He is, to this day, the hardest-hitting drummer that has ever sat behind a drum set. He is also one of, if not, the first open-handed players. His use of the China was legendary. The list goes on and on.
Once Jan Hammer touches a keyboard there is NO one that sounds like him. One of my all time favorites. Gosh it's too bad he and JM never teamed up again, even for a one-off.
The main book written about the Mahavishnu Orchestra tried to make the case a reunion could happen (before Rick died) but...I don't think John believed the claim that the anger against him from the others was gone.
@@roblastem2905 His stuff with Jeff Beck on Wired is Peak Jazz Fusion. I heard it first when I was 17 in about 92 and it was during a 2 week holiday in France from Scotland. I had a bunch of tapes on my personal stereo. I was reading the player of games by Iain M Banks at the same time and Wired was alien enough to work perfectly as a soundtrack for that crazy decadent alien culture. For me at that age it was truly alien music but I loved it. Same for Vai Flexable on the same trip and Not of this earth by Satch. I also had Van Halen 1984, NIght Ranger Dawn Patrol, and IIRC that 1st Jason Becker album with Altitudes on it. I think there was also another couple of albums. I was already mad into guitar but that list sealed the deal. 30+ years later still playing guitar and loving all these albums and players. Luv and Peace.
I was 15 in 1977 when I bought The Inner Mounting Flame. It blew my mind then and still gets me emotional every time I play it. Billy’s solo here is immense. 😊
I was 17, senior in high school, drove 60 miles on a school night (I have no idea what I told my parents that I was doing). Talked my way into a club (had to be 18 to get in legally) so I got to see this band in early 1973 in Ohio. I had their first two albums and I was obsessed with them. They blew my mind that night. I've never been the same! I never tire of listening to this band. There never was before and never was since them, anyone who played music like this. No. One.
I hear you man! One of the greatest tunes for me is from Belo Horizonte 'One Melody' where JM and the violin player (Augustin Dumay) play these unison lines that completely knock your head off!! As a matter of fact I', going to listen to this right now!
According to Ruth Underwood when she saw Zappa's face as he watched their set she knew that a big change was coming in the Mother's. That change turned out to be Chester Thompson. "On Ruth!"
Its absurd man freakish stuff by both especially that last 2 and half minutes or so ending with Goodmans insane sounding haunting/western/jazz chordal solo stuff and then Cobhams pretty much maxed out all time cant get any better drumming solo outro.
Me too-life changing music during teen years; super lucky to have been just old enough to go see them during the first tour they did in the US, debuting this amazing lineup! That and the Allan Holdsworth shows that I was lucky enough to see a number of times, were indescribably powerful!
Me too. Saw them in Manchester mid 70s - so blown away went down to Birmingham a few days later and saw them again. This was the later lineup though. Both lineups great.
Me also, this band was my gateway into Jazz Fushion....and never looked back. Also got to see them twice in Melbourne at the Palais and Billy once in the Basement in Sydney.
I have seen John McLaughlin playing this twice. Once with his jazz band at the Barbican in London and then last night in the opening concert of the Shakti 50th anniversary tour. Last night was one of the greatest concerts I have ever attended. If you can get tickets, go and see Shakti live. There is no group like them.
Simply amazing - Rick Laird, Bill Cobham, McGlaughlin, Jerry Goodman, Jan Hammer. I brought home Inner Mounting Flame on vinyl, and thought I was hearing music from another solar system or galaxy! What t f !
El mejor grupo fusion sin duda, mi hermano mayor tenia el disco en binilo, yo tenia 9 años y lo escucho hasta ahora hace mas de 30 años. Gracias por compartirlo!!
Ce genre de groupe et de musique qui manque tant aujourd'hui ! Quant on voit toute la soupe qu'on nous sert aujourd'hui c'est vraiment désolant ! Le niveau intellectuel des humains est vraiment en baisse !
these guys were so far ahead of their time. All amazing musicians just doing what they love. Never conformed. Hate em, love em, dont understand their music? Sorry, gave it to you anyway.
Wow saw them 3 times with Cobham 1st time I was 13 I'm 62 now it will never be another group like this ever. Music from the Gods plain & simple I'm so glad I witness this live thank you.👊 yeah....
In what universe were they light years ahead ? Ahead of bands from the same era like Return to Forever, Weather Report, Tony William's Lifetime, Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi and Miles Davis' Bitches Brew band ? Mahavishnu was unique, I'll give you that, bc their blend of Indian classical music, jazz and psychedelic rock.
I was very fortunate to have seen the Mahavishnu Orchestra on their first two tours and they were an incredible band to see..incredible ! This is great footage..thank you for this post greatly appreciated!
I was in a band in high school around 15/16 years old in 2007/2008 and we were very talented for our age. we played a lot of ,Zeppelin, Hendrix, Mars Volta, Santana, Cream, but it was always my favorite jamming to Mahavishnu songs.
