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| 1. | Power of Love
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| 2. | Vision Is a Naked Sword
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| 3. | Smile of the Beyond
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| 4. | Wings of Karma
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| 5. | Hymn to Him
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Jazz / Jazz-Rock; Fusion
Recorded: March 1974, Air Studios, London, England
Mahavishnu Orchestra
Michael Tilson Thomas (conductor, piano); Carol Shive (vocals, violin); Philip Hirschi (vocals, cello); Gayle Moran (vocals, keyboards); Ralphe Armstrong (vocals, acoustic & electric basses); Michael Walden (vocals, drums, percussion); Jean-Luc Ponty (electric violin, electric baritone violin); Marsha Westbrook (viola); John McLaughlin (guitar)
Additional personnel:
The London Symphony Orchestra
Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor
The first recording of the second Mahavishnu Orchestra was a real stretch for John McLaughlin, an encounter with Michael Tilson Thomas and the London Symphony Orchestra. The union wasn't taken seriously at the time, and it ended up harming the reputation of Thomas -- a remarkably adventurous young conductor who defied the stuffy classical powers-that-be and thus probably delayed his eventual rise to the top -- more than McLaughlin. But those with ears, then and now, beheld a remarkable series of pieces that neatly juxtapose and occasionally combine the combustion of McLaughlin's group with rich, tasteful symphonic statements orchestrated for McLaughlin by Michael Gibbs. The new Mahavishnu-ites, electric violinist Jean-Luc Ponty and keyboardist/vocalist Gayle Moran, have their moments, but the real focus of this disc is the quality of the symphonic conceptions and how well McLaughlin blends his lyrical and fiery guitar into the mixture. The best stretch is the breathtakingly ethereal opening of "Hymn to Him"; the promise of fusing rock, jazz, and classical elements had never been executed so alluringly before -- and wouldn't you know, an old experienced hand at introducing classical textures into rock, the Beatles' George Martin, is the producer. Don't let old, outworn preconceptions on either side of the fence prevent you from checking out this beautiful record.
---Richard S. Ginell, AMG
Includes liner notes by Gene Santoro
Mahavishnu Orchestra
Active Decades: '70s and '80s
Born: 1971
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Fusion, Jazz-Rock
One of the premiere fusion groups, the Mahavishnu Orchestra was considered by most observers during its prime to be a rock band, but its sophisticated improvisations actually put its high-powered music between rock and jazz. Founder and leader John McLaughlin had recently played with Miles Davis and Tony Williams' Lifetime. The original lineup of the group was McLaughlin on electric guitar, violinist Jerry Goodman, keyboardist Jan Hammer, electric bassist Rick Laird, and drummer Billy Cobham. They recorded three intense albums for Columbia during 1971-1973 and then the personnel changed completely for the second version of the group. In 1974, the band consisted of violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, Gayle Moran on keyboards and vocals, electric bassist Ralphe Armstrong, and drummer Michael Warden; by 1975 Stu Goldberg had replaced Moran and Ponty had left. John McLaughlin's dual interests in Eastern religion and playing acoustic guitar resulted in the band breaking up in 1975. Surprisingly, an attempt to revive the Mahavishnu Orchestra in 1984 (using Cobham, saxophonist Bill Evans, keyboardist Mitchell Forman, electric bassist Jonas Hellborg, and percussionist Danny Gottlieb) was unsuccessful; one Warner Bros. album resulted. However, when one thinks of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, it is of the original lineup, which was very influential throughout the 1970s.
---Scott Yanow, All Music Guide |
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