Mahavishnu Orchestra | Artist
Mahavishnu Orchestra was an American jazz fusion band formed 1971 in New York City by the English guitarist John McLaughlin. McLauglin formed the band after working with Miles Davis on four of his masterpiece electric-fusion albums: In a Silent Way, Bitches Brew, A Tribute to Jack Johnson and On The Corner. Mahavishnu Orchestra underwent several line-up changes throughout its history across two stints from 1971-76 and 1984-87. The phase-one lineup comprised McLaughlin plus Billy Cobham (drums), Jan Hammer (synthesizer, organ), Jerry Goodman (violin) and Rick Laird (bass). The phase-two lineup comprised McLaughlin, Jean-Luc Ponty (violin), Gayle Moran (keyboards), Narada Michael Walden (drums) and Ralphe Armstrong (bass). The band attracted accolades for its virtuoso musicianship and its complex, intense music consisting of a blend of Indian classical music, jazz and psychedelic rock. the band's first two studio albums Inner Mounting Flame and Birds of Fire are masterpieces of jazz-rock fusion music. Other standout releases include Visions of the Emerald Beyond and the live album From Nothingness & Eternity from 1973. The 1999 archival release The Lost Trident Sessions is also highly recommended. During Mahavishnu Orchestra's hiatus in the late '70s John McLaughlin teamed up with a group of Indian classical musicians to form the fusion group Shakti.
Artist Website: johnmclaughlin.com
Featured Albums: Mahavishnu Orchestra
Related Artists: John McLaughlin, Shakti, Billy Cobham, Jan Hammer, Jerry Goodman, Jean-Luc Ponty
