Original Mahavishnu Orchestra

[Michedelic]

Yep. Born in Canada, but he's been a U.S. citizen for a few decades now and mostly lived and worked here for a few more before that. In any case, imagine playing pedal steel in the New Riders Of The Purple Sage and hearing the MO go off, from the green room knowing you're up next.

Yep, those were the days; I saw a double bill of Alphonso-era Weather Report, and Fairport Convention(with Sandy Denny back in the band and Jerry Donahue on guitar)opened up! Saw the 2nd MO, with Armstrong on bass, open for Jeff Beck on the “Blow By Blow” tour, Wilbur Bascom and Bernard Purdie rhythm section. Different music from that Mahavushnu, bigger band, more orchestral. Nobody’s mentioned Jonas Hellborg from a later incarnation, phenomenal player, but I’m more familiar with his Bill Laswell related material.

 

[Passinwind]

Yep, those were the days; I saw a double bill of Alphonso-era Weather Report, and Fairport Convention(with Sandy Denny back in the band and Jerry Donahue on guitar)opened up! Saw the 2nd MO, with Armstrong on bass, open for Jeff Beck on the “Blow By Blow” tour, Wilbur Bascom and Bernard Purdie rhythm section. Different music from that Mahavushnu, bigger band, more orchestral. Nobody’s mentioned Jonas Hellborg from a later incarnation, phenomenal player, but I’m more familiar with his Bill Laswell related material.

Good stuff. I saw Shakti v.1 open for Heavy Weather era WR one time and for one of Stanley Clarke's very loud electric bands at another show, and in both cases I would not have relished following that act one bit. But the original MO just felt like something otherworldly back in '72, and seeing them defintely turned my musical tastes inside out.

 

[jerry]

Good stuff. I saw Shakti v.1 open for Heavy Weather era WR one time and for one of Stanley Clarke's very loud electric bands at another show, and in both cases I would not have relished following that act one bit. But the original MO just felt like something otherworldly back in '72, and seeing them defintely turned my musical tastes inside out.

Yeah, when they hit it was just about the time my little rocker ears were looking for something different. That's why all the early fusion bands will always have a special place for me.

 

[Passinwind]

Yeah, when they hit it was just about the time my little rocker ears were looking for something different. That's why all the early fusion bands will always have a special place for me.

Same here Jerry. I found this gig list for the original band: Invalid Link Removed , which illustrates the frequently odd billings pretty well. It's defintely not complete, as the first show I saw in early '72 at The Spectrum isn't listed. And apparently Taj Mahal was the opener the second time I saw them...who knew?

 

[Watchootognbout]

I saw Ralphe Armstrong with Jean Luc Ponty in the late '70s. That was a good matchup.

I too!
At the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara Ca 1980
My very first Fusion concert.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Same here Jerry. I found this gig list for the original band: Invalid Link Removed , which illustrates the frequently odd billings pretty well. It's defintely not complete, as the first show I saw in early '72 at The Spectrum isn't listed. And apparently Taj Mahal was the opener the second time I saw them...who knew? View attachment 3653087

Thanks for that list. I remebered it as seeing the show in 1972, but apparently it was 1973!

 

[Tony In Philly]

I find that being overly critical of bedrock style bassists is counter productive. That's especially true when you consider how hyperkinetic the other four players were at the time. Ralphie Armstrong is a great bassist, but I'm glad he joined later.

 

[Watchootognbout]

With the late great T Lavitz!
Keyboards for The Dixie Dregs.