Mahavishnu Orchestra - Hope/One Word

Hope/One Word - The Mahavishnu Orchestra - Live at Bananafish Gardens, Brooklyn, N.Y. 1973
John McLaughlin - guitar
Jan Hammer - keyboards
Jerry Goodman - violin
Rick Laird - bass
Billy Cobham - drums

[@Strateuphoria]

Billy Cobham was like a god-man

[@davidferrara1105]

Still is

[@giancarlocavallotti6358]

The way he sits on the drum kit after smashing the gong and begins to play!

[@michaelcorenzwit8118]

He played the double bass drums better and stronger than anyone else before or since.

[@donaldleroy6502]

Let's hear it for that bass player, that's some heavy duty backbeat

[@willardarmbruster8111]

RIP Rick Laird.

[@danno9608]

Billy's right hand stick flies away at the .40 second mark. He manages to grab another so fast he does not skip a single note!

[@user-ux9bx8kc5y]

Shows how much hard work he put on those drums.

[@EleanorPeterson]

Yes. I think the stick may have split, so it was thrown deliberately rather than dropped accidentally.

[@gleventhal]

Cobham's stamina is crazy, soloing after holding that groove so long.

[@Deaconblue2u]

Having seen MO play live many times including the recording of Between Nothingness and Eternity I can say one thing.This is what you get when you put five virtuoso's that are one with their instruments, and have such a cohesive spiritual, sensual and cerebral connection that they are able to take leaps through intense improvisation then merge together through central themes. This is musical transcendence when your ears and spirit grow up and your wise enough to appreciate splendor & bliss.

[@frannckenfrey]

Halleluja!

[@maxinemckenzie6076]

Amen Verily. 🕉.

[@jg6698]

You were at Central Park, huh? Somehow I doubt it.

[@bernardkelly9708]

Nice!

[@bernardkelly9708]

yes,I was too😊 young to appreciate that style of music.

[@paullevine1813]

i saw them at consitution hall in 73 , the most intense musicianship i ever saw , they were so good it hurt, i've seen return to forever , focus, even zappa, no one was this intense, birds of fire was really the blueprint album for everything that came after , all that great fusion music , brand X , camel, larry coryell,ect. all sprang from this , what a force they were...

[@oliverpura9876]

I saw them twice and each time I kept getting goosebumps from the musician's ability.

[@ChromaticHarp]

I saw this line up in Central Park, early 70’s, my jaw was on the ground the whole time! Along with everyone else there (Shaffer music festival, Central Park, NYC)

[@johnzeljko4252]

The 70's style of live performing without a doubt the best era of live music. Stimulating.

[@aliensforgod7]

The intro to this was absolutely life-changing!

[@michaelcorenzwit8118]

John and Billy are the GOATs on their respective instruments.

[@johnstewart7025]

I remember they were on late nite tv in 73

[@bernardkelly9708]

don kershner's rock concerts.11:30.saturday night.summertime.

[@adammbowman]

at the end of the video..."play all night!" ...someone was feeling it....

[@maxinemckenzie5765]

Could be the Best Mahavishnu performance on Film. Miraculous. Audience whipped into a delirious ecstasy by the end. Cobham kicking the roof off into Space. Unbeatable!

[@robertbulger3855]

This band changed my life ……. It was the gateway drug to mainstream jazz for me

[@yucchhiiowwee]

Jan Hammer later wrote and performed the theme to Miami Vice and is from Czech Republic. I also remember seeing this on TV and then proceeded to go out and buy the "BIRDS OF FIRE" Album.

[@2morningz]

Same here! I was 13.

[@maxinemckenzie6076]

Its good it led back to the real quality stuff. 🕉.

[@MrLeoYaus]

also competent on drums

[@stepitupandgo67]

john and that double neck...fearsome...fearsome band

[@bigbadfitter]

They establish this ferocious groove and then lay incredible riffs on top..............monumental musicianship!! Cobham truly is "God's rhythm machine"!! Saw these guys in a small club in Chicago and they just slayed us............came back and saw them every night they were there and found it more fascinating every time.

[@jbob75butbetter]

Love the guy at the end: "PLAY ALL NIGHT!!!"

[@learn_live]

Ron Hoover must be the coolest dude in the world to go and find a live version of Hope

[@mathieumoreau1649]

Still the greatest OG Fusion band ever, imho. Always pushing boundaries.

[@RandallChase1]

Nothing could touch them currently... I’d be happy to be proven wrong (only because it would mean finding amazing music)

[@Renhjarta]

Rick Laird!!!!

[@RocketKirchner]

Greatest band of all time bar none . seen them 7 times live .

[@markrobinson6129]

Where? When? What was it like?