Saw these guys in a small theatre in Bloomington, Indiana in 1970. Loud and totally entrancing...my attention focused right away on Billy Cobham. One of the very best of all time
Yes I graduated from high school that same year I wonder when you saw the band did you ever think they were too loud or that McLaughlin tone was kind edgy or were you like me overwhelmed by their sum total of all of the parts.
@@intuneorange Well 4 concerts stood out. 1st was at Symphony Hall in Boston (They opened for Jerry Garcia and Merle Saunders.) Acoustics there are great, so they did not need to play 2 loud. Cobham had the single bass drum kit on the first album. Hammer had less gear That was late 1971. I saw them again a little before at Holy Cross and Weather Report was the opener.. They were softer. Then in 1973 or 74 I saw them on the Boston Common opening for Loggins and Messina. Cobham had the clear Fibes set with double bass, 3 floor toms, huge Chinese gong behind him. That was super loud, but it was outside so it was cool. Then I saw them a little later that year at the Orpheum. I can't remember the opener, or if there was one. I saw Traffic there the same year. Even Traffic sounded 2 loud in that space. It had this weird balcony overhang half the floor seats which made for a low ceiling in that area, so sound got squished and muddy a lot. They were always great. People today forget how successful they were, Be safe.
It was almost 50 years ago and they were bot together that long. I saw them so often in such a short time it tends to run together. As a whole, it was unforgettable. Be safe.
I saw John McLaughlin perform this with the 4th Dimension last year at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh as the finale. Just amazing... McLaughlin, 80 years old (then) and so much energy (and hair!). TBH? Good as it was, this version is still better, esp. with Goodman on violin. And as much as the musicianship of the 4th Dimension is superb, there is something about the way the 1971 line up gel that makes this piece that wee bit better- special even. I have the original "Inner Mounting Flame" (and "Extrapolation" & "Birds of Fire") on vinyl & CD. I never tire of playing them. Thanks for the share on RUclips!
Back in the 1970s I got to set about 10 feet from the stage in a small basement cafe watching the the George Duke Billy Cobham Group perform. Miss the fusion groups from that time so much.
i wouldn’t be so quick to judge that. we saw him in 2017 with an incredible band that included Gary Husband on keys...it was equal to this stunning posted clip from the 70’s.
I can only agree saw him a few years back at the Elbe Jazz Festival in Hamburg it was amazing not a long set , but the guy is not young, he and the band were on fire. Practically ever other Artist on the billy stood on the side of the stage to watch the performance that was the high level of respect given to him let's face if you get to play with Miles Davis and change the course of music while doing so , and then Miles tell him he should form his own band you know how much miles respect him .@@swbbreps8464
What a band I came across this BBC broadcast by accident I couldn't even pronounce the name Later I was overjoyed when I found out that John Macauglin was from Doncaster and Whitley Bay fantastic O remember an interview with B Cobham and he said he used to do spend the whole gig counting all night WOW
I thank my buddy Bob went from Delmar near Albany NY for turning me onto this band and Frank zappa.he died just not long ago in california.luv ya bud.i was 15 or 16 him too in Albany NY 1976
I grew up in a small town in Washington State……and everybody was talking about Billy Cobham at one time or another. Back in the 70s he was untouchable and playing with everyone.
I had the privilege and intense pleasure of seeing this lineup live twice in the UK. My only problem with The Inner Mounting Flame album was that I always had to save it until last during a listening session since nothing else seemed inspiring enough to follow it.
I saw them 9 times. They played around Boston a lot. I saw them at Symphony Hall and Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders were the opener. I saw them on Boston Common with Loggins and Messina. I saw them at Holy Cross with Weather Report. Great every time!
I was there at Symphony Hall (late 1971 or early 1972). But it was the other way around. Mahavishnu opened for The Jerry Garcia Band and Merl Saunders and half the audience walked out on Garcia. That was a continuing problem for Mahavishnu at the beginning. Promoters wanted to introduce them to the audiences of more well-known rock artists but no one could follow them. Not Garcia, not Zappa, not the Allman Brothers.
In the 70's I had a record player that had 33 rpm, 45 rpm and 16 rpm... I listened to the "Spectrum" album at 16 rpm to slow everything down and that's how I learned how to play the drums. Billy Cobham was my #1 drummer, above all the rest. Of course, you had to listen to Harvey Mason, Steve Gadd, Lenny White, Alphonse Mouzon, Narada Michael Walden and even Ian Paice..etc... Billy Cobham was also the most exciting to see live....
Jan Hammer made some memorable appearances as a side man ~ Billy Cobham ~ Spectrum 1973 Stanley Clarke ~ Stanley Clarke 1974 Horacee Arnold ~ Tales Of The Exonerated Flea 1974 John Abercrombie ~ Timeless 1975 Elvin Jones ~ Elvin Jones Is On The Mountain With Jan Hammer And Gene Perla 1975
A great band in live performance. Unique for the time. The opening spirituality aspect of Mclaughlin's requesting silence while he meditated into opening the set created a mood not ever witnessed by our young ears. And not to forget Billy Cobham's tour de force drum solos.
