Interesting
@Bologna your source(s) could be right, I wasn't there but read that in an in depth article by someone who appeared to know. I also read that Carlton and a few others played the Baked Potato once a week then and developed/perfected the genre on stage there. I expect it would be difficult to attribute the invention of any musical genre to one band or individual. Honestly the whole genre thing makes my head hurt, smooth jazz for example seems to cover anything from insipid elevator music to absolute masterpieces by absolute masters. Nu Jazz and Acid Jazz is another confusion for me, which is which, where do they start and end, I dunno.
I ask myself is Bitches Brew fusion? I dunno, honestly I have trouble hearing the "rock" in that album. BB was and is a popular and controversial album, undoubtedly more peeps have heard it then Crusader's albums. According to Wiki "Rock and jazz musician
Donald Fagen criticized the album as "essentially just a big trash-out for Miles ... To me it was just silly, and out of tune, and bad. I couldn't listen to it. It sounded like [Davis] was trying for a funk record, and just picked the wrong guys. They didn't understand how to play funk. They weren't steady enough." It's not hard to find others who claim BB is one of the greatest recording of all time. I'd know if creating such a polarizing work is an artistic accomplishment or failure?
Here's the 1970 release and the last album before Jazz was dropped from the Crusaders name. FWIW the rock influence is clear to me and contemporary with BB.
Jazz Crusaders Old Socks New Shoes
Anyway just my rambling on a topic that's interesting, no criticism is intended for anyone's tastes or opinions. Me I still listen to the Crusaders fairly often. /nods
Larry Live Sublime and superb!