R.I.P Rick Laird. He was the selfless glue of Mahavishnu Orchestra. Without him, fulfilling his role, in the self effacing way he did, it wouldn’t have worked
I hadn't heard this sad news. You're totally accurate in your description. I can't put it more succinctly. Rick's playing, whilst in this group was also succinct and accurate, and just what it lacked sometimes, and sorely needed. The "One Word" Bass Solo from B.O.F is really a very strong statement, nobody else could nailed that whole track down. The Bassist from the Greatest Band ever has left us yet shall never leave us.Thanks for Your message. 🕉 .
Much respect to mr. Laird great musician.....I must admit however certain tracks I wonder how they would have sounded with a more assertive player......
I saw then in Sydney. He wouldn't start playing until there was absolute silence. Then Billy Cobham blew the house down with a sensational drum blast. Have never forgotten it. Out of thus world,
No one EVER had the phrasing and facility of Jan Hammer. As soon as his fingers touched the keys, you knew who it was. My far-and-away favorite fusion keyboardist. Great writer, too.
This is my favourite period for John, [I'm a guitar player], but the whole band are incredible. Wicked, brilliant and very special from the whole band, Wow, I'd almost forgotten how bloody incredible they were. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Magnificent. I still, years later, dream of being this good, to play with musicians this good. Fantastic. The passion is palpable.
One day folks will realize the true genius of this group. All of them were at the top of their game. I was around 17 at the time and couldn’t believe the sound and musicianship they had. I would listen with goosebumps almost the whole time.
Hey, I was the same age when I first saw them on In Concert by error. Never saw a drummer with as large a kit and played so fast and accurate. My mentor for sure, even today. Sound quality of music has surpassed those days but they paved the way for sure.
I’m (68) & have realized it all my life. Got to see them (4) times in Buffalo, N.Y. In the 70’s. Once with the philharmonic. Fantastic every time. “Bird’s of Fire” t
I was there!!! It was at the Paramount Northwest theatre.....the place has been haunted ever since this concert! The meetings of the spirits came and never left.
Me too; what great fortune to be there in that time and place! They blew my mind, and the music sounds totally fresh and exciting today, to my ears anyway! John playing this at age 75, was better than ever!
Billy Cobham was so good! i love how him & John play against each other in these epic guitar/drum battle jams..fun to hear a drummer & guitarist kick ass together live..Billy was the TNT!
I was lucky enough to see Jan Hammer playing with Jeremy Steig in New York City. I thought "This is a really gifted musician...never heard of him." So it was wonderful to find him in the Mahavishnu Orchestra a year or so later when Inner Mounting Flame came out.
Same here. 1973. I was 17, and had my radio on for the ABC In Concert FM simulcast. What the heck, I’ll at least listen to this “Mahavishnu Orchestra”. They couldn’t have been 3 bars into it and I sprinted from my room to turn on the tv. I was dumbstruck, and completely blown away. At that moment my life changed completely. I had already been playing drums for a few years, so seeing Billy Cobham (and of course all the virtuoso interplay) changed my perspective on musical possibilities! I got to see the original lineup in December, my 2nd concert ever. Still blown away 47 yrs later, and can play only a small fraction of Billy Cobham licks, but still hugely inspired!
I was blessed to see this group in Miami and Tucson in the early 70s. This wonderful footage is representative of their virtuosity. Powerful and uplifting music. Thanks for posting this timeless performance.
This band existed from. 1971 until December '73. 1980 would have been "The Mahavishnu Orchestra" with Billy Cobham , Dan Gottlieb, Mitchell Gorman, Jonas Hellborg, Bill Evans. John stuck a tour from Music Spoken Here, etc. Maybe the Labeque Sisters. A couple of other details elude me at the moment.
John McLaughlin. Shredding on guitar long before most guitarists knew what shredding really was. Check out John shredding here, if you're still not sure. Love that clear acrylic bass. Matches Billy's clear acrylic drum kit. Cool. John needs a clear double neck SG. And Jerry needs a clear violin. Shred beast that he is.
