Mahavishnu Orchestra - 1973-02-17 - Case Western University, Cleveland OH

Mahavishnu Orchestra
February 17, 1973
Adelbert Gymnasium,
Case Western University,
Cleveland, OH
Soundboard recording, excellent quality
Available in both Lossless (FLAC) and mp3 (320 kbps) versions

British jazz guitarist John McLaughlin started out playing in several different UK bands and doing session work in the mid 1960's. In 1969, he moved from London to New York to get involved in the NY Jazz scene. And very active he was, playing with Tony Williams, Wayne Shorter, MiroslavVituos, Joe Farrel, and most notably, he played on numerous Miles Davis albums, including In a Silent Way, Bitches Brew, Live-Evil, On The Corner, Big Fun, and A Tribute to Jack Johnson.He also released a series of solo albums, including Extrapolation (1969), Devotion (1970), and My Goal's Beyond (1971) around this time. That last album was inspired by John's Indian spiritual leader Sri Chimnoy, and it was from inspiration that he took on the name 'Mahavishnu'. Following that album, McLaughlin recruited Panamanian drummer Billy Cobham and American violinist Jerry Goodman, who had worked with him on the album, to join him in his new jazz-rock fusion band, the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Also joining the bad was Irish bassist Rick Laird and Czechoslovakian keyboardist Jan Hammer. Their musical style blended many genres, combining jazz with high-volume electrified rock, complex rhythms and unusual time signatures, Indian and European classical music, and funk. Their first two albums, The Inner Mounting Flame (1971) and Birds of Fire (1973), both all instrumental, were released to rave reviews and enthusiastic responses. They were at the forefront of the jazz-fueled contingent of progressive rock music of the early 1970's. However, during sessions for their next album, tension, turmoil, and personal disagreements within the group erupted and the sessions were aborted, and the band split. A live album Between Nothingness and Eternity (1973) was released (which included songs from the aborted sessions), but those sessions were not released until nearly 40 years later (The Lost Trident Sessions - 2011). McLaughlin quickly re-formed the band with new players in 1974 (Jean-Luc Ponty-violin, Gayle Moran-keyboards, Ralph Armstrong-bass, Narada Michael Walden-drums), and another series of albums released (Apocalypse-1974, Visions of the Emerald Beyond-1975, and Inner Worlds-1976), although with some additional personnel changes with each album, before the band broke up again in 1976. McLaughlin went on to various other projects over the years, including Shakti, One Truth, and The Translators, before re-forming Mahavishnu again in 1984, with original drummer Billy Cobham, but by this time their music was very different from the original band. After this short-lived 3rd incarnation, McLaughlin went on to the John McLaughlin Guitar Trio and other projects. Billy Cobham had a successful solo career, as well as playing with many other bands. Jan Hammer and Jerry Goodman also had successful careers working with various musicians, as well as an acclaimed album together (Like Children-1974). But here we have a great show from the early heyday of the original band, after the release of Birds of Fire, but before the demise of the original lineup. Here is an impressive display of the innovative and influential style of the original Mahavishnu Orchestra.

   
Tracklist:
1. Birds Of Fire >
2. Open Country Joy
3. Hope >
4. Awakening
5. Miles Beyond
6. One Word
7. Sanctuary >
8. The Dance Of Maya
9. Vital Transformation

John McLaughlin - Electric Doubleneck Guitar
Rick Laird - Electric Bass
Jerry Goodman - Electric Violin
Jan Hammer - Keyboards
Billy Cobham - Drums

FLAC - Mahavishnu Orchestra_1973-02-17_Cleveland_FLAC.rar
updated 08/03/23
mp3 - Mahavishnu Orchestra_1973-02-17_Cleveland_mp3.rar

Intersting side note: Notice (from concert ad above) that Aerosmith was the opening act (pre-fame), which seems like a strange combo. Not sure most Mahavishnu fans would be into Aerosmith, or vice versa, but sometimes those strange matchups work out (Remember that famously, Jimi Hendrix once opened for The Monkees).