Mahavishnu: meeting of the spirits. High resolution.

[@binnyman]

I played this for a friend once, so long ago. And he asked me: "Why do they play so many notes, and so fast?" There was a brief pause before I replied: "Because they can". Thank you, God, for giving me the ability to appreciate greatness like this, and for allowing me to be alive to enjoy it !!! :-) Peace

[@cr810j]

It's a shame there is such a lack of good live video and audio of this band. I spent an awful lot of time in the 70s listening to them.

[@jomiqutoall]

The sound here is somewhat distorted due to the compression, but when you saw these guys live they were amazing, in their virtuosity and stamina, and the sound was amazing. The times I saw them play their sets lasted over 3 hoursand then they would add an encore [sometimes 2]. The patrons were blown away by them. A shame they were never properly recorded and filmed during their tours, but I don't think they really cared about that. And they came from such disparate backgrounds. Again, amazing.

[@onelovega]

Thank God. Finally good quality. Thanks for posting.

[@bluesborn]

Goodman just absolutely slays.I honestly think this date ranks as one of the great performances in fusion history.

[@KareemPilot]

LOL, wast just about to comment on that... it is INSANE how fast they are playing that. I can do it at about 3/4 album speed, so my hats off to you, my man!

[@oregonbobv]

i saw the same tour at the Felt forum in NYC. There was w hite rose on every seat. Opened up with meeting of the spirits and encore was Dance of Maya. It took me 10 minutes to get out of my seat Wow!!!!!

[@finylvinyl66]

I saw both on the same tour in Philadelphia. Doesn't get much better than that.

[@CoolFreeHardBop]

Good Lord!! These young people are talented baby! Billy Cobham is killing it on the drums, Johnny Mac is (as usual) off the charts, and that's just 2 of them!

[@ikeeptime]

Love Cobham's kit. I played an identical set of Fibes drums for a couple years and by far the best tone of any acrylic brand. Zycos and Ludwig suck in comparison. Unfortunately the quality of the recording does not do justice but an amazing video. Piece of history. Thanks Bazonics.

[@gefriolsaeme]

I saw this line up in Birmingham (UK) c.1974 - best live music I've ever heard.

[@peterperry268]

Was captivated by John's gifted playing, ever since Tony William's Lifetime. Even the fact that he reminds me of Stan Laurel, doesn't detract from his brilliance. Sorry John....and I'm not even from Yorkshire.

[@larszepp]

Violin player is Jerry Goodman. He was also member of a band called The Flock, and they did some very fine music too!

[@RubberDuckFTW]

@Shakrai Haha that quote was from B.B. King, the guitarist that after DECADES of playing STILL can't play fast. If playing fast were really that simple, why can't he do it? He's had ass loads of time? I love that whole argument about quick playing lacking emotion or being boring, its just made by slowhands who can't appreciate anything they can't comprehend. BTW, I do like slow playing. Hendrix, Miles Davis, John Scofield and SRV = gods.

[@jesuscomplex]

enough to make you cry with the knowledge that no matter how much you practice you will never achieve anything this perfect

[@franzpink2403]

Amazing!!!

[@dwill123]

All of these guys are still alive (and well). Still playing to various degrees. Come on guys bury the hatchet and lets get that reunion going.

[@NickDuvet]

This ABC In Concert show from 1973 inspired Walter Kolosky in a lifelong devotion to the MO. For anyone interested in a deeper understanding of their music, I highly recommend his book: Power Passion & Beauty

[@theorangeeggplant]

I LOVE the psycadelic sound the violin gives in this

[@SeanBobFrank]

Actually... I didn't have my glasses on when I was watching this... now I'm not so sure if that's Billy Cobham or not. Whoever it is, I really enjoy the playing!

[@Zeugitai]

Well, thanks. I'll check out some of the music you mentioned, and I'll try to keep an open mind. There's one tip, though, that you and I are thinking about different things, and that's your reference to "skill" and "badass." I'm looking for music that is creative, intense, and fresh, but not necessarily made by technically skilled players showing off their speed, etc. I hope to find the compositional genius, not just the instrumental chops. Thanks, again.

[@mrprogjazzgto]

WOW..INCREDIBLE..!! Hey Bazonics.. Thanks..!! Try to remix this and upload it again to utube..?? Boost the entire audio..