Jan Hammers playing just now... Brought me out of a depression... Never saw him but I love his playing... I'm just in awe. I've seen John maclaughlin lately, and years ago.... I saw Billy Cobham once with Bobby and midnights... Why just this music makes me happily uneasy ,and craving more and more and more? It would be hard for me to go on without this collaboration
Saw them at John's 25th anniversary at the Rainbow in 78.Met a guy who liked ice cream mixed with cucumber.He had a dog named Peter.Same as my uncle's.Amazing.And,he came from somewhere in India.Amazing.I caught the bus afterwards.It was on time.When I got back home,I had some toast.It was lovely.
No One Ever Mentioned The Name Billy Cobham to Me, was Only By Ear Listening to Mahavishnu I said That the Percussionist is an Amazing Vibrant Talent, His Work With just Hammer alone and Tommy Bolin Is Incredible...
Definitely a supergroup, but far from the only one. Shakti, and Remember Shakti come to mind, as do most of Allan Holdsworth's bands, as does Weather Report, and several of Chick Corea's bands, Frank Zappa's bands; Joni Mitchell's Shadows and Light band, Oregon, Airto, Shawn Lane's group with some of the same guys in Shakti, and his power trio with Hellborg (McLaughlin bassist), and Jeff Sipe (who toured with McLaughlin's retirement US tour)...so many supergroups...
Saw Mahavishnu Orchestra -enraptured, twice, in Boston: during Inner Mounting Flame era, and then during Birds of Fire tour. A highschool friend had become ear over ear for them. Great to see them in roving closeup here. From the crowd, couldn't be that close. But Live... life changing.
I saw them at Symphony Hall opening for The Jerry Garcia Band. Were you there? Incredible performance. They came to blow away Garcia...and that's exactly what they did.
Billy using the brains 🧠 in each limb whilst utilising the one in his head for quiet, satisfied reflection on just how dammed gifted he is…To be fair the collective is at the very pinnacle of musicianship, marvellous, just marvellous.
Music of the highest level. I may have missed seeing Coltrane live by a few years but fortunately I'm up there is age and saw this band live a number of times. This still sounds fresh to my ears when compared to the current musical happenings.
No I was about 16 then and was introduced to real music by my older brother. We went to ELP Concert, Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd. These groups opened my eyes.
Bill Bruford , from Yes and King Crimson ? He was a powerful drummer, saw him live in the 80s on stage with King Crimson reproducing exactly the sound of the Red album on stage with Robert Fripp ! What a multi percussionist !
says who, you? don't be such a weird fan. Top three... like you would even know the first thing about it. lol. Actually if you play that is even worse for you....
@@xaviercrepin2930 not even close. He had so pretty shaky time too. There is no best guys.. wake up. Until you have a stats chart anyway.... there are things you could base it on...
I saw them in Toronto in the early 70s along with Santana. Both bands on stage at the same time with John McLaughlin and Carlos Santana both dressed in white, both with double neck 12 string guitars, trading leads back and forth. Might have been the best concert that I have ever been to!
Yeah, Jeff and John are big fans of each other; there's a great video on youtube of them bowing down before each other, then playing a killing version of "Django", which they recorded for John's album, "The Promise".
Back in 1972, I had the amazing opportunity as a freshman college student to attend a Mahavishnu Orchestra concert at the small-town high school in Newtown, PA, for all of THREE DOLLARS (that would be less than $25 in 2023 dollars). I had bought EVERY album (maybe 2, maybe 3 back then) that John McLaughlin had issued. At least 10 to 12 years later, I remember "trance music" had dominated dance clubs in the East Coast Philadelphia region. To me back then, it was just rewarmed and far less "tasty" versions of the human being performed Mahavishnu Orchestra. It must be said that EACH AND EVERY musician on that stage was mesmerizing in their individual talent. The musically muscular Billy Cobham was as impressively "into it" as this entire incredible ensemble of supremely talented musical artists. Now, a full 52 years later, I can still drift back in my mind to that evening in a goddamned high school auditorium and relive it, ever so thankfully, once again!
Yeah; hard to believe it's the same guy. I much prefer the ass kicking performer with this band and Jeff Beck over the admittedly bigger money gig writing tv theme music!
@@Gregorypeckory Wasn't a big fan of Miami Vice but just tried to imagine it without Hammer's music, substituting the usual banal cop show stuff. He added a LOT to the success of that program.
When I saw this band on TV for the first time in 1970, my life changed forever. As a later guitarist I was first fascinated by John McLaughlin, later I became a very big fan of Jan Hammer and his special way of playing synthesizers. (Of course also a fan of Billy Cobham and Jerry Goldsmith) You can recognize Hammer by his style and sound. Hammer’s solo in Al di Meola’s song „Elegant Gypsy Suite“ (1977 on the album with the same name) is one of e the most soulful, beautiful and ingenious synthesizer solos I ever heard. And I heard a lot of the best ones from then to now, like the one of Jordan Rudess (DREAM THEATER).
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
Seeing Mahavishnu Orchestra and Weather Report in the 70s changed my musical trajectory.
Me too. Fell in love with fusion.
