We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago……
We again visit the inscrutable world of jazz-fusion. Guitarist John McLaughlin had played with Miles Davis and Tony Williams Lifetime and also released three solo records. In 1971 he gathered together Rick Laird on bass, Jan Hammer on keyboards, violinist Jerry Goodman and drummer Billy Cobham to form what he called The Mahavishnu Orchestra. McLaughlin was a follower of Indian guru Sri Chinmoy who had given him the name Mahavishnu.
In 1971 the band recorded their debut record ‘The Inner Mounting Flame” with all McLaughlin originals.
I don’t pretend to know the intricacies of what these guys do. No traditional solos but a free form kind of immersion that seems to be to be one step away from crashing at any moment. Sort of like Franz Klammer careening down the mountain at Innsbruck in 1976.
I think its preferable, if you are a non-musician, to not analyze too much… just let the sound flow over you and into your brain and your soul.
I can recognize the skills that all of these players bring to the table. They can play fast…they can play slow…they can play loud and soft. They can just play. Listen to McLaughlin’s speed and technical brilliance on The Noonward Race…or the talents of Goodman and Hammer featured on A Lotus on Irish Streams. Or the astounding drumming of Cobham throughout the entire record.
I know it’s not for everyone…but certainly deserves to be featured on our look at 1971’s best. Immerse yourself and enjoy!
I’m heading out for a few days off. The next record review will be next Tuesday. Have a great weekend!
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