I did see him use a clear violin with The Ork, at the first of 5 times I was fortunate enough to see the original band. I believe the date was Sept. 24, 1972, at the University of Hartford, in the gym. Jerry also had a blue one, & a natural one, making 3 in his arsenal that night. Never saw anything remotely like them before. BC with the see thru drum kit (Fibes or Ludwig?), Johnny Mac with the 2 necked Gibson, SG style, brown (walnut?) finish, dressed in white from head to toe...playing riffs beyond my imagination. This 17 year old walked outta there saying they were now the best band, John my favorite electric guitarist, Billy the world's greatest drummer. When I hear their music now, especially these live concerts, I pretty much stand by what I thought, almost 50 years ago as I write this.
It would be wonderful to hear Jan and John do something musical together one more time. Not a Mahavishnu reunion - expectations would be too much of a burden - but something lower-key, even one piece of recorded music. Jan - you alone could make this happen, if you wanted it...
I think I've said this before - something like 'New York On My Mind' (woulda been an MO piece but Jan no likey) with an autumnal vibe would be fantastic - but I think they've both moved on and there's no point. It's nice that Jan sent John some old MO concerts via management in the Noughties and didn't let on where they came from. John knows the incalculable ingredient that Jan added to his band and Jan knows what exposure John gave him. Nothing else needs to be said - or shared musically - between them and we should respect that.
Actually, I thought a great band to have put together would be John McLaughlin guiitar/both acoustic/electric 6 and 12 string Jan Hammer Grand Piano, Rhodes, MiniMoog Trilok Gurtu - Percussion/Trap Set Jerry Goodman - Violin Chris Minh Doky - Upright and Electric Bass They could do more unplugged versions of Mahavishnu material and new material.
The Meeting Of the Spirits tour in 2017. Was a MO reunion with JM and the Fourth dimension with Gary Husband on Keys. Also Jimmy Herring band, The invisible whip. It was magnificent. I saw the concert in Clearwater Fl. Ruth Eckard hall. Nov, 25th 2017. Each band played separately then United for a spectacular Show of MO material.
The clip is worth watching for many reasons, but to hear a clip of Open Country Joy live is striking. It is edited, but what a composition. As a fan of all the members of this line-up, I have always marveled at how these musicians pushed each other to levels of pure greatness. Yes, it is too bad this line-up never had a reunion, but I am sure what they did then is a huge accomplishment that will probably never be repeated. RIP Rick Laird.
I should be happy that this music was getting exposure on television but it's heart-breaking as well because they missed such large chunks out. Thanks for posting it Jan.
Johnny McLaughlin!! Electric Guitarist!! John was and still is one of a kind! I find it amazing he achieved this level of playing back then!! I loved this band!!
Great footage. The band is really cooking that night. Guitar playing on "Dawn" was too often choppy, out of tune, tense but not flowing. But once he warmed up, man, that guitar on "One Word" was amazing!
Thanks for sharing this Jan. I produced a show for the Jan Hammer Group back in 1977 or 1978 at Southern Ill. University in Carbondale. Amazing show and all you guys were great to work with.
Thanks for the upload Jan! I saw you guys (Maha Ork) at DAR Hall in Washington, DC in 1972! What a show! It was the first rock concert I ever bothered to go to because you guys were so amazing.
I saw MO at the Mississippi River Festival on their “Birds of Fire” tour. A three and a half hour set, approximately an hour and a half of which were John’s guitar solos. Needless to say ...........
Damn I thought there was finally a video of Billy playing Vital Transformation, but it's just a tiny snippet. Does anyone have video of that song being played live? I'd love to see it.
I'm surprised there isn't videos of the band in the later part of '73 when they had more gear and were really operating on all cylinders. I haven't found live videos of them playing Trilogy or Dream.
