Artists as diverse as The Orb, Clannad, Charlie Mingus and Jose Padilla have created some excellent Instrumental stuff (The Orb are really an instrumental band, so that may be a little unfair). Prog bands are known for instrumentals but they are'nt (IMO) neccessarily always the best. This is one of my favourites from the master known as Frank Zappa:

Best instrumentals are found in jazz, not prog. Even in jazz/rock hybrids. Check out the long 8 or so minute instrumental in Steely Dan's song Aja. That instrumental alone blows away much of what I've heard of prog instrumentals.

To be fair, jazz fusion really is a subgenre under prog. But yes, some of the instrumentals in jazz are the best that are out there (and they're immeasurably difficult to replicate). Mahavishnu Orchestra's The Inner Mounting Flame is one of the most solid instrumental albums you'll ever encounter.

I suppose you probably could legitimately put most jazz-fusion under prog. Especially bands like Caravan and whatnot.

I always keep forgetting Jazz :p:
Yeah, Jazz-Fusion instrumentals definitely betters what I posted.(or atleast I seem to like it more :) )

Anyone have any examples of great jazz-fusion instrumentals or bands or artists in general?

A very easy entry into this genre is Heavy Weather by Weather Report. More Jazz than Rock though.

My mix list has a few more unknown ones... Might enojy that (My most recent one in there)

Of course, Weather Report/Mahavishnu Orchestra/Pat Metheny, are the most known/popular.

Thanks guys, I shall check them all out.

Bill Frisnell/Chick Corea/Return to Forever/Allan Holdsworth/etc.

I STRONGLY recommend Mahavishnu Orchestra's The Inner Mounting Flame. Easily tops the genre.