Mahavishnu Orchestra John McLaughlin Mahavishnu Orchestra John McLaughlin/France 1975 Complete

Transcendent, outstanding, astonishing, amazing, SM, such praise? Even these words are blown away! The Mahavishnu Orchestra in the 70s, led by John McLaughlin in his heyday, had reached an unbelievable level of sublimation, and was so powerful that even crying children would be silenced. The final chapter of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, led by the smallest quartet in the group’s history, is finally here in a complete version! The final chapter of the 70s Mahavishnu, the Orange Jazz Festival in France on August 17, 1975, was so spectacular that it is no exaggeration to say that it was the perfect finale. The complete version, including the encore, has been released with the label’s own careful mastering, and the powerful, high-quality sound that makes you feel like you are listening in the very center of the front row of the venue! By the way, they played seven songs including the encore on this day, but only two songs had previously seen the light of day as bonus tracks at another concert. The performance was so intense that the first appearance of the complete version is truly long-awaited! From the opening number “Meeting of the Spirit” following the introduction, McLaughlin, who was undoubtedly the world’s best technique at the time, erupts with that cramped and forceful guitar at a speed that is blindingly fast, which is not the case with the super-fast playing of later heavy metal. It is not a beautiful fingering, but a difficult phrase that even professionals can get cramps in their fingers! Also, in “You Know You Know”, which Jeff Beck, who was greatly influenced by McLaughlin, always performed at concerts until just before his death, Narada, who plays a machine gun drum solo in a state of a thousand-handed Kannon, is also extraordinary! After this, Narada also contributed greatly to the recording of Beck’s “Wired”. Without him, that masterpiece would not have been born! In particular, the irregular drums in the intro of “Red Boots” were practiced by everyone, from amateurs to professionals. Armstrong continues to play phrases as fast as a guitar, and Goldberg’s keyboards, which surpass Jan Hammer, are also explosive! In this kind of song that develops at a basically high speed while transitioning freely, there are super difficult points here and there, but all the members can play, drum, and perform as they like, and there are a series of thrilling and crazy scenes where you can feel nervous and anxious that one of the members might not be able to keep up in the middle of the performance (McLaughlin and the other members are surprisingly relaxed!) and it runs straight to the end… With McLaughlin at the center, all the members are strangely high-tension as if possessed by something, and emit invisible power, creating a strange atmosphere, and a super hardcore performance that is impossible to imitate even if you are very confident in your skills, and is a group of technically skilled masters who are not of this world! Theater Antique Orange Jazz Festival Orange, France August 17, 1975 1. meeting of the spirits 2. faith ~ open country joy 3. you know, you know 4. way of the Pilgrim 5. all in the family 6. one word 7. hope ~ dawn the Mahavishnu Orchestra John McLaughlin: electric doubleneck guitar Ralphe Armstrong: electric bass Stu Goldberg: keyboards “Narada” Michael Walden: drums