Like Weather Report, Return To Forever and Lifetime by drummer Tony Williams, the Mahavishnu Orchestra also followed the path opened by Miles Davis in 1969 with In A Silent Way. Jazz merged with rock and became electric. Guitarist and founder John McLaughlin, strongly influenced by Zen Buddhism, gurus, and other navel gazing at the time, used meditation as an important influence for his music.
Musically this led to a combination of serene atmospheres, pleasantly rippling funky grooves, solid rock passages and overwhelming chaotic climaxes, of course topped with a strong spiritual sauce. The double DVD Live At Montreux contains a 1974 performance with violinist Jean-Luc Ponty and drummer Narada Michael Walden who appears as a worthy successor to Billy Cobham, a performance from 1984 with saxophonist Bill Evans, bassist Jonas Hellborg and drummer Danny Gottlieb and a number of bonus tracks that unfortunately can only be listened to. (AD)more