[@ritter1808]

First concert I saw as a teen was MO and Frank Zappa in Toronto. I think MO opened. Blew the top of my head clean off.

[@alwaysopen7970]

@rosskolnikov I saw this and have to ask - "Why, what light will that flick shine upon the topic?" Mozart was light years ahead of any other composer to date. You can't compare anything he did to what would be considered dregs.

[@EJROCKER1]

wow,this is good.But will never forget seeing Tony Williams Lifetime,At small n.y.c. club.with Tony,Jack Bruce just out of Cream,Larry young,John on guitar.They kicked butt and were pre curser to all OF THIS!R.I.P. Tony. Peace,EJROCKER

[@ThreeLeggedMongoose]

you would probably love some of jeffs beck more modern live recordings where hes got a very heavy jazz fusion sound. check out "live at ronnie scotts" or "live at bb kings club"

[@SRDhain]

Hammer was superb on the minimoog...man, those things were hard to articulate with cause the pitch wheel had no center spring, so you had to be delicate with touch

[@chevpowr]

oh snap gentle giant!!! im freakin jealous.

[@kearlstig1961]

This is tight...with Billy Cobham on the drums, even!

[@trimags]

great video quality

[@ladybearbaiter]

Bravo ! Does it get any better? NO

[@chrisdgoldie]

I'm not going to go back and read this entire argument and try to get thoroughly engaged, but I will say this: it seems that you can create emotion in music by simplicity or complexity. Both have their place in the wide spectrum of music, and it is up for the listener to listen to which moves him or her more. (This bickering is pointless.)

[@bassmonk2920]

A band that epitomizes the potentiality of the 60s into the sobering heights of the 70s...then disco came

[@sharkb0yJ0hn]

@Samsgarden In his time he was very innovative. Mahavishnu , Shakti... Very few people have had this type of range. He has gone places that few have revisited or bettered. You also can't forget that he was part of the Miles Davis band that invented fusion. The sad thing is that there are thousands of talented people doing creative things that you have never heard of. Today's record companies are all not brave enough to sign and promote the people who have the talent and the balls to do it.

[@larkydozer]

@chrisdgoldie Good point. I enjoy Mahavishnu some days and other days I enjoy Bauhaus. Depends on the mood.

[@SirJamestheIII]

every single mahavishnu fan should check out the band Ohm. they got Kofi Baker (ginger baker's son) on drums, and chris poland on guitar and rob pagliari on bass . they are mind blowing and definitely have similarities to mahavishnu orchestra

[@FatherSars]

yeah that whole performance had pretty good resolution

[@sidhrtha]

well maybe, i have 2 cd's coming out playing MO and miles davis music. one of the cd's has the late buddy miles on drums revisiting the devotion album done with mclaughlin in the early 70's, as well as this song and dance of the maya, and yes with buddy miles on drums. the second cd has music of miles davis when mclauglin was in the band, lenny white on drums kei akagi piano(both ex miles players)using a rex bouge double rainbow, les paul bursts, 68 les paul custom,max les pauls.

[@CaseyVan]

The first thing I wanted to know when I checked this out is if Jan Hammer is playing the Moog on this once since the orignal recording doesn't have Moog.

[@jasondotson]

@binnyman Do you work for 7 eleven, with that channel name? L.O.L. There is but one steering wheel here, if you listen carefully. I like your analogy, even though I don't think it is applicable to the mighty Mahavishnu Orchestra. I don't want to sound elitist here, but VERY FEW people of todays age, especially, understand the musical relationships and dynamics that are being woven like an ecadorian sweater!!! How's that analogy, eh?

[@gregwood88]

Cobham plays open handed. As far as I know he is right handed but has developed his left to the extent that he rides with it. Similarly Lenny White, Simon Phillips etc.

[@osensei2987]

You're kidding right? I was being facetious. Every square inch of the stage is covered with amps! LOL! The band is practically buried under Fenders and Marshalls!

[@jasondotson]

"BRAINS ARE LIKE PARACHUTES, THEY ONLY WORK WHEN THEY ARE OPEN". Folks, check out MY version of "Birds Of Fire" up on my humble little channel.

[@rosskolnikov]

@alwaysopen The Dixie Dregs were wonderful, too.

