Fusion

On first listen, Canvas, the major label debut from 27-year-old pianist Robert Glasper sounds decidedly mainstream. However, Glasper comes informed by the broad range of influences that a jazz musician of his generation inevitably does, with deep jazz roots and the sometimes subconscious influence of having grown up also listening to hip hop, R&B and alternative rock. The second time around, the true nature of the music begins to reveal itself, not as much aurally as sensually. The bass is warmer, fatter, and more sanguine; the drums throb, and the piano dances freestyling swing moods.

Bill Frisell was born in Baltimore, but was raised in Denver, CO. Once a classical clarinetist, he established a firm base in his traditional harmonic knowledge early on in life. Throughout high school and college he also played guitar in various rock and R&B groups in the Denver area. During high school, however, he became profoundly interested in jazz guitar. In 1971 Frisell attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, and also began studying with Jim Hall, one of the prominent jazz guitarists of the 1960s.

Pat Mastelotto (born Lee Patrick Mastelotto, 10 September 1955, Chico, California) is a rock drummer who has worked with Mr. Mister, King Crimson and XTC, among others. For King Crimson he initially formed part of the "double trio", joining Bill Bruford on drums. Mastelotto started playing the drums at the age of 10. When he was 16, he was playing in the most popular local bands and, while still in High School, commuted several hours to Lake Tahoe for gigs.

*...Taken in part from Wikipedia...*
Gilad Atzmon (born June 9, 1963) is a jazz musician, author and anti-zionist activist, who was born in Israel and currently lives in exile in London, regarding himself as a Hebrew-speaking Palestinian. He was born a secular Israeli Jew in Tel Aviv, and trained at the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem, where he learned to play soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones. He also plays clarinet, sol, zurna and flute. He studied philosophy in Germany and moved to London at age 32.