BIRDS OF FIRE

This album is the band's follow-up to their 1971 debut, Inner Mounting Flame, and marked the pinnacle in the band's career. In the wake of their first album came a mighty slew of converts to the fresh sound that Mahavishnu generated. People were in awe upon hearing this innovation to Jazz-Fusion, and even some Prog-Rock bands of this era were inspired by the electrifying, orchestraic, and thunderous sound created from a group merely consisting of 5 members.

With such a monstrous debut, some thought Inner Mounting Flame impossible to be beaten by a follow-up. A year later, their speculations were proven wrong. An intricate compilation of mellow, yet experimental rhythms and melodies that could best be described as "mystifying," Mahavishnu's follow-up effort, "Birds of Fire," packed the innovation and intensity necessary to topple its predecessor. The sound produced from these extraordinary virtuosos proved to be a unique chemistry to only be obtained by those equipped with a vision to progress to the next level of music.

From start to finish, this album displays the characteristics of various genres of music, ranging from Jazz-Fusion, Jazz, Rock, Country, Prog, R&B, all molded together to form an exemplary supernova sound that has influenced and intrigued many fine musicians of that era, and even those of today. One group that is noteably influenced by the Mahavishnu Orchestra would be the Prog-Rock titans, Yes. Yes' fascination with the Mahavishnu Orchestra led to the creation of perhaps the greatest and most transcendent Prog album of all time: "Close to the Edge."

I highly recommend "Birds of Fire" for any Prog, Jazz, or Jazz-Fusion fan. Hell, anyone that is into experimental albums, I suggest this one for a fine listening experience.