[@RocketKirchner]

@@markrobinson6129 i have been a professional musician all my life and nothing compares to seeing them live . it was like a monster coming out of the sea . i got to talk to John for two hours after the show at his hotel . he is lazored focused .

[@marksupeotmail.co.ukrbrain2564]

Wow. If only...still, I got the bootlegs.

[@oregonbobv]

The first time In saw the Mahavishnu Orchestra was at the Felt Forum In New york for the Birds of Fire Tour. The Last piece was One word with Billy Cobham in a White toga playing the clear Fibes. The Encore was the Dance of the Maya. I( could barely get outr of the seat. Fantastic!!!1

[@albertogonzalezmolina7693]

Mahavishnu forever, first!

[@markrobinson6129]

This band are my yardstick for whenever someone says something is 'awesome'. So - is it 'awesome' like the Mahavishnu Orchestra, which IS awesome? No - then it is not 'awesome' or any distant relative thereof.

[@magn8195]

Same! I can't find any groups even close to this! Any suggestions would be helpful.

[@maxinemckenzie6076]

Magma. Right next to each other in the filing system....close at hand. 🕉.

[@geraldfriend256]

Early Electromagnets featuring 17-18 year old Eric Johnson. Great tunes and fantastic playing. Keys sax drums bass guitar. Frank Zappa called them MO with a sense of humor. Once they billed themselves as The Hahavishnu Orchestra. True story from Austin Texas ok bye

[@MrMrdavis98]

This is honest to God, the best live performance I've ever heard to date. What I'd give to have been alive at this time to see this band...

[@dantean]

I haven't seen the entire show, but this piece may be the best live performance of anything ever. Though, Hendrix's Band of Gypsys' Machine Gun may very well be in a tie.

[@MrZootalores]

Noah, well, I was 19, loved MO but never got to their shows then...where's our time machine now that we know ~what's important~ ?

[@magn8195]

Nothing compares to this! They are transcendental!

[@setonz]

You are looking at one of the game changing bands & guitar player of our time..Jimi Hendrix & John McLaughlin are the top guitar game changers as far as I am concerned.

[@DannyELoi]

Just to verify how custom made, or boutique or vintage or 'high end' does not always mean better, when Total Eclipse came out, at the bottom of the back cover was "I would like to thank Dan Hinger for the snare drum". It sounded like the same snare on Birds of Fire, Spectrum as well. I live in Los Angles. I went to the professional drum shop in Hollywood and asked Bob Yeager about that drum. I was 18 and Bob was a wise man and knew everyone. I asked him to order me one. He said that should hear it first, gave me a number to a drummer who had one. I called him, went over to his house and played it. I liked it so I ordered one from Dan Hinger. It sounded good close up, but did not carry like my Ludwig Supraphonic 6.5" x 14. I had no mics on my kit. That drum only sounded good close up. Also I had a Fibes kit but did not buy the snare drum. The throw off (or the strainer) looked cheap. There were a few at Pro Drum but they mostly sat on the shelves. Even worse than the fiberglass model was the vistalite. No one bought them. Billy is using one here and it sounds fantastic. Nothing I touch will sound like Billy.

[@hardhitter0421]

@oregonbobv I was there as well....I was completely thrown back in my seat the entire show. To this day I tell people how I could only smoke one joint the whole show because I just stared at the band clutching my knees into my chest...wow! I even had to remove and rewrite this comment just flash backing on the concert. I made typos and stuff replying to you...I guess the musical effects lasts indefinitely. ...seriously, what a band, no special stage lights or anything, just incredible music.

[@curtisunit]

PLAY ALL NIGHT!!😃😃😃that was one satisfied customer.

[@ko-suke777]

Billy Cobham - drums 強烈‼ 良い音出すなぁー

[@sherrybuckner377]

A joy to watch....like instant satisfaction. Love them all but Cobham is just wonderful to watch.

[@user-ux9bx8kc5y]

How he goes from the gong to the kit in seconds is amazing.

[@ZappaBlues]

Cobham wasn't called the human machine gun for nothing.

[@DioJeanBaptiste]

that is a lot of talent for one stage. :-)

[@ErikAlmeida95]

"Play all night!"

[@sammy2840]

Most technical group I have ever heard! Have loved them since 1974 when a friend brought a record to our house! Wow!

[@tomdecuca3627]

This band was so cool. I remember hearing these guys, and their playing just knocked me out!!

[@MajorWatt]

Cobham is amazing... Saw him with this band and when that added Santana in later on and he was stunning.......

[@wolowolowolo]

I only have one word....AMAZING!!!

[@taddy666]

Great track. Simultaneously bright and energized yet also dark and menacing. Billy Cobham is unreal but they are all completely in the zone. Thanks so much for this.