I echo Colin's sentiments below. Life is too short to hold grudges from the past. Two of our generations greatest musicians should be able to embrace each other and make some more of this wonderful music. I agree though, not an MO reunion; 70 year olds trying to recapture this kind of energy just wouldn't work. No offence :)
I agree, and sorry to Zappa too, even though he was good, he wasn't as good as John, and neither was Hendrix, in my opinion. Mahavishnu are the benchmark.
I saw the band close to 10 times when I was in high school and the following year. For some reason McLaughlin always seemed to have trouble handling “Dawn,” which was a really lovely tune from the first album. But when he played it in concert he always made a point of trashing it and being overbearing. Zero subtlety. As for Mr. Hammer, he was hands down the most melodic and inventive soloist.
Absolutely stunning! My only gripe is Jon can't seem to hold his slow notes in tune or play a proper vibrato. I've been playing for 40 years, and I had the vibrato down 37 years ago!
The worst version of One Word I ever saw...I kept waiting for them to go into the Billy C. solo...????... I have loved Mahavishnu for 4 decades...Saw the with Weather Report...This was not one of their better shows...Just sayin...
FWIW, these are excerpts, there are no complete tunes, although maybe Resolution at the end, so it is a bit difficult to judge One-Word or any other tunes IMHO. :-)
This is a copy of a roughly recorded TV show. If you heard a high quality audio recording complete then you may have different opinion. The guitar rhythm playing and the drumming were great and Rick Laird R.I.P playing interesting variation on the bass solo he played on the record.
@@borgullet3376 The problem with touring schedule is not that it affected their performance here but it left them with hardly time to compose new material.
![FNAF vs TF2 - Episode 2 [SFM]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/z5b3V2-VLb0/mqdefault.jpg)
R.I.P Rick Laird. He was the selfless glue of Mahavishnu Orchestra. Without him, fulfilling his role, in the self effacing way he did,
it wouldn’t have worked
I hadn't heard this sad news. You're totally accurate in your description. I can't put it more succinctly. Rick's playing, whilst in this group was also succinct and accurate, and just what it lacked sometimes, and sorely needed. The "One Word" Bass Solo from B.O.F is really a very strong statement, nobody else could nailed that whole track down. The Bassist from the Greatest Band ever has left us yet shall never leave us.Thanks for Your message. 🕉 .
Much respect to mr. Laird great musician.....I must admit however certain tracks I wonder how they would have sounded with a more assertive player......
Laird was resentful of JM for breaking up this configuration of the band. Was quoted in Rolling Stone as saying it was all John's doing.
We’re very lucky that so much amazing footage exists of this band. Mind blowing.
I saw then in Sydney. He wouldn't start playing until there was absolute silence. Then Billy Cobham blew the house down with a sensational drum blast. Have never forgotten it. Out of thus world,
No one EVER had the phrasing and facility of Jan Hammer. As soon as his fingers touched the keys, you knew who it was. My far-and-away favorite fusion keyboardist. Great writer, too.
Yes, the greatest lead Mini Moog player of all time, his pitch bending the gold standard
Amen 🙏
@@jamiepastman5594 Indeed.
This is my favourite period for John, [I'm a guitar player], but the whole band are incredible. Wicked, brilliant and very special from the whole band, Wow, I'd almost forgotten how bloody incredible they were. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Magnificent.
I still, years later, dream of being this good, to play with musicians this good. Fantastic. The passion is palpable.
One day folks will realize the true genius of this group.
All of them were at the top of their game. I was around 17 at the time and couldn’t believe the sound and musicianship they had.
I would listen with goosebumps almost the whole time.
They already realized. For example I heard that Zappa was speechless when he first heard them.
We were all stoned Bill.
C. Thurston Don’t think I was. he he.
Hey, I was the same age when I first saw them on In Concert by error. Never saw a drummer with as large a kit and played so fast and accurate. My mentor for sure, even today. Sound quality of music has surpassed those days but they paved the way for sure.
