Even before I was into contemporary jazz, I always had a fondness for more mellow, sophisticated pop music. Recently while listening to a lot of the 80's bands again, I was struck by how many jazz session musicians played on releases by bands like Level 42, Climie Fisher, The Dream Academy, Johnny Hates Jazz, Go West...etc. Kirk Whalum, Nathan East, Louis Jardim, Jerry Hey and many others were featured on several of these albums. I must admit...I'm a fan of this type of music and I've read that some of today's artists have been infuenced to a small degree by this stuff. In fact, I believe our own Tony W. lists Howard Jones as an influence. Anyone else have any other 80's Pop / C-Jazz connections they can list here? What other bands did you / do you enjoy from this era?

Oh Yeah?! Check out classic Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell or James Taylor liner notes!

Favorite from the 80's...Tears For Fears. Also liked Simple Minds. Jim Kerr has a great voice!

I liked bands like Lakeside, Zapp featuring Roger Troutman, Prince, The Time featuring Morris Day, Brick, Kool & The Gang. When no one else was around, I would listen to Culture Club, Duran Duran, New Order, The Fixx, the Thompson Twins, the Police, Genesis, Yes, and ELP.

The first time I ever saw Nathan East, he was playing with Eric Clapton.

In the 80s for a while I was at this station where on Sat night I did "New Wave Dance Party"..lots of remixes and stuff we didn't play regularly. Then I went home and slept for 6 hours and came back in and did the Sunday Jazz Brunch.

The first time I saw Dave Koz he was playing with Richard Marx. I played the Untouchables on my "new wave" show and later found out that Jeff Kashiwa and I think Will Donato were in that band. Some of the guys in Mr.Mister played on Jarreau CDs and toured with him. Felicia Collins was in the Thompson Twins band before she hooked up with Jarreau then went to one of the late night talk show bands. Someone told me that Chris Botti worked with Scritti Politti at some point (one of my favorite 80s bands). There was a very cool Bela Fleck-ish instrumental on a Widespread Panic CD that came out around '94 but I don't remember the name of it and somebody 5 finger discounted it from my house.

Now go way back: Traffic-"Glad" from John Barleycorn and It's a Beautiful Day "Bombay Calling" from their first album.

Was there anybody jazzy in Oingo Boingo or Martha and the Muffins?????

no jazz connections but I like the...The Smiths.

..theres one, Tears For Fears' Seeds Of Love, All Music Guide evern stated their jazz inflected track, Standing in The Corner of The Third World.

but what i remember are the sidemen, Manu Kache, Pino Palladino, Luis Jardim...and Phil Collins.

Hey Joel,
Actually the closest jazz connection to the Smiths is that Paul Carrack played keyboards on their debut album. He also was a hit vocalist on Squeeze's "Tempted" and Mike & the Mechanics big hits "The Living Years" and "Silent Running". I am a huge Smiths fan...but don't mention the word jazz to Morrissey. And yes, Will Donato was a member of the Untouchables. He can be seen on the back cover of "Decade of Dance Live". Chris Botti did play with Scritti Politti on the "Provision" album. That is the same album that featured Miles Davis of all people!

Rob,

what can I say, only a expert can reply ...what's the deal with Jazz and Morrissey? is he alergic to it?
Wasnt he the one the got "poppish" in the end whereas Johnny Marr still wanted to play the same music?

How many jazz albums do you own with the names of Toto alums Jeff Porcaro, Steve Porcaro, Steve Lukather? How about Ambrosia's David Pack singing with David Benoit?
Larry Carlton, Steve Khan, Steve Gadd, Tom Scott and David Sanborn were in session with Steely Dan. Patti Austin went pop/R&B after backing up Steely Dan, Maynard Ferguson and other jazz acts.
Jerry Hey wrote, produced or performed horn arrangements for Michael Jackson and others.
Did anyone mention Chris Botti touring with Sting?
Basia spent two years with a group called Matt Bianco. (This one, I didn't know from my own music, but got from a friend in New Zealand who insists that one of the Basia songs was done by that group with her as a vocalist.)
Carl Anderson sang a duet, "Friends and Lovers," with pop singer/soap star Gloria Loring.