@@christinecohen8687 Yksinkertaisen monimutkaisen melodisen tahtilajeja kunnioittamisen äärirajoja hipovaa. ( finnish )
way to go; your very lucky to have.
I'm obsessed with Billy Cobham. How does nobody talk about this guy? He's a top 3 drummer of all time for me.
It's crazy - he is still incredible today. He's a monster.
Very good point. You hardly ever hear him mentioned
He is, to this day, the hardest-hitting drummer that has ever sat behind a drum set. He is also one of, if not, the first open-handed players. His use of the China was legendary. The list goes on and on.
People know! Mahavishnu was kind of a big deal!
You are right, he’s a monster , a legend since, I don’t believe... 50 years and more
Billy Cobham was so fast you couldn't see the drum sticks ,genius, a dream band
yes, if there was a 'counter part' of Tony Willams then Billy was it. also one of the most innovative and accomplished in the craft.
Once Jan Hammer touches a keyboard there is NO one that sounds like him. One of my all time favorites. Gosh it's too bad he and JM never teamed up again, even for a one-off.
The main book written about the Mahavishnu Orchestra tried to make the case a reunion could happen (before Rick died) but...I don't think John believed the claim that the anger against him from the others was gone.
True. More specifically, in my opinion, no-one ever came close to Hammer performing with a Moog, absolutely cutting edge, way, way ahead of his time.
Jan Hammer IMO is the greatest keyboard player that ever lived
@@roblastem2905 His stuff with Jeff Beck on Wired is Peak Jazz Fusion. I heard it first when I was 17 in about 92 and it was during a 2 week holiday in France from Scotland. I had a bunch of tapes on my personal stereo. I was reading the player of games by Iain M Banks at the same time and Wired was alien enough to work perfectly as a soundtrack for that crazy decadent alien culture.
For me at that age it was truly alien music but I loved it.
Same for Vai Flexable on the same trip and Not of this earth by Satch.
I also had Van Halen 1984, NIght Ranger Dawn Patrol, and IIRC that 1st Jason Becker album with Altitudes on it. I think there was also another couple of albums.
I was already mad into guitar but that list sealed the deal.
30+ years later still playing guitar and loving all these albums and players.
Luv and Peace.
Gotta agree ! Jan has a style on Fender Rhodes and synth that as soon as you hear it, you know it’s Jan Hammer. IMO,
RIP Rick Laird (bassist)
I was 15 in 1977 when I bought The Inner Mounting Flame. It blew my mind then and still gets me emotional every time I play it. Billy’s solo here is immense. 😊
I was 17, senior in high school, drove 60 miles on a school night (I have no idea what I told my parents that I was doing). Talked my way into a club (had to be 18 to get in legally) so I got to see this band in early 1973 in Ohio. I had their first two albums and I was obsessed with them. They blew my mind that night. I've never been the same! I never tire of listening to this band. There never was before and never was since them, anyone who played music like this. No. One.
Great story - are you secretly Mr Neary from Close Encounters? 😂
I hear you man! One of the greatest tunes for me is from Belo Horizonte 'One Melody' where JM and the violin player (Augustin Dumay) play these unison lines that completely knock your head off!! As a matter of fact I', going to listen to this right now!
Thank you BBC. The BBC has done so much to make us aware of music, and comedy, and wildlife, and a hundred other things.
Nobody but nobody ever developed the voice of the Moog like Jan. Jan channeled and converted that instrument into the voice of angels.
You know, he had a hell of a time.Keeping it in tune because the early moogs Did not respond well to whether change. Yet he Managed to make it work.!+
I saw them at the Spectrum in 1972. They opened for Zappa. I drove up from Charlottesville and drove back slow to catch the sunrise.
According to Ruth Underwood when she saw Zappa's face as he watched their set she knew that a big change was coming in the Mother's. That change turned out to be Chester Thompson. "On Ruth!"
I saw them @ The Tower Theater in Upper Darby, Pa
Takes 8 hours to get to Rocky Mount NC from there. I know, I know
Same tour I saw them both in Toronto. My very first.
I was at that same show...it was epic!!!
Fantastic... how privileged we were living in those criative years.
unparalleled.
Those were the days of disco and glam-rock when we were looking back at the 60's as the good old days.
Dude playing the moog like its a damn guitar 😮❤️🔥🔥🔥
This is one of the greatest videos on RUclips.
2:50
How about a shout out for Jerry Goodman's electrifying violin 🎻 playing? Wow Cobham is controlled firepower!
Its absurd man freakish stuff by both especially that last 2 and half minutes or so ending with Goodmans insane sounding haunting/western/jazz chordal solo stuff and then Cobhams pretty much maxed out all time cant get any better drumming solo outro.
His playing is so graceful
The layering with the guitar & violin is so good!
Both of them were simply outstanding!
Formerly from the "Flock"...hey, I had a few of their albums. A great unheralded band@!
Musicians know how good Billy Cobham is. His solo recording are amazing. Crosswinds,,,,,,etc.
