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Mahavishnu Orchestra

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

The Mahavishnu Orchestra was a jazz rock band founded in New York in 1971 by the English guitarist John McLaughlin. McLaughlin had previously played in Miles Davis's band and in drummer Tony Williams's Lifetime. For his own group he chose the Panamanian drummer Billy Cobham, the Irish bassist Rick Laird, the Czech keyboardist Jan Hammer and the American violinist Jerry Goodman. The name came from the Indian guru Sri Chinmoy, whom McLaughlin followed and who gave him the name Mahavishnu.

Music and breakthrough

After a week of rehearsals the band played in the summer of 1971 as the opening act for John Lee Hooker, and a record contract with Columbia soon followed. The debut The Inner Mounting Flame was released in November 1971, Birds of Fire in 1973. The band was famous for its fierce, intricate music and its energetic concerts. Through rapid success, exhaustion and quarrels, the original line-up broke up at the end of 1973. McLaughlin continued with a larger group, with violinist Jean-Luc Ponty and strings, and recorded Apocalypse (1974) with the London Symphony Orchestra, produced by George Martin. From 1984 to 1987 the band existed once more.

Influence

The music of the Mahavishnu Orchestra blended jazz, psychedelic rock, funk and Indian classical music, with unusual time signatures and lightning-fast duels between guitar, violin and keyboards. In this way it became one of the most important groups of jazz rock, alongside Return to Forever and Weather Report. Many members later made careers of their own; Jan Hammer, for example, wrote the music for the television series Miami Vice.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Meeting of the Spirits from The Inner Mounting Flame and notice how guitar, violin and keyboards play the same fast, intricate melody together. Hear how Billy Cobham's drums beneath it almost never stand still.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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Categories: Artists