[@Vodoune]

Yeah man, you gotta figure out how to upgrade this to HD quality.

[@alwaysopen7970]

@binnyman Knowing people, a car with that many steering wheels would end up in the oncoming lane or on it's roof in a ditch.

[@TheManOmega777]

Billy cobham is a MONSTER here.But then again ,he's aMONSTER where ever he goes and who he plays with.Saw him with KAI ECKHARDT and an unknown guitarist from Germany.POWER TRIO.

[@binnyman]

@alwaysopen: If an auto had that many steering wheels, then the journey would be amazing diverse---or maybe not, and the destination would, in its' own right, be the correct one to arrive at. Enjoy all music, I say. Peace:-)

[@LowSpark42]

Nobody says where this overwhelming and legendary concert took place? I presume, it was in Europe, more exact in Munic 1972, isn't it?

[@mootbooxle]

Where in the world did you find Mahavishnu footage this clean??

[@ThreeLeggedMongoose]

at a glance i thought "narada" was "nirvana" thought NOOOOOOO and my mouth dropped in confusion...

[@chucknorrisyouwimps]

uuhhh ... i think i was there ...was cobham playing the fibes set ?? or the gretch ?? anywhoo , i traded the beatles yesterday and today for the inner mounting flame ...which supposedly made me crazy ...apparently for a 14 yr old i was knowin it when i was hearin it .... ahh those relaxing mahavishnu tempos ...180 1/4 notes a minute anyone ????lol

[@ThatWillKid]

JEEZUS SO FUNKY HELL YEAH!

[@osumb17]

nothing will ever come close to this.

[@mario21128]

hellz yea...that riff tops the song off

[@noonward]

It is! : - ]

[@alwaysopen7970]

@binnyman Do you know why people will pay $3 for a bottle of water? Because they can. I have been a musician most of my life and have played several genres of music with several different people. This type of disconcerted jamming seems senseless to me at times though I can appreciate what they do at times. There isn't room in a tune for that many different melodies to conflict with each other for an extended period. What if your car had a steering wheel for each occupant inside?

[@ClaudioBritoPlaylist61]

isso é, Mahavishnu.

[@DrBPhD]

Exactly.

[@SirJamestheIII]

@dorian411 IMO Chris has the best string bending out there. I think the parallels between Ohm and Mahavishnu where apparent and obvious. Even if you think he is a shredder, he isn't just another guitarist with chops. It is much easier for me to emulate John's playing buit it is near impossible to sound like Chris. His licks are fresh and unique. Here are some of his solos: /watch?v=EC9m7v_7shM This vid has both his metal and jazz stuff

[@prinznevsky]

go Billy go!!!!

[@osensei2987]

LOL! Looks like they don't have enough amps on stage!

[@romaneberle]

I recommend the 'meeting of the spirits'-DVD to everyone, featuring larry coryell, paco de lucia, and mc laughlin, on acoustic guitars. johns solo on the title track is not of this earth! he plays himself straight into... yeah... into what? i've got no idea. not of this earth. go buy the dvd everyone. please. maybe it's here on youtube. watch it, then buy the dvd. even better, buy it twice. just to have it twice. because johns solo is so great.

[@PornoPlaylist]

will do. I just need to become fluent in one before i begin the other.

[@chucknorrisyouwimps]

never give john espresso right b4 the gig .....

[@Zeugitai]

Somebody please tell me: what happened to this kind of music and this kind of musician? It's all gone, a thing of the past. Why?

[@Samsgarden]

@sharkb0yJ0hn I saw that interview too and it is true. The only problem is that JM is amongst that statistic.

[@silatyogi]

HOLY FUCK that is amazing!

[@metamorphosis67]

@DONDIVA1969 was a beast. When Gadd & Vinnie invented new ways of playing in the 70s Cobham kept playing his old techniques & stayed where he was while every other serious pro drummer copied Gadd & Vinnie & advanced to a higher level. I still love Cobham's 70s sound better than Vinnie's but his technique got mastered, improved on & outdated. Vinnie is the head beast now & that's why he plays with McLaughlin & Corea. Vinnie & Chambers. Best Chambers is on Steve Khan Suitcase Live in Koln.