[@AEN.]

billy invented fast drum& bass breakbeats and more...

[@JonesyTheCat]

God bless Mahavishnu

[@bernardkelly9708]

Good mellow band.!

[@elmaharesearchenlightenmen2722]

The Five Avatars do it and prove it once again! God Realized and forty-four years ahead of time! AUM....

[@raspukin7]

I caught this lineup at Northwestern U., possibly same tour. MINDBLOWING!

[@moc1609]

You can check at www.walterkolosky.com/

[@eriktempelman2097]

The onky thing wrong with this is that this reaction is only the 84th. Deserves 84,000,000 reactions!

[@jonschroedinger8360]

Had never even heard of this group. Walked into a record shop a few weeks ago and grabbed a few random interesting looking ones from the used section. Put Birds of Fire on first, and here I am. These guys are absolutely phenomenal. Wasn't surprised reading their wiki to see The Mars Volta list them as an influence.

[@samuelward1148]

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Mahavishnu Orchestra...

[@petermaxwell4904]

there is good, then there is mahavishna orchestra !

[@fernandoi2567]

Rick laird on bass!!

[@Jackthecooperman]

Sweet. JESUS.

[@edanalog]

I'll never tire of watching this line-up of The Mahavishnu Orchestra.

[@stanmclaurin6393]

I remember watching this on tv I was about 13. It totally blew my mind & changed my musical direction.

[@karma133]

Superb- even by their standards.

[@winstonchurchill8974]

Amazing playing and musicality. Its heavy, precise, and transcendent.

[@Reniacin]

Espetacular!

[@MrZootalores]

simply f**king amazing! the lads do just great then Billy freekin' erupts with that solo, whew! wow! thanks for this video

[@handsomepackage7004]

This was some good smoking weed music back in 71’-72’ and other psychedelics

[@paullevine1813]

Send in the paramedics i need to have my head and the roof REATACHED !!!! AWSOME PERFORMANCE

[@johnyoung3430]

God bless you for having and posting this video.

[@dadduorp]

My gawd...Cobham was a cross between a thundering locomotive and a heavy-duty jackhammer with the technical precision of Swiss clock. I saw them around this time as a teenager (actually, just after JM got his Rex Bogue guitar) and I remember seeing the audience absolutely slack jawed...like they'd just seen a UFO.

[@unamacarana]

It doesn't get any better than this - thanks for posting!

[@julianairestarforce]

Mahavishnu orchestra metal in jazz amazing band top form performance respect

[@jerrynelson1929]

Just reading posts again - have listened to this multiple times - surprised that audience the energy to get up and aggressively applaud at the end! Love the post from the person who could only smoke one joint and fixated the rest of the show … when and where is this from? Had the immense pleasure to hear Mahavishnu live multiple times plus a show at Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor with Santana, Larry Young, Cobham and McLaughlin - Love Supreme release- Saw Mahavishnu as on “ opening act “ at the Patriots stadium in Foxboro, Mass in July/aug 1973 or so - the girl who bravely ventured with me to sit in the summer sun and “bake”that day had not seen or likely heard Mahavishnu prior to this show. Jay Geils from Boston was the headliner - kind of unfair of me to take her to this … suffice it to say that we did not stay for Jay Geils - not much of a point to staying after what we just experienced. Have not stayed in touch with this nice young lady over the years ( married over 40 years to a wonderful, accomplished woman ) - I’d like to believe she was better off for the experience - I know I was !

[@geraldfriend256]

A booking worse than Monkees/ Hendrix ? Funny af. Go from Dance of the Maya to Angel is a Centerfold. Oopsie

[@jobzagudn]

one word? No words!!! Incredible x

[@thiagosousa2217]

They made Led Zeppelin look like Garage Band!

[@sherrybuckner377]

I like led zeppelin, but I get you!

Wouldn’t say that - and I love MO and Zep both. Mahavishnu Orchestra were (slightly) better musicians than Zeppelin, but it’s pretty hard to beat a Zep tune - or improvisation.

[@malcolmmellon8692]

I don't really understand the need to compare two such different groups of musicians in this way, and I'm not sure the musicians themselves would agree that there's any need to denigrate another excellent band just because you are excited by a performance!

[@mesolithicman164]

The difference is Led Zeppelin wrote proper songs, this is mainly muso noodling.

[@111usul]

like seriously what is this even for scales and tunings and skill nothing like this

[@flyinghorse13]

Cobham is like Hendrix on drums !!

[@RebeccaLynnMusic]

I can hardly believe it.

[@blackarrow9072]

Compared to this most other Jazzrock bands are a water pistol.

[@jamesha175]

certainly!

