Artist page

Mahavishnu Orchestra was a U.S. jazz fusion band formed in New York City in 1971. Recognized as one of the premier fusion groups, they were often perceived as a rock band, but their sophisticated improvisations placed their high-powered music between rock and jazz. The band was founded and led by John McLaughlin, who had previously played with Tony Williams' Lifetime. The original lineup included McLaughlin on electric guitar, a violinist, a keyboardist, an electric bassist, and a drummer. They recorded three intense albums from 1971 to 1973 before completely changing personnel for a second version of the group in 1974. This incarnation featured McLaughlin, a new violinist, a keyboardist and vocalist, an electric bassist, and a drummer. By 1975, the keyboardist was replaced, and the violinist left. McLaughlin's interests in Eastern religion and acoustic guitar ultimately led to the band's breakup in 1975. An attempt to revive the Mahavishnu Orchestra in 1984, which included members such as Cobham and saxophonist Bill Evans, was unsuccessful, resulting in only one album. Despite this, the original lineup remains the most influential and memorable version of the Mahavishnu Orchestra throughout the 1970s.

For any edit requests, please reach out to info@rovr.live