It's incredible what you can build on a 9-note simple melody given some imagination and five brilliant musicians!
3+3+2,3+3+2,3+3+2 = 24/8
The great Keith Emerson was a Jan Hammer fan😊
Was so lucky to see this incredible group live. That music lives within me. It was so powerful in person.
Me too-life changing music during teen years; super lucky to have been just old enough to go see them during the first tour they did in the US, debuting this amazing lineup!
That and the Allan Holdsworth shows that I was lucky enough to see a number of times, were indescribably powerful!
Me too. Saw them in Manchester mid 70s - so blown away went down to Birmingham a few days later and saw them again. This was the later lineup though. Both lineups great.
Me too
Opened for Frank Zappa
Tower Theater Upper Darby, Pa.
I saw them 3 times 72-75 RTF's first concert. and Jean Luc Ponty in 77 ..... I never have been the same since.
Me also, this band was my gateway into Jazz Fushion....and never looked back. Also got to see them twice in Melbourne at the Palais and Billy once in the Basement in Sydney.
This might be the best close-up camera work I've seen of Jan soloing on the Moog! Billy Cobham is a force of nature.
I have seen John McLaughlin playing this twice. Once with his jazz band at the Barbican in London and then last night in the opening concert of the Shakti 50th anniversary tour. Last night was one of the greatest concerts I have ever attended. If you can get tickets, go and see Shakti live. There is no group like them.
Simply amazing - Rick Laird, Bill Cobham, McGlaughlin, Jerry Goodman, Jan Hammer.
I brought home Inner Mounting Flame on vinyl, and thought I was hearing music from another solar system or galaxy! What t f !
Yes! It is wonderful! I love it.
I had the mirror experience.
El mejor grupo fusion sin duda, mi hermano mayor tenia el disco en binilo, yo tenia 9 años y lo escucho hasta ahora hace mas de 30 años. Gracias por compartirlo!!
Tim Koss Music- Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy…different but the same Spaceship
Ce genre de groupe et de musique qui manque tant aujourd'hui ! Quant on voit toute la soupe qu'on nous sert aujourd'hui c'est vraiment désolant ! Le niveau intellectuel des humains est vraiment en baisse !
Jan's mini Moog solo is so breathtaking, at times "slinky", and always in control, I loved him on John Ambecrombe's "Timeless"
Timeless is a masterpiece...Jan Hammer is absolutely fabulous there, extremely refined, pure poetry.
he is really on fire here
@@andradas9688
these guys were so far ahead of their time. All amazing musicians just doing what they love. Never conformed. Hate em, love em, dont understand their music? Sorry, gave it to you anyway.
Jan Hammer !!! The Best !!!
@Barry Manilowa Don't call Czech Republic East Europe!! It's central Europe. Home of Jan Hammer. I visited Prague. They love Jazz.
There was a polish jazz musician Mike Urbanek. I'm talking 70' 80'. He played saxophone if I remember correctly.
Wow saw them 3 times with Cobham 1st time I was 13 I'm 62 now it will never be another group like this ever. Music from the Gods plain & simple I'm so glad I witness this live thank you.👊 yeah....
Don Kirshner's Rock Concert.... 1973 I think, I was like 13 or 14...
Lucky you!!
I think UK is quite like this.
Incredible band, light years ahead of anyone else at the time, even today. I miss that shit.
In what universe were they light years ahead ? Ahead of bands from the same era like Return to Forever, Weather Report, Tony William's Lifetime, Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi and Miles Davis' Bitches Brew band ?
Mahavishnu was unique, I'll give you that, bc their blend of Indian classical music, jazz and psychedelic rock.
@@yellfire I see you come to RUclips to troll. Good for you. Your mother says hello, simp.
All still alive. The World 🌎 could really use this fellowship & energy right now. Actually needs it.
Unfortunately Rick Laird passed away this month at age 80.
I was very fortunate to have seen the Mahavishnu Orchestra on their first two tours and they were an incredible band to see..incredible ! This is great footage..thank you for this post greatly appreciated!
Saw them at the Mississippi River Festival, SIU-E Edwardsville, Ill. Incredible !!
billys solo at the end wowwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Forever with the MO ,for more of 40 years listening and enjoy
For musicians on top of the world and are Rick Laird to keep them honest. Probably the best super super group ever.
I was in a band in high school around 15/16 years old in 2007/2008 and we were very talented for our age. we played a lot of ,Zeppelin, Hendrix, Mars Volta, Santana, Cream, but it was always my favorite jamming to Mahavishnu songs.
Hammer getting feedback from the Fender Rhodes so, cleverly swaps tp the Moog but has to adjust volume levels - genius!
I will never forget the first time I heard The Inner Mounting Flame. It exploded, imploded, rearranged and reassembled my mind.
JAN HAMMER the best!!!!!.....cheers from Chile!!!
Saw these guys in a small theatre in Bloomington, Indiana in 1970. Loud and totally entrancing...my attention focused right away on Billy Cobham. One of the very best of all time
Hmm. Mahavishnu wasn’t founded then (in 1970)
I saw them 9 times! I graduated from high school in 1971 when their first album came out. I was lucky. They played Boston a lot. I played drums.
