Fusion is a simple word that pretty much just means blending or merging, but these days it seems to be used with increasing frequency and in a lot of different ways. At one time it was probably mostly used to describe processes like nuclear fusion, but it’s now applied to everything from gourmet cooking to music.
The word could even be used to describe the little beastie shown in the accompanying picture. It’s something that’s commonly called a zonkey or a zedonk — a cross between a zebra and a donkey. The technuical term for such a critter is actually zebroid, and it is — like mules and other crossbred equines — sterile, so it will never be able to reproduce itself. But it’s still kinda cute.
For a good example of fusion in music, here’s a little something from Cuban legend Poncho Sanchez. It’s a piece that provides a fusion of traditional Latin jazz and R&B. It’s from his album Raise Your Hand, reviewed three years ago.