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History of Jazz Timeline: 1969

Miles Davis records In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew, starting the fusion revolution. Bitches Brew sells a half million copies its first year.

Drummer Tony Williams forms an early fusion band called Lifetime with guitarist John McLaughlin and organist Larry Young, recording Emergency! (Polydor).

Frank Zappa records his second solo album, Hot Rats, with Jean-Luc Ponty on violin (among others).

ECM (Editions of Contemporary Music) Records is established in Munich by Manfred Eicher. The label's first release, recorded in late 1969, is the Mal Waldron Trio's Free at Last with pianist Mal Waldron, bassist Isla Eckinger, and drummer Clarence Becton.

Tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins dies of liver cancer on May 19.

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