Lucky chap
Yes I graduated from high school that same year I wonder when you saw the band did you ever think they were too loud or that McLaughlin tone was kind edgy or were you like me overwhelmed by their sum total of all of the parts.
@@intuneorange Well 4 concerts stood out. 1st was at Symphony Hall in Boston (They opened for Jerry Garcia and Merle Saunders.) Acoustics there are great, so they did not need to play 2 loud. Cobham had the single bass drum kit on the first album. Hammer had less gear That was late 1971. I saw them again a little before at Holy Cross and Weather Report was the opener.. They were softer. Then in 1973 or 74 I saw them on the Boston Common opening for Loggins and Messina. Cobham had the clear Fibes set with double bass, 3 floor toms, huge Chinese gong behind him. That was super loud, but it was outside so it was cool. Then I saw them a little later that year at the Orpheum. I can't remember the opener, or if there was one. I saw Traffic there the same year. Even Traffic sounded 2 loud in that space. It had this weird balcony overhang half the floor seats which made for a low ceiling in that area, so sound got squished and muddy a lot. They were always great. People today forget how successful they were, Be safe.
It was almost 50 years ago and they were bot together that long. I saw them so often in such a short time it tends to run together. As a whole, it was unforgettable. Be safe.
What Zeus Apollo said!
I saw John McLaughlin perform this with the 4th Dimension last year at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh as the finale. Just amazing... McLaughlin, 80 years old (then) and so much energy (and hair!). TBH? Good as it was, this version is still better, esp. with Goodman on violin. And as much as the musicianship of the 4th Dimension is superb, there is something about the way the 1971 line up gel that makes this piece that wee bit better- special even. I have the original "Inner Mounting Flame" (and "Extrapolation" & "Birds of Fire") on vinyl & CD. I never tire of playing them. Thanks for the share on RUclips!
Back in the 1970s I got to set about 10 feet from the stage in a small basement cafe watching the the George Duke Billy Cobham Group perform. Miss the fusion groups from that time so much.
When you know you know, you don't really care if anyone knows you know, but you always kind of wonder who it is that knows you know.
There are unknown knowns, but also unknown unknowns...
The Mahavishnu Orchestra Days were the best John ever had in my opinion. What a band!
i wouldn’t be so quick to judge that. we saw him in 2017 with an incredible band that included Gary Husband on keys...it was equal to this stunning posted clip from the 70’s.
I can only agree saw him a few years back at the Elbe Jazz Festival in Hamburg it was amazing not a long set , but the guy is not young, he and the band were on fire. Practically ever other Artist on the billy stood on the side of the stage to watch the performance that was the high level of respect given to him let's face if you get to play with Miles Davis and change the course of music while doing so , and then Miles tell him he should form his own band you know how much miles respect him .@@swbbreps8464
Cobham is like an extension of Art Blakey and Elvin Jones but in the fusion era. He is a Colossus!
@Michael Zoom Yeah, the whole band was amazing!
A great critic in Boston named James Isaacs called Cobham a combination of Tony Williams and Bernard Purdie. Both yours and his are great!
I believe that Jon Hiseman could have played for them.
Powerhouse. He can emulate a train barreling through your house.
@Kenneth Liburd Jon Hiseman.
He was British Played for Colosseum
Listen to Boston Tea Party 1969 (The Machine Demands A Sacrifice) here on You Tube
Absolutely brilliant...all the guys.. masters of their craft...when I first heard Inner Mounted Flame in 1971..it just blew me away.
Jan Hammer is also a cool drummer. Using the Original Mini Moog and Electric Piano. Utter Bliss: London August 1972
Jerry Goodman & Billy Cobham, like out of the world 🖤🖤
What a band I came across this BBC broadcast by accident I couldn't even pronounce the name Later I was overjoyed when I found out that John Macauglin was from Doncaster and Whitley Bay fantastic O remember an interview with B Cobham and he said he used to do spend the whole gig counting all night WOW
I thank my buddy Bob went from Delmar near Albany NY for turning me onto this band and Frank zappa.he died just not long ago in california.luv ya bud.i was 15 or 16 him too in Albany NY 1976
Billy is Baddasss
What a fkng capacity ?? To memorize all this. And sound so tight with the boys ?? Unreal. Never understood
I saw Cobham twice and he is fantastic.
One of the coolest songs every written.
I grew up in a small town in Washington State……and everybody was talking about Billy Cobham at one time or another. Back in the 70s he was untouchable and playing with everyone.
I had the privilege and intense pleasure of seeing this lineup live twice in the UK.
My only problem with The Inner Mounting Flame album was that I always had to save it until last during a listening session since nothing else seemed inspiring enough to follow it.
mid-70s Oregon is at least this good
Billy Cobham is smooth. Beautiful. He comes from a great line of jazz drummers.
I love his “Spectrum” album
I wore this album out back in the day. What a treat to see it performed live!
