In the 1970s and 80's, a fusion in jazz music occurred giving birth to a new, more electrified and diverse genre called jazz-funk. Some notable pioneers in this genre were: The Crusaders, Weather Report, Herbie Hancock, Alphonse Mouzon, Chick Corea, Lee Ritenour, Azymuth, Eumir Deodato, Jeff Lorber, Seawind, and Koinonia.
Though less known in the United States, Koinonia established themselves as a huge sensation in Scandinavia and Western Europe, performing to sell-out crowds from 1982 to 1991 in Norway, Denmark, Holland, Sweden, Their Latin-infused rhythms and upbeat melodies gave them a distinct and cultured sound. Taken from a Greek word used in the Bible to mean "intimate fellowship" Koinonia was notably one of the first Christian, though primarily instrumental, jazz bands. The original members of the band, which formed in 1980, were: (leader) classically trained guitarist, Abraham Laboriel on electric bass guitar, child-prodigy drummer Bill Maxwell, Dean Parks on guitar, Alex Acuña on percussion and drums, Hadley Hockensmith on guitar, Harlan Rogers on keyboards and saxophone/clarinet & flute virtuoso Justo Almario