[@MrMonopod]

Though, Al Di Meola has more beautiful guitar tone. McLaughlin's tone is slightly irritating indeed.

[@maxinemckenzie6076]

Yes, ..as opposed to machine guns firing sapphire bullets of pure love, if I recall. 🕉🎶👌.

[@blackarrow9072]

@@MrMonopod Yes, Di Meola has a great tone.

[@jg6698]

@@maxinemckenzie6076 oh yeah. I remember. Miles beyond. 😉

[@AEMachinas]

Huge drum sound on this, drum mics are feeding back just a whee bit, amazing sound as result...can really hear those double kicks, heavy

[@dockaiser]

John has these spider fingers I wish I had ...

[@OneWordthebest]

I heard many version of this song and have one word for it "ass-kicking"

[@angelolmosjazz]

One Word uno de Mis NumerosFavoritos de esta"Increi

[@dockaiser]

Metallica are playing lullabies compared to this ....

[@timpenfield5]

Good 1 man, that acrylic bass is so cool, and these guys are pretty good musicians to, HAHAHAhaha

[@wolfgangmarkusgstrein8522]

When you imagine this Hammet with one of his Wah solos (if you can call that soloing) in there...

[@erenanidem3479]

this band plays an excellent incidental jazz fusion music

[@vabiance1]

Incidental? Or do you mean instrumental?

[@erenanidem3479]

both?

[@vardziegirl]

or OCCIDENTAL?

[@vabiance1]

Or, given the Indian influence on John, "Oriental?" (excuse my un-PC, anachronistic term).

[@mallorga1965]

This band plays.

[@darkobrlecic802]

Brutal to the bone

[@dankitti]

Great live video!

[@brucebowman1496]

Rick Laird's Bass is so rad. The playing and the sweet translucent instrument. Not a Dan Armstrong. What is that?

[@geraldfriend256]

Are you 100% on it not being an Armstrong? Could be a Univox copy , they had a clear acrylic guitar snd bass at one point. The headstock looks Dan Armstrong to me. Huh.

[@dockaiser]

I believe after a Mahavishnu concert you were dazed, confused , numb, and probably deaf for a week ....

[@samvimes2821]

dockaiser Dazed and confused, but comfortably numb

[@janbaynardmusic]

Yesss! After seeing this group in summer 1972 .. I couldn't speak for 3 days and had to sleep with the lights on for the next 6 months! ..Yes.. for real

[@jerryvivanco4898]

Yes to all of the above.......but in the good way!!

[@bernardkelly9708]

rip Rick Laird.

[@williamjc7195]

is it energy or is it music?

[@teresathomley3703]

Energy. Pure unadulterated energy. That performance was beyond mere music.

[@santyrush]

tremendo. impresionante. esto son musicos....lo mejor de lo mejor.

[@007zz]

Cheers .

[@garethmtbarnes]

Extraordinary force of nature. Makes you wonder what the band would have been like with Jaco in the band with Cobham.

[@MrZootalores]

he wasn't the caliber of player for M.O.. he was an egotist...

[@willardarmbruster8111]

That would have been too much and made them completely boring. Genius move by JM choosing Rick Laird.

[@jg6698]

Fantasies like that are ridiculous. Laird was spectacular. The original band was stupendous.

[@petermaxwell2965]

how did they play like this, were they possessed?

[@ajacrrr8866]

Yes with MUSIC not a computer and other stuff

[@donaldleroy6502]

Yes I do believe so

[@unamacarana]

and so good at it....

[@jeffdawson2786]

Fierce versions from Birds of Fire.

[@Mynameisnumber5]

Hahaha! Everyone in the audience at 7:12 looks stoned! XD

[@MrZootalores]

or eardrums blown out, ha ha?

[@cymoncyrado2879]

Did Billy Cobham ever do anything with Al Di Meola or Chick Corea? Because it's a natural mix.

[@BIGSNAKEpop]

Very nice

[@charleswinokoor6023]

Are you sure about the date? McLaughlin by ‘73 was playing the Rex Bogue double neck not the Gibson.

[@walterkolosky1]

The Bogue didn't show-up until July of 1973, Charles. :-)

[@oskarveliky]

Show me a drummer, who is able to play it this way.

[@petermaxwell4904]

I didn't know "weird Al" played in this band ! 😄 On the up-side, I invented a time-machine !🕛⏰🕢🕜

[@prcauch]

A. MAZ. ING.

[@johnmalcolm9980]

My only response to this music is admiration for mastery of technique. That's it.

[@NoiseLuh94]

Ae KZbin, dá uma remasterizada nesse som !!!

[@BlueRondoTurk]

Q maravilla!!! existe la grabación completa de este concierto??