Billy Cobham is fantastic("Crosswinds" one of my all time fav
Jan Hammer was pioneering speed, sound and groove ... ...great days
If you know, you know.This is a form of magic.The real kind.
I saw them 9 times. They played around Boston a lot. I saw them at Symphony Hall and Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders were the opener. I saw them on Boston Common with Loggins and Messina. I saw them at Holy Cross with Weather Report. Great every time!
Damn you were a lucky fellow!
I was there at Symphony Hall (late 1971 or early 1972). But it was the other way around. Mahavishnu opened for The Jerry Garcia Band and Merl Saunders and half the audience walked out on Garcia. That was a continuing problem for Mahavishnu at the beginning. Promoters wanted to introduce them to the audiences of more well-known rock artists but no one could follow them. Not Garcia, not Zappa, not the Allman Brothers.
I saw them at Symphony Hall too! I saw them another time when they opened for (wait for it)… J. Geils Band.
Jan the MiniMoog Hammer. Incredible band .
In the 70's I had a record player that had 33 rpm, 45 rpm and 16 rpm... I listened to the "Spectrum" album at 16 rpm to slow everything down and that's how I learned how to play the drums. Billy Cobham was my #1 drummer, above all the rest. Of course, you had to listen to Harvey Mason, Steve Gadd, Lenny White, Alphonse Mouzon, Narada Michael Walden and even Ian Paice..etc... Billy Cobham was also the most exciting to see live....
Jan Hammer made some memorable appearances as a side man ~
Billy Cobham ~ Spectrum 1973
Stanley Clarke ~ Stanley Clarke 1974
Horacee Arnold ~ Tales Of The Exonerated Flea 1974
John Abercrombie ~ Timeless 1975
Elvin Jones ~ Elvin Jones Is On The Mountain With Jan Hammer And Gene Perla 1975
Jam Hammer also did the soundtrack for the tv series "Miami Vice".
How can you not mention the Jeff Beck - Hammer collab ?
Also played with Al DiMeola
You forgot Jeff Beck.
Thank you Mr. Hammer!!
This is an absolute mastery of performance
totally out of tune and often sloppy and out of time.
Thanks Jan hammer for your contribution to Miami vice series 👍 it made it stick and turned it out!
A great band in live performance. Unique for the time. The opening spirituality aspect of Mclaughlin's requesting silence while he meditated into opening the set created a mood not ever witnessed by our young ears. And not to forget Billy Cobham's tour de force drum solos.
I had the fever for quite a few years after discovering Birds of fire and then Spectrum.
I got the LP Inner mounting flame as a gift. I am thankful for that gift. this is one of the tracks that i love. And A lotus on irish streams.
Jan Hammers playing just now... Brought me out of a depression... Never saw him but I love his playing... I'm just in awe. I've seen John maclaughlin lately, and years ago.... I saw Billy Cobham once with Bobby and midnights... Why just this music makes me happily uneasy ,and craving more and more and more? It would be hard for me to go on without this collaboration
Hope u r well. Have u viewed the Syracuse U. Live video?
Saw them at John's 25th anniversary at the Rainbow in 78.Met a guy who liked ice cream mixed with cucumber.He had a dog named Peter.Same as my uncle's.Amazing.And,he came from somewhere in India.Amazing.I caught the bus afterwards.It was on time.When I got back home,I had some toast.It was lovely.
Wait:
Jan Hammer!?!
2020 still listening....
Me
Contemporary music 1971. My lord what happened.
No One Ever Mentioned The Name Billy Cobham to Me, was Only By Ear Listening to Mahavishnu I said That the Percussionist is an Amazing Vibrant Talent, His Work With just Hammer alone and Tommy Bolin Is Incredible...
Cobham’s stick bounce at 7:30, dig
Yes! ❤
The really One & Only Supergroup!
Definitely a supergroup, but far from the only one.
Shakti, and Remember Shakti come to mind, as do most of Allan Holdsworth's bands, as does Weather Report, and several of Chick Corea's bands, Frank Zappa's bands; Joni Mitchell's Shadows and Light band, Oregon, Airto, Shawn Lane's group with some of the same guys in Shakti, and his power trio with Hellborg (McLaughlin bassist), and Jeff Sipe (who toured with McLaughlin's retirement US tour)...so many supergroups...
Weather Report.
King Crimson.
@@swbbreps8464 , Steve Morse and the Dregs....
ELP as well, Emerson was a heavy hitting musician and creative tour de force.
Billy Cobhan and Bill Brufford were in other lavel, the best
Saw Mahavishnu Orchestra -enraptured, twice, in Boston: during Inner Mounting Flame era, and then during Birds of Fire tour. A highschool friend had become ear over ear for them. Great to see them in roving closeup here. From the crowd, couldn't be that close. But Live... life changing.
I saw them at Symphony Hall opening for The Jerry Garcia Band. Were you there? Incredible performance. They came to blow away Garcia...and that's exactly what they did.
Unbelievabley hard to keep the mini Moog in tune this the whole bands out cept 4 Billy u catch that stick flip wow
yes towards the end! Billy is the best in the world
Time mark?... please, Thanks!