[@Zeugitai]

We are now far away from the spirit of my original comment and there is no point in continuing this thread. Thanks anyway for your listening suggestions.

[@SeanBobFrank]

Billy Cobham is on FIRE on this performance!

[@sharkb0yJ0hn]

I was reading a recent an article with John and he was saying how disappointed on how Jazz has become so boring in the past few decades and how no one is innovating anymore. I don't know if that is true. I think it is just that the record companies have lost their souls. They are run be people who love money rather then music. People who write interesting music do not get signed and promoted.

[@urrrccckostan]

is this from a dvd? gotta own this!!!!!!!!!

[@MolsonMuscle]

Billy Cobham is such a badass!

[@Jam3s1988]

John is one of the best guitar player every.

[@Zeugitai]

Please name some of the recently made music that you are referring to that compares to Mahavishnu. Thanks..

[@ebquinn]

Tell ya what, there are plenty of "fast" guitar players out there, from blazing Classico and Flamenco types to Hendrix and Lee, to Satriani to Malmsteen to Petrucci to DiMeola, etc. etc. etc. But in this band JM didn't just play fast guitar, the entire band played, often in unison, at the speed of light. Whoosh!

[@IantaylorCanuck]

holy crap

[@Samsgarden]

@sharkb0yJ0hn Record companies were always interested in volume sales -nothing's changed. Problem is, JM is not that creative anymore, nothing to do with the former.

[@Zeugitai]

Okay, I've been checking out some of these people, and as "good" as they all are, none of them even remotely compares to Mahavishnu, and I don't mean skill-wise. That is not an issue. I was hoping to find the "outside" harmonies, the electricity, the intensity, and the raging improvisation. These people you mentioned are playing along with computer time, or metronomes. Nobody is going outside, taking chances. None that I heard in these samples. Don't get me wrong. These are fine, but...

[@rosskolnikov]

@Shakrai See the movie "Amadeus" and get back to us. B.B. King is not all-knowing.

[@matternicuss]

@Shakrai everyone has their own style. if everyone played simple song structures, music would implode in on itself and become boooorring(not that alot of music today isnt boring enough already). b.b. king is a great musician, but hes not the all encompassing authority on music. no one is really. some of us like 'notey' music because we appreciate the attention to detail. its like admiring a highly complex painting or sculpture. besides, dream theater arent the most notey band in any case

[@noonward]

oh god i learned that riff at 1:26 and can barely play it at the album speed but that last part is so fast here!

[@gefriolsaeme]

If you have this much talent you don't need to play loud!!!!!

[@Lucretius58]

bilLAY!

[@DONDIVA1969]

Cobham is a beast

[@MitchTenderness]

Well Jean Luc Ponty played with both of them so if they did play together I'm sure JLP would be invited.

[@avelaz3]

who is the herm on violin?

[@SonOfYoungwood]

McLaughlin is a god; the other four are demigods. The spirits met in this band form -- or, should I say, their demigod spirits played through their human forms. A little cheesy, but still not an unrealistic thought :)

[@PornoPlaylist]

its official, im quitting guitar and picking up my drum sticks.

[@DrRyman]

No I Believe its Jerry Goodman...

[@binnyman]

@chrisdgoldie: My original point exactly. Peace:-)

[@vtripaldi]

do u like peter hammill?

[@TranOfficial]

*everyone is a beast

[@jeanlucchapelon]

The cameraman is very "good"! While Jan Hammer choruses we see Cobham and when Goodman acts we see in first Rick Laird...

[@ritter1808]

Spot the weak band member?? Trick question- there isn't one. Awesome.

[@GutoSambora]

martinho da vila, na batera

[@binnyman]

*Sigh* you miss my point, though it is understandable. Too many notes can destroy the beauty of music, but not in MO's case. BB King, as great as he is, has never captured my attention due to his tone, which I find quite lacking. One must strive to find the balance, and play the notes that are the right ones to play, regardless of the quantity, or lack thereof. MO, IMHO, never "overplay", inspite of the fact that they play copious amounts of notes. Peace:-)

[@Ramshackled17]

humm...I like Spectrum....

[@sweatythesnowman]

oh, thank the lord, you have mahavishnu on your profile...well then nevermind. haha..saracasm doesnt really convey very well over the internet