I’m (68) & have realized it all my life. Got to see them (4) times in Buffalo, N.Y. In the 70’s. Once with the philharmonic. Fantastic every time. “Bird’s of Fire” t
I was there in the audience as a teenager - an experience I cherish to this day.
I LOVE JAN HAMMER!
MY MAN JAN HAMMER!!!!!🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹
I was there!!!
It was at the Paramount Northwest theatre.....the place has been haunted ever since this concert! The meetings of the spirits came and never left.
Me too; what great fortune to be there in that time and place! They blew my mind, and the music sounds totally fresh and exciting today, to my ears anyway! John playing this at age 75, was better than ever!
Billy Cobham was so good! i love how him & John play against each other in these epic guitar/drum battle jams..fun to hear a drummer & guitarist kick ass together live..Billy was the TNT!
Yes, I love seeing/hearing John and Billy jam…..immense, spontaneous joy!
I was lucky enough to see Jan Hammer playing with Jeremy Steig in New York City. I thought "This is a really gifted musician...never heard of him." So it was wonderful to find him in the Mahavishnu Orchestra a year or so later when Inner Mounting Flame came out.
This is bloody amazing! I still get chills everytime I hear them. What an amazing band!
The Best Ever :)
Same here. 1973. I was 17, and had my radio on for the ABC In Concert FM simulcast. What the heck, I’ll at least listen to this “Mahavishnu Orchestra”. They couldn’t have been 3 bars into it and I sprinted from my room to turn on the tv. I was dumbstruck, and completely blown away. At that moment my life changed completely. I had already been playing drums for a few years, so seeing Billy Cobham (and of course all the virtuoso interplay) changed my perspective on musical possibilities! I got to see the original lineup in December, my 2nd concert ever. Still blown away 47 yrs later, and can play only a small fraction of Billy Cobham licks, but still hugely inspired!
I was blessed to see this group in Miami and Tucson in the early 70s. This wonderful footage is representative of their virtuosity. Powerful and uplifting music. Thanks for posting this timeless performance.
Jan Hammer is a monster talent on the keyboards . What a band !
O my Vishnu -------FANTASTICAL! I saw them live at the Roxy around 1980.
This band existed from. 1971 until December '73. 1980 would have been "The Mahavishnu Orchestra" with Billy Cobham , Dan Gottlieb, Mitchell Gorman, Jonas Hellborg, Bill Evans. John stuck a tour from Music Spoken Here, etc. Maybe the Labeque Sisters. A couple of other details elude me at the moment.
John McLaughlin.
Shredding on guitar long before most guitarists knew what shredding really was.
Check out John shredding here, if you're still not sure.
Love that clear acrylic bass.
Matches Billy's clear acrylic drum kit.
Cool.
John needs a clear double neck SG.
And Jerry needs a clear violin.
Shred beast that he is.
I did see him use a clear violin with The Ork, at the first of 5 times I was fortunate enough to see the original band. I believe the date was Sept. 24, 1972, at the University of Hartford, in the gym. Jerry also had a blue one, & a natural one, making 3 in his arsenal that night. Never saw anything remotely like them before. BC with the see thru drum kit (Fibes or Ludwig?), Johnny Mac with the 2 necked Gibson, SG style, brown (walnut?) finish, dressed in white from head to toe...playing riffs beyond my imagination. This 17 year old walked outta there saying they were now the best band, John my favorite electric guitarist, Billy the world's greatest drummer. When I hear their music now, especially these live concerts, I pretty much stand by what I thought, almost 50 years ago as I write this.
This video is a real treasure and shows the band in fine form, innovative and original . Great restoration of the video here.
Thanks Jan. Geez Billy was a beast
Fracking Incredible!!!!!
Thank you Jan for this and your dedication to your art
It would be wonderful to hear Jan and John do something musical together one more time. Not a Mahavishnu reunion - expectations would be too much of a burden - but something lower-key, even one piece of recorded music. Jan - you alone could make this happen, if you wanted it...