7:31
The Mahavishnu Orchestra was so great! Perfect!
Billy using the brains 🧠 in each limb whilst utilising the one in his head for quiet, satisfied reflection on just how dammed gifted he is…To be fair the collective is at the very pinnacle of musicianship, marvellous, just marvellous.
Music of the highest level. I may have missed seeing Coltrane live by a few years but fortunately I'm up there is age and saw this band live a number of times. This still sounds fresh to my ears when compared to the current musical happenings.
sad for you.
Best fusion group ever! At that time a quantum leap in music...
Agreed
I second that. When this album came out, it was like it came from another planet. It was, and is to this day, brilliant.
I padded Billy on the shoulder when he was playing at the El Mocambo in Toronto in late 70’s. What a drummer. He is a genius.
No I was about 16 then and was introduced to real music by my older brother. We went to ELP Concert, Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd. These groups opened my eyes.
No1 drummer....! The whole performance, musicians in their prime. Hey hey, we're the Vishnus...
With a nod to the other talent on stage, Billy Cobham has been one of the top three drummers in the world for decades, imo!
Jon Hiseman was just as good.
Just curious Chuck..Billy, Vinnie and who would the third drummer be?
Bill Bruford , from Yes and King Crimson ? He was a powerful drummer, saw him live in the 80s on stage with King Crimson reproducing exactly the sound of the Red album on stage with Robert Fripp ! What a multi percussionist !
says who, you? don't be such a weird fan. Top three... like you would even know the first thing about it. lol. Actually if you play that is even worse for you....
@@xaviercrepin2930 not even close. He had so pretty shaky time too. There is no best guys.. wake up. Until you have a stats chart anyway.... there are things you could base it on...
I saw them in Toronto in the early 70s along with Santana. Both bands on stage at the same time with John McLaughlin and Carlos Santana both dressed in white, both with double neck 12 string guitars, trading leads back and forth. Might have been the best concert that I have ever been to!
Love devotion surrender style? My favourite moment
The virtuosity here is absolutely mindblowing
Just seen Jeff Beck & band do a cover of this at Royal Hospital, Chelsea grounds.
Yeah, Jeff and John are big fans of each other; there's a great video on youtube of them bowing down before each other, then playing a killing version of "Django", which they recorded for John's album, "The Promise".
Back in 1972, I had the amazing opportunity as a freshman college student to attend a Mahavishnu Orchestra concert at the small-town high school in Newtown, PA, for all of THREE DOLLARS (that would be less than $25 in 2023 dollars). I had bought EVERY album (maybe 2, maybe 3 back then) that John McLaughlin had issued. At least 10 to 12 years later, I remember "trance music" had dominated dance clubs in the East Coast Philadelphia region. To me back then, it was just rewarmed and far less "tasty" versions of the human being performed Mahavishnu Orchestra. It must be said that EACH AND EVERY musician on that stage was mesmerizing in their individual talent. The musically muscular Billy Cobham was as impressively "into it" as this entire incredible ensemble of supremely talented musical artists. Now, a full 52 years later, I can still drift back in my mind to that evening in a goddamned high school auditorium and relive it, ever so thankfully, once again!
I love this piece, it's intense and the theme can be explored in so many way. I've listened to it I don't know how many time , you know !
You know?
You know!
Seen them in early 70s at Ford auditorium in Detroit blew me away ,one of the most amazing shows ever
Every time I hear Billy Cobham I realize if it wasn't for him this band wouldn't have been realized.
It started off with John and BIlly jamming.
this music is beyond words
私はFBでも ファンにはいってますが あなたが日本に来た時のライヴを本当に若い頃見ました 今でもあなたのグループは 凄すぎて 感動しました 本当に最高のメンバー集まってやったからでしょうね ありがとう
Life before Miami Vice ........Im old enough to remember Jan
Yeah; hard to believe it's the same guy. I much prefer the ass kicking performer with this band and Jeff Beck over the admittedly bigger money gig writing tv theme music!
@@Gregorypeckory Wasn't a big fan of Miami Vice but just tried to imagine it without Hammer's music, substituting the usual banal cop show stuff. He added a LOT to the success of that program.
Jan realizes the Rhodes is buzzing...and turns to the Mini!
Saw them in a concert in the round. Took a date - she sat there with her mouth open the entire time. Friggin' awesome show. 👍
Every note clean clear and purposeful.
Sound is amazing for such an old recording.
When I saw this band on TV for the first time in 1970, my life changed forever. As a later guitarist I was first fascinated by John McLaughlin, later I became a very big fan of Jan Hammer and his special way of playing synthesizers. (Of course also a fan of Billy Cobham and Jerry Goldsmith) You can recognize Hammer by his style and sound. Hammer’s solo in Al di Meola’s song „Elegant Gypsy Suite“ (1977 on the album with the same name) is one of e the most soulful, beautiful and ingenious synthesizer solos I ever heard. And I heard a lot of the best ones from then to now, like the one of Jordan Rudess (DREAM THEATER).