Mahavishnu Orchestra

Active since: 1971

John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra is considered by many to be the greatest Jazz-fusion group of all time. The group was formed in late 1970-early 1971 by McLaughlin, a brilliant guitarist with a jazz-rock pedigree that included work with the Graham Bond Organization in the mid-60s, and with the electrified Miles Davis on his landmark "Bitches Brew" LP in 1969. The original Orchestra included Jan Hammer (later to score TV's "Miami Vice") on keyboards, Jerry Goodman on violin, Rick Laird on bass, and Billy Cobham on drums. Signed with much hoopla to Columbia in 1971, they released two fabulous studio albums, “Inner Mounting Flame,” (’71) and “Birds of Fire,” (’72) along with a live ‘73 album, “Between Nothingness and Eternity.” A reformation of the group in 1974 brought Jean-Luc Ponty on board to play violin, Gayle Moran on keyboards and vocals, Ralphe Armstrong on bass, and drummer Michael Warden

Soft Ffog: Focus

by Glenn Astarita
August 27, 2025

Soft Ffog, a Norwegian jazz-prog quartet from Bergen, emerged with their self-titled debut in 2023. Led by guitarist Tom Hasslan, the band features keyboardist Vegard Lien Bjerkan, drummer Axel Skalstad and bassist Trond Frønes. With nods to 1970s giants like Camel, Focus Soft Machine and Mahavishnu Orchestra, they blend intricate prog rock with improvisational jazz, evoking ...

Jimmy Herring: Hope

by Mike Jacobs
August 23, 2025

Some bands' repertoire is so iconic that it rarely gets covered in any meaningful, updated way. Though it falls squarely into this category, Jimmy Herring's expanded 2013 revamp of the Mahavishnu Orchestra's stalwart piece, “Hope" was said to have moved composer John McLaughlin himself and planted the seeds for their subsequent collaborative “Meeting of the Spirits" ...

Jason Kao Hwang: Myths of Origin

by Jerome Wilson
August 20, 2025

Violinist and composer Jason Kao Hwang has worked with groups of every size, from duos up to full orchestras. “Myths of Origin" is one of his large-scale pieces, an imposing 42-minute work for an improvising string orchestra and drum set. It runs without interruption, but the recording breaks it down into nine sections. The ...

The Mystery of "The World��s Greatest Pianist"

by Kyle Simpler
June 19, 2025

Introduction In the mid-1970s, a 16-year-old kid walked into the recording studio where Roberta Flack was working on her latest album, Feel Like Makin' Love (Atlantic 1975). No one recognized him or knew why he was there, but he stormed in like a man on a mission. When they asked him who he was and what ...

Antoine Fafard, The Hypersonic Factor, Amphitrio, Lyle Workman and Allan Holdsworth

by Len Davis
May 4, 2025

The latest from Antoine Fafard featuring Gary Husband and saxophonist Jean Pierre Zanella,The Hypersonic Factor-with Benevolent Beasts, Romanian band Amphitrio and Lyle Workman with Fight For Freedom. A tribute to Allan Holdsworth who passed April 15th, 2017 with music from Metal Fatigue and Blues For Tony. Celebrating the recent birthday of keyboard wizard Jan Hammer with ...

Remembering Zakir Hussain: Making Music

by Ian Patterson
December 19, 2024

It is with great sadness that All About Jazz notes the passing of tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, who died of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis on Sunday, 15 December. He was 73. A virtuoso with few peers, Hussain dazzled diverse audiences throughout the world, by dint of his collaborations with musicians across musical genres. Born in ...

Souvik Dutta: 20 Years of Abstract Logix

by Mike Jacobs
September 27, 2024

If you are a music lover, you may already know the name Souvik (pronounced show-vik) Dutta. Over the last 20 years, he has taken his Abstract Logix enterprise from a pre-YouTube streaming platform to a music retail website to a niche imprint to a respected independent label boasting a top-tier roster that includes the likes of ...

Lakecia Benjamin, Bobby Naughton, and Raymond Scott

by Jerome Wilson
September 4, 2024

This show features some reimaginings, Lakecia Benjamin reworking her own music, and two contemporary groups revisiting Raymond Scott's novelty pieces. The program also contains work by Bobby Naughton, Josh Berman, and Lena Bloch, among others. Playlist Henry Threadgill Sextett “I Can't Wait Till I Get Home" from The Complete Novus & Columbia Recordings of ...

Music from Miles Davis, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weather Report and Stanley Clarke

by Len Davis
August 16, 2024