I think I've said this before - something like 'New York On My Mind' (woulda been an MO piece but Jan no likey) with an autumnal vibe would be fantastic - but I think they've both moved on and there's no point. It's nice that Jan sent John some old MO concerts via management in the Noughties and didn't let on where they came from. John knows the incalculable ingredient that Jan added to his band and Jan knows what exposure John gave him. Nothing else needs to be said - or shared musically - between them and we should respect that.
Actually, I thought a great band to have put together would be
John McLaughlin guiitar/both acoustic/electric 6 and 12 string
Jan Hammer Grand Piano, Rhodes, MiniMoog
Trilok Gurtu - Percussion/Trap Set
Jerry Goodman - Violin
Chris Minh Doky - Upright and Electric Bass
They could do more unplugged versions of Mahavishnu material and new material.
The Meeting Of the Spirits tour in 2017. Was a MO reunion with JM and the Fourth dimension with Gary Husband on Keys. Also Jimmy Herring band, The invisible whip. It was magnificent. I saw the concert in Clearwater Fl. Ruth Eckard hall. Nov, 25th 2017. Each band played separately then United for a spectacular Show of MO material.
I was there! Great band.
The clip is worth watching for many reasons, but to hear a clip of Open Country Joy live is striking. It is edited, but what a composition. As a fan of all the members of this line-up, I have always marveled at how these musicians pushed each other to levels of pure greatness. Yes, it is too bad this line-up never had a reunion, but I am sure what they did then is a huge accomplishment that will probably never be repeated. RIP Rick Laird.
I should be happy that this music was getting exposure on television but it's heart-breaking as well because they missed such large chunks out. Thanks for posting it Jan.
The most virtuosic band of all time.
Thank you for posting this. Such a great performance to have archived!
Amazing footage! Thank you for posting this.
Johnny McLaughlin!! Electric Guitarist!! John was and still is one of a kind! I find it amazing he achieved this level of playing back then!! I loved this band!!
Gods in the pantheon of musical talent. Absolutely amazing.
One Word, Simply Amazing. Thanks Jan for your inspiration, wish the group could have lasted longer.
Those are two word. I suppose it takes two words to say one word about the Mahavishnu Orchestra.
Well they play the track One Word.
Thanks so much for posting this Jan ! Hope to see more videos of you with Mahavishnu !
Or some more Live CD's!
I'd love to see more of this!
Mind blowing artists
Great footage. The band is really cooking that night.
Guitar playing on "Dawn" was too often choppy, out of tune, tense but not flowing. But once he warmed up, man, that guitar on "One Word" was amazing!
Thanks Jan, this is awesome!
Spectacular
Thanks for sharing this Jan. I produced a show for the Jan Hammer Group back in 1977 or 1978 at Southern Ill. University in Carbondale. Amazing show and all you guys were great to work with.
Thanks, Jan, always loved your playing since I heard BOF, and realized that's keyboards.
Oh yes! They don't make 'em like this anymore. Epic.
Mushrooms and the MO. Let the healing begin.
Thanks for the upload Jan! I saw you guys (Maha Ork) at DAR Hall in Washington, DC in 1972! What a show! It was the first rock concert I ever bothered to go to because you guys were so amazing.
I saw MO at the Mississippi River Festival on their “Birds of Fire” tour. A three and a half hour set, approximately an hour and a half of which were John’s guitar solos. Needless to say ...........
Do you know you can hear that concert again via www.wolfgangsvault.com?
The greatest band ever ...
Jan and John one more time!
Damn I thought there was finally a video of Billy playing Vital Transformation, but it's just a tiny snippet. Does anyone have video of that song being played live? I'd love to see it.
I'm surprised there isn't videos of the band in the later part of '73 when they had more gear and were really operating on all cylinders. I haven't found live videos of them playing Trilogy or Dream.
LEGENDS!!!
Maha is the greatest band of obnoxiously talented guys in the world.thanks miles davis.
Wow! Thank you!
