equally happy. Who do they sound like, you ask? The legendary Japanese rock-jazz group Casiopea is an obvious influence; Finely Tuned Elephant has done full-album live performances of their music. Chick Corea Elektric Band also comes to mind as does Allan Holdsworth, The Jeff Lorber Fusion and Blue Matter-era John Scofield. But they don’t perfectly match any of these acts because they’ve successfully synthesized their influences into their own dialect.
The integration of harmony and rhythm is a central facet of these songs, and the intricate interplay required to pull it off is one of the ways they shine. “Chunky Monkey” does that rather effectively and Robinson’s lead guitar acts as the lyrical voice on the song to emphasize the melody. Robinson and Orkish take solo spots, but they keep ’em direct and tidy. “Gamblin’ Man” manages to kick it up a notch, piling on interesting, fast-moving motifs one after another around an anthemic, guitar-led chorus and a tumbling ending.
“Moongazing In Tokyo” (video above) struts with confidence while the mid-tempo strut of “Over Yonder” is circumspect. For “Thievus Raccoonus,” FTE changes the whole complexion of the song just by changing the tempo for the gallop to a laid back funky rhythm using the same motif.
“No Goats” displays mastery of the extended composition form, moving seamlessly from one pattern from another as Robinson extinguishes the distinction between soloing and singing resonant lines with his guitar.
This record never hits any dead spots, there’s always enough chops, hooks and complexity to keep listeners engaged all the way through. It’s time to re-embrace all the energy and funky fun of Mullet Jazz. You don’t need a mullet or a time machine to take this trip; Finely Tuned Elephant’s No Goats is here to re-create that feeling in the present.
Pre-order/order a digital version of No Goats from Amazon.
| Album Cover | Artist | Title | Format | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Casiopea | Casiopea | CD | Purchase Here |
 | John Scofield | Blue Matter | CD | Purchase Here |
 | Chick Corea Elektric Band | Light Years | CD | Purchase Here |
 | The Jeff Lorber Fusion | Wizard Island | Vinyl | Purchase Here |
 | Allan Holdsworth | Wardenclyffe Tower | CD | Click Here |
- Finely Tuned Elephant – ‘No Goats’ (2026) - March 23, 2026
- Michael Formanek – ‘New Digs’ (2026) - March 19, 2026
- Alabaster DePlume, “Bringing Up the Nakba” from ‘Dear Children of Our Children, I Knew: Epilogue’ (2026): Something Else! sneak peek - March 17, 2026
