Classical Composer Reaction/Analysis to the Mahavishnu Orchestra (Live in 1972) | The Daily Doug

#mahavishnuorchestra #jazzfusion

In this edition of #thedailydoug, I'm listening to music from the Mahavishnu Orchestra for the first time on the channel. However, it's not my first time hearing this band or these songs. In late August, I reacted to their debut album The Inner Mounting Flame while following along with a score for my Patreon community. It's now been about 5 months since I've heard Meeting of the Spirits and You Know You Know, which are both on their debut album. Here, I'm reacting to a live performance the band gave on the BBC in 1972. I hope you enjoy! (Episode 513)

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[macleadg]

This band literally changed my life. I became a violinist and went to music school because of Jerry Goodman.

[paulgilbert]

I was 16 when this came out on BBC2. It fried my brain completely and I fell in love the Mahavishnu immediately.

[swatprof]

Jan is pronounced “Yaan”. Jan Hammer was a key contributor to Jeff Beck’s second jazz rock album Wired.

[thepunadude]

JOHN MCLAUGHLIN WAS A GENIUS .. SURROUNDED BY MUSICAL GENIUSES

[sdholmess]

I saw this original band in 73, mind-blowing. An interesting anecdote. Ruth Underwood of Frank Zappa's band told of the time when they went to see Mahavishnu. After the show Ruth said she ran into Frank and that he was visibly shaken by the experience. After that Zappa started doing more fusion music. You've got to be doing something right to freak out Frank!

[larrybirb]

Billy Cobham’s first solo album, Spectrum, is a fusion classic. The tracks, Quadrant 4 and Stratus are definitely worth checking out.

[briangriffin]

Carlos Santana was also a follower of the eastern mystic Sri Chinmoy. In fact he and John McLaughlin did an album together called, "Love Devotion Surrender."

[renebouchard]

Just Masters playing, some of the best performers of their generation. No more needed to analyse, frankly.

[therealsokratis]

Fantastic! Mahavishnu changed my whole musical world when I discovered them in my late teens back in the 90s. Glad to see them covered on your excellent channel.

[donaldanderson]

When Mahavishnu were on tour with Zappa, Frank realised he had some serious competition. Apparently, MO were off the scale loud, as well as seriously good.

[warrensmith]

Definitely need to check out their "Visions of the Emerald Beyond". Amazing album!

[michaelcorenzwit]

I have followed McLaughlin and Cobham since they played together in Miles’ band. Miles suggested that they both form their own band. The Mahavishnu Orchestra was formed and the rest is history.

Btw, I consider Cobham the most creative and talented drummer ever. His background drumming is so perfect and tasteful. Thanks for sharing.

I believe that their second album was their best.

[sledzeppelin]

SO EXCITED! YKYK is one of my all time favorite pieces. I just saw Billy Cobham live in a small jazz club a couple months ago and he was fantastic.

[jeffwambold]

I didn't know music could sound like this on my first hearing on an underground FM station after midnight. kind of a life changing experience.

[araguet]

Thanks to share this! May be you need to check the album Visions of the Emerald Beyond, it is quite a pinnacle of McLaughlin as a composer and the last of the Mahavishnu Orchestra with Jean-Luc Ponty in violin and a bunch of young (in that moment) musicians. Saludos desde Buenos Aires.

[evanjazzista]

Rick Laird was once asked why he was the only MO member who wasn't into the _virtuoso_ thing. He wisely answered "Because in that band, somebody had to say ONE."

[LuisGarcia-eetr]

McLaughlin: great guitar player and composer. Iconic band of rock-jazz fusion.

[markkumanninen]

I became fascinated over MO in 1975. It's never gone away. It's eternal music.

[zaidleafar]

A jazz fusion suggestion. Red Baron - Billy Cobham & George Duke Live. Absolute kickassery

[asharmstrong]

Apocalypse, the 3rd Mahavishnu Orchestra studio album, is a great listen, and was produced by the legend that was George Martin. He also produced Jeff Beck's fusion albums Blow By Blow and Wired in the mid-70s. McLaughlin also made an album with sitarist Ravi Shankar called Shakti, which also became the name of the group, so his involvement in and absorption of Indian classical music that you detect in his Mahavishnu music was well under way. No idea about all the technical stuff, the beats and numbers and all that, but I've been listening to this music for half a century, and I just go with the groove, the soundscapes, textures and shapes of it all. What key it's in is useful for identifying titles of classical music pieces, Mozart's G minor symphony, Schubert's E flat trio, whichever of Bach's Preludes and Fugues, but in the act of just listening, it's just the groove and the aural world it envelops me in.