Well, I must admit that I have not heard the "Jazz is Dead" CD you mention, although I think it's title is inaccurate. I'd also question whether this group is really a "fusion" jazz band in the sense normally understood by jazz fans. If you want to check out the "roots" of fusion jazz, here are some recordings you try:
1. Miles Davis: either "In a Silent Way" or "Bitches Brew" (already mentioned above) from the late 1960's, or "Live-Evil", "Black Beauty", and Agharta" from the late 1970's and 1980's.
2. Weather Report (arguably the pre-eminent fusion band of the 1970's, led by Joe Zawinul, with Wayne Shorter and Jaco Pastorius): either "Heavy Weather" or "8:30" (a live concert recording).
3. John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra: "Inner Mounting Flame", or "Birds of Fire".
4. Herbie Hancock: "Sextant", "Mwandishi", and "Crossings".
5. Recordings from the 1970's by Larry Coryell and Pat Metheny.
6. Billy Cobham also led his own group in the late 1970's, and released an album or two (sorry, can't think of the names).
1. Miles Davis: either "In a Silent Way" or "Bitches Brew" (already mentioned above) from the late 1960's, or "Live-Evil", "Black Beauty", and Agharta" from the late 1970's and 1980's.
2. Weather Report (arguably the pre-eminent fusion band of the 1970's, led by Joe Zawinul, with Wayne Shorter and Jaco Pastorius): either "Heavy Weather" or "8:30" (a live concert recording).
3. John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra: "Inner Mounting Flame", or "Birds of Fire".
4. Herbie Hancock: "Sextant", "Mwandishi", and "Crossings".
5. Recordings from the 1970's by Larry Coryell and Pat Metheny.
6. Billy Cobham also led his own group in the late 1970's, and released an album or two (sorry, can't think of the names).