John McLaughlin is regarded equally 1 of the greatest guitarists inwards the history of music. Making albums from the 60's through the present, his intense guitar move amongst The Mahavishnu Orchestra too Miles Davis gave nativity to jazz/fusion. In 1984 he formed a reincarnation of sorts of The Mahavishnu Orchestra. Featuring master Mahavishnu drummer Billy Cobham, summation saxophonist Bill Evans too bassist Jonas Hellborg, this high-energy electrical album is regarded equally 1 of his best efforts too has been his most sought later album for CD reissue. It is making its worldwide CD debut!
Alot of people don't know this just John McLaughlin was 1 of, if non the start guitarist to utilize the guitar synthesizer. Now inwards this recording he utilizes it effectively on many pieces.
For those who are expecting commemoration of the onetime Mahavishnu Orchestra, yous mightiness last disappointed. It's a dissimilar band amongst a to a greater extent than "refined" audio without losing the propulsiveness and/or drive.
Bill Evans saxophone move lends this edition of the band a dissimilar feel. Jonas Hellborg is a marvelous bassist too provides a potent undercurrent throughout.
Remember this was done inwards '85, too then the pieces are to a greater extent than structured than the runaway jams of the seventies. Yet the virtousity is there. This too the follow upwardly "Adventures inwards Radioland" were 2 of the finer fusion recordings of the eighties.
There is less of the eastern influence inwards this recording. McLaughlin musical note is frankly meliorate hither than inwards before recordings. He's less frenetic too is to a greater extent than to the point. Yes, yous volition detect the flight fingers of the fretboard wizardry hither just non equally an halt to itself.
This recording runs the gamut of fusion sensibilities. Bill Evans shines on tenor saxophone. Billy Cobham is Billy Cobham. Just a monster (I hateful that inwards a skilful way). The pieces run the gamut from introspective to a downward correct fusion "throwdown".
Put aside your preconceptions too reminiscences virtually how yous cry upwardly Mahavishnu. This is a novel band too this is a really skilful recording, good worth getting.
I start bought this album on vinyl inwards 1986 at Tower Records, Piccadilly Circus, London. There came a signal where I no longer had a turntable too then I got rid of all my vinyl albums (big mistake!). I was delighted to run into the album had been re-issued on CD equally I could vividly cry upwardly the rush of start listening to this album. This album is a please for whatever lover of skilful music too peculiarly for fans of mclaughlin/mahavishnu/jazz/fusion. There is a veritable feast of delights inducing all kinds of emotions. Like all skilful jazz yous must permit each of the tracks to educate too give their climax to give the emotional high. Beautiful too Nostalgic.
John McLaughlin resurrected the esteemed onetime Mahavishnu Orchestra for his mid-'80s quintet, fifty-fifty getting onetime mate Billy Cobham to fill upwardly the drum slot on the band's start album. But this is an solely dissimilar project design than whatever of the '70s Mahavishnu outfits. The audio is cooler, less strident, to a greater extent than thoroughly dominated past times advanced electronic textures -- including a sleekly elegant digital guitar played through a Synclavier. Instead of a violin, Bill Evans contributes about swirling too sometimes bop-flavored hap saxes, too McLaughlin gets mobile just non overly combustible back upwardly from keyboardist Mitch Forman too bassist Jonas Hellborg. The homages continue; the opening of "Nostalgia" is precisely that, a throwback to "In a Silent Way" equally filtered through digital gear. While this is undeniably prog-minded, beautifully played electrical music.
Track listing:
1. Radio-Activity (6:53)
2. Nostalgia (5:57)
3. Nightriders (3:49)
4. East Side, West Side (4:49)
5. Clarendon Hills (6:05)
6. Jazz (1:45)
7. The Unbeliever (2:49)
8. Pacific Express (6:32)
9. When Blue Turns Gold (3:22)
Personnel:
John McLaughlin - Synclavier II, Digital Guitar, Les Paul Special
Mitchel Forman - Fender Rhodes, Yamaha DX7, Yamaha "Blow Torch" Piano on "Clarendon Hills"
Jonas Hellborg - Fretless Bass Guitar, Fretted Bass Guitar
Bill Evans - Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute
Billy Cobham - Drums, Percussion
Additional Personnel:
Danny Gottlieb: Percussion
Hari Prasad Chaurasia: Flute on "When Blue Turns Gold"
Zakir Hussain: Tabla on "When Blue Turns Gold"
Katia Labeque: Synclavier II amongst Velocity/Pressure Keyboard (VPK), Yamaha DX7, too Acoustic Piano on "When Blue Turns Gold"
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