God bless Mahavishnu
R.I.P. RICK LAIRD
They asked Jeff Beck to join but he said he does not qualify.
That says something of the level this music is at.
BS. Beck wouldn't say that even if he thought it. He and John McGlaughlin played gigs together.
You made it up.
Sensational.
Pedazo de músicos y de música. Un concepto diferente y renovador. Inolvidables.
I was there!
🎼🎶when things come, let them come. when things go, let them go.🎸🎹✌
I echo Colin's sentiments below. Life is too short to hold grudges from the past. Two of our generations greatest musicians should be able to embrace each other and make some more of this wonderful music. I agree though, not an MO reunion; 70 year olds trying to recapture this kind of energy just wouldn't work. No offence :)
Fortunately i saw McLaughlin live twice once with shakti and with dimeola and paco .
When I first listened to this music I understood the meaning of I didn't make a career because I didn't find people
to such music. It's a sad story.
How many in the crowd and at home realised what they were seeing and the lasting impact it would have on so many peoples' lives?
John Mclaughlin was way ahead of his time.
Ultra!!! After Hendrix death John is the greatest guitarist in the world( sorry, Page, Clapton, Santana and my favourite Mr.Fripp...)
I've long thought so. 🕉.
I agree, and sorry to Zappa too, even though he was good, he wasn't as good as John, and neither was Hendrix, in my opinion. Mahavishnu are the benchmark.
"I wish they would just play a little slower..."
Said *NO* Mahavishnu Orchestra fan.
*EVER.*
i luv this . T U.
YES 🔥
I saw John with the One Truth Band twice, I would have killed to have seen Maha
👏👏👏👏👏
Liked his 12 string work
The audio is out of sync with the video... too bad
fortissimi
I saw the band close to 10 times when I was in high school and the following year.
For some reason McLaughlin always seemed to have trouble handling “Dawn,” which was a really lovely tune from the first album.
But when he played it in concert he always made a point of trashing it and being overbearing. Zero subtlety.
As for Mr. Hammer, he was hands down the most melodic and inventive soloist.
"Dawn" had to be a different beast in concert i guess for various reasons though eh? ( thanks Jan for the Music and the joy you've brought) 🕉.
Killer.
You know, somehow I can hear Jeff Beck in this music...I know he was influenced by the Mahavishnu Orchestra!
Wow💀
😀💙🌱🌸
Hope they keep the ‘trippy light show’ to a minimum!!!
Absolutely stunning! My only gripe is Jon can't seem to hold his slow notes in tune or play a proper vibrato. I've been playing for 40 years, and I had the vibrato down 37 years ago!
Okay.
And less restrictive than every other guitar player I've listened too. Tin ear. We all can't be perfect...
cobham is god
thank you ! the world is Out To Lunch..
Is it me or Dawn has lost power when they speed it up?
9:20 - Mahavishnu goes disco, LOL.
He could've been one of the greatest guitarists ever if he could play clean and in tune!
Next up, Zappa
Can only be Jean luc on violin, what an incredible versatile artist!
It’s jerry Goodman
que poronga que suena la musica virtuosa
The worst version of One Word I ever saw...I kept waiting for them to go into the Billy C. solo...????... I have loved Mahavishnu for 4 decades...Saw the with Weather Report...This was not one of their better shows...Just sayin...
FWIW, these are excerpts, there are no complete tunes, although maybe Resolution at the end, so it is a bit difficult to judge One-Word or any other tunes IMHO. :-)
Rob do you have ANY idea what the touring schedule was like for these guys for close to two years in a row ?
just sayin'
Bill is KILLIN' its just the camera ain't on him the way it should be.
This is a copy of a roughly recorded TV show. If you heard a high quality audio recording complete then you may have different opinion. The guitar rhythm playing and the drumming were great and Rick Laird R.I.P playing interesting variation on the bass solo he played on the record.
@@borgullet3376 The problem with touring schedule is not that it affected their performance here but it left them with hardly time to compose new material.
Awfully out of tune bending like a madman....