Mahavishnu

by Mahavishnu Orchestra

Overview

John McLaughlin resurrected the esteemed old Mahavishnu Orchestra for his mid-'80s quintet, even getting old mate Billy Cobham to fill the drum slot on the band's first album. But this is an entirely different conception than any of the '70s Mahavishnu outfits. The sound is cooler, less strident, more thoroughly dominated by advanced electronic textures -- including a sleekly elegant digital guitar played through a Synclavier. Instead of a violin, Bill Evans contributes some swirling and sometimes bop-flavored work on saxes, and McLaughlin gets mobile but not overly combustible support from keyboardist Mitch Forman and bassist Jonas Hellborg. The homages continue; the opening of "Nostalgia" is exactly that, a throwback to "In a Silent Way" as filtered through digital gear. While this is undeniably prog-minded, beautifully played electric music, it is not terribly absorbing; the quality of the material and the intensity level aren't too high. ~ Richard S. Ginell

Product Details

Release Date:	06/18/2021
Label:	Wounded Bird
UPC:	0664140519022
Rank:	25612

Tracks

1. Radio-Activity
2. Nostalgia
3. Nightriders
4. East Side, West Side
5. Clarendon Hills
6. Jazz
7. The Unbeliever
8. Pacific Express
9. When Blue Turns Gold

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Mahavishnu Orchestra   Primary Artist
Zakir Hussain   Guest Artist,Percussion
Danny Gottlieb   Guest Artist,Percussion
Mitchel Forman   Piano,Synthesizer,Fender Rhodes,Piano (Electric),Yamaha Keyboards
Katia Labeque   DX-7,Piano,Synclavier,Synthesizer
Bill Evans   Flute,Sax (Tenor),Sax (Soprano)
John McLaughlin   Guitar,Synclavier,Synthesizer
Jonas Hellborg   Bass,Fretless Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Hariprasad Chaurasia   Flute
Billy Cobham   Drums,Percussion

Technical Credits

Albert Koski   Engineer,Executive Producer
Brian Risner   Mixing
Jean-Louis Rizet   Mixing,Engineer
Arthur Elgort   Photography
Bill Evans   Composer
Laurent Peyron   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
John McLaughlin   Composer,Producer
Jean Louis Rizet   Engineer,Mixing