Mahavishnu Orchestra
Play Radio
Listen to Mahavishnu Orchestra Radio,
featuring artists like John McLaughlin, Return To Forever, Shakti, Billy Cobham and more…
2,346,435 plays (192,638 listeners)
(1970 – 1976, 1984 – 1987)
The Mahavishnu Orchestra was a jazz-rock fusion group that debuted in 1970 and dissolved in 1976, reuniting briefly from 1984 to 1987.
In its first version, the band was led by “Mahavishnu” John McLaughlin on acoustic and electric guitars, with members Billy Cobham on drums, Rick Laird on electric and acoustic bass, Jan Hammer on electric and acoustic piano, and Jerry Goodman on violin. The group is best known for their two most popular albums: The Inner Mounting Flame (1971) and Birds Of Fire (1973).
From 1974 through 1976, personnel included Jean-Luc Ponty on violin, Narada Michael Walden on drums and vocals, Gayle Moran (Chick Corea’s wife and musical partner during the 70’s) on vocals and keyboards, and Ralph Armstrong on bass, among others. This second incarnation of the group explored orchestral arrangements, as well as more mainstream funk and R&B grooves added to the mix.
This group was considered an important pioneer in the jazz fusion movement that was founded by Miles Davis. McLaughlin and Cobham met while performing and recording with Davis. McLaughlin was also influenced in his conception of the band by his studies with Indian guru Sri Chinmoy, who encouraged him to take the name “Mahavishnu.”
McLaughlin had particular ideas for the instrumentation of the group, in keeping with his highly original concept of genre-blending in composition. He particularly wanted a violinist. As the group evolved, McLaughlin adopted what became his trademark double-neck guitar (six-string and twelve-string), and Hammer added a Moog synthesizer, which enabled him to bend notes, mimicking the phrasing of McLaughlin’s guitar.
In its first version, the band was led by “Mahavishnu” John McLaughlin on acoustic and electric guitars, with members Billy Cobham on drums, Rick Laird on electric and acoustic bass, Jan Hammer on electric and acoustic piano, and Jerry Goodman on violin. The group is best known for their two most popular albums: The Inner Mounting Flame (1971) and Birds Of Fire (1973).
From 1974 through 1976, personnel included Jean-Luc Ponty on violin, Narada Michael Walden on drums and vocals, Gayle Moran (Chick Corea’s wife and musical partner during the 70’s) on vocals and keyboards, and Ralph Armstrong on bass, among others. This second incarnation of the group explored orchestral arrangements, as well as more mainstream funk and R&B grooves added to the mix.
This group was considered an important pioneer in the jazz fusion movement that was founded by Miles Davis. McLaughlin and Cobham met while performing and recording with Davis. McLaughlin was also influenced in his conception of the band by his studies with Indian guru Sri Chinmoy, who encouraged him to take the name “Mahavishnu.”
McLaughlin had particular ideas for the instrumentation of the group, in keeping with his highly original concept of genre-blending in composition. He particularly wanted a violinist. As the group evolved, McLaughlin adopted what became his trademark double-neck guitar (six-string and twelve-string), and Hammer added a Moog synthesizer, which enabled him to bend notes, mimicking the phrasing of McLaughlin’s guitar.
Top Albums
-
Birds Of Fire
Mahavishnu Orchestra
Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $8.99
- 7digital $9.99
- iTunes $9.90
- Buy Album
- Amazon $2.93
- eBay Search
-
The Inner Mounting Flame
Mahavishnu Orchestra Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $7.99
- 7digital $7.99
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon $5.61
- eBay Search
-
Visions of the Emerald Beyond
Mahavishnu Orchestra Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $8.99
- 7digital $9.99
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $2.59
- eBay Search
-
Apocalypse
Mahavishnu Orchestra Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $9.99
- 7digital $9.99
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $2.69
- eBay Search
Shoutbox
-
DraKi91 http://liveweb.arte.tv/fr/video/A_Celebration_of_the_Mahavishnu_Orchestra/ Must See!
-
Shane-McKenna Inner Mounting Flame is ridiculously awesome. [4]
-
ricz_dm John McLaughlin is a monster.
-
GOPLIT412 Beautiful structure.
-
RaditAndrogyny -
mas2don Inner Mounting Flame is ridiculously awesome. [3]
-
ivanmon know what?
-
hydemascarada YOU KNOW!
Videos
See more
Listening Now
Top Listeners
See more
More Information
- Links
- Band Members
- Labels
- Other spellings
