Matrix

An instrumental figure in the booming fusion movement in the mid-'70s, Matrix never quite got the recognition they deserved. Starting in 1974, the band hit the Midwest club scene and didn't look back until 1976's Monterey Jazz Festival. Touring heavily during the next few years, they were a hit in the festival circuit and gained the admiration of artists as varied as Duke Ellington, Weather Report, and Pat Metheny. Unfortunately, the band did not survive past the beginning of the '90s, and their catalog faded into obscurity along with their efforts. Luckily, the group decided to reunite in 2000 and restarted their career where they left off, hitting the festival circuit and releasing a reunion record two years later. ~ Bradley Torreano