Description
Most of the musicians that recorded and performed with Miles Davis during his early explorations into electric instrumentation went on to form bands of their own. Of these groups, few were as adept or as influential as the Mahavishnu Orchestra, a globally diverse group formed by legendary English guitarist John McLaughlin. Combining the improvisational elements of jazz with the volume and energy of rock music.
The original incarnation of the Mahavishnu Orchestra was extraordinarily successful. Their debut LP ‘Inner Mounting Flame’ (1971) achieved crossover nirvana, climbing the BILLBOARD JAZZ CHART before breaking into the TOP 100 on the ROCK CHART!
Performed a year later and just two months after the sessions for their second studio Lp ‘Birds of Fire’, this live performance demonstrates that JOHN McLAUGHLIN’s vision, coupled with an extraordinary group of musicians, violinist JERRY GOODMAN, keyboard innovator JAN HAMMER, bassist RICK LAIRD and powerhouse drummer BILLY COBHAM, were absolutely untouchable as a live act.
Unfortunately for them, after two full-on years and 500 concerts the band imploded. Fortunately for us, one of the best of their best nights, was recorded for broadcast by KFAT-FM Radio at the time, and now reissued and available to all.
