Recorded live in Syracuse, New York on April 29, 1972 Meeting of the Spirits - The Mahavishnu Orchestra John McLaughlin - guitar Jan Hammer - keyboards Jerry Goodman - violin Rick Laird - bass Billy Cobham - drums
What a gem of a performance. So powerful. There's a great interview with Ruth Underwood, Zappa's brilliant percussionist, where she describes seeing Mahavishnu when they were Frank's opening act. Billy, John and the band were so powerful and overwhelming, espec Billy, Ruth says, Frank quickly replaced his drummer, hired Jean Luc Ponty, etc. She suggests Mahavishnu weren't just loud - they were - but they also released vast amounts of energy, and notes. As a percussionist she said she'd never seen anyone like Cobham. Great upload!
Ambidextrous BILLY.I SEEN THIS BAND 15X no bullshit. They just toured hard and for those 2 or 3 years they were everywhere. Then came solo Cobham SHAKTI ANOTHER REVAMPED MAHAVISHNU.SEEN THEM ALL.50 YEARS AGO.and here they are on the mighty RU-vid.
its a shame that times like that have passed, where jazz could (and did) connect with so many people that it became somewhat mainstream (and i don't use that word at all in a negative way).. and i'm not one of those "everything was better then" people, seeing as my musical taste is quite varied.
Strange seeing Cobham with Mahavishnu and not behind his clear Fibes kit. But he kicked butt with a single bass drum kit. Got to see them live in 1972 or 1973. It was an eye opening experience.
Saw them live in Pittsburgh at I believe the Syria Mosque in 1972 or 1973. I was more into big band (Buddy Rich, etc) at the time but I remember Cobham behind the big clear Fibes kit. I remember the raw energy and the volume. I had never really seen anyone play the way Cobham did up until that point in my life. He was one of a few drummers I saw in a couple of years period playing Fibes drums so bought a 5 piece (black acrylic) in 1975. Great drums but the bd spurs and tom mount sucked. I found info about that concert (May 6, 1973 which sounds about right) that said they shared the bill with Frank Zappa but I think I would have remembered that so I think that "fact" is bogus. Also saw Return to Forever a few times a few years later and thought they were cleaner and more song oriented if that makes any sense.
Wow - must have been something to witness. Hope you're still knocking the paint off your drums! I've heard some RTF from around 1976 and I know what you mean about songs - they were a good band too, though I'm far too young to have seen either of them live. They were different to Mahavishnu though I very much like what they did.
Mark Robinson Check out videos from RTF from a few years ago when they reunited. They still played their asses off. Also saw Chase and Maynard Ferguson with Peter Erskine in that same period. The 70s were a great time for music. Bands playing sophisticated stuff could tour and make a living. You would have loved it.
I will be sure and look for those vids wish I'd been there! btw there's some good stuff at jazzfusion.tv including Maynard and RTF off you like that kinda thinas well as MO. Oh and sugarmegs too. g
Did the people going past in the background ( you know, walking the dog, on their way home with the shopping, that kind of thing) realise they were witnessing one of the greatest performances by any group of musicians in history. One wonders if bach or beethoven had to put up with the same sort of indifference.
It's kinda tough to see but he's got three floor toms in a triangle configuration. About twenty seconds into the vid you can make it out if you look over the right side of the snare rim.
I saw them,1972,open for ELP @ Winterland. Also,the last lineup W/Ponty & Gail Moran /big one,W/worst ever sound @ RIT.Awesome original group!!!!!!!!!!ROCK ON JM!!!!!!!!!?
Nope, Rick Wakeman is not in improvisational shape for this music. This requires more than classical music quotes, blues scales, and rock improvisation.
@@cameron_fairchild You and RUY are truly dopes. It's hysterical how people who know little about this music, what it takes to play at this level try to dumb it down with stupefyingly inept comments. Jan is not only a prodigy with eastern classical training, his early career saw him touring with Sara Vaughn, Elvin Jones, Jermey Stieg and his own trio,. His abilities were world-class, hip and virtuosic to get those gigs. What he pioneered on various electric keyboards with MO, John Abercrombie, Jeff Beck et al is among the greatest jazz and jazz-rock keyboard work ever recorded. You absolutely cannot make a useful comparison of Jan to any rock keyboardist. Jan's abilities took him to the top of much more technically and musically challenging music than what the likes of anyone in the pop, prog rock scene. Elton John? Jesus H. Get a clue.
