VISIONS OF AN INNER MOUNTING APOCALYPSE (MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA)

"Better than the originals !" - here's what a big Mahavishnu fan could say - and this is what I say myself..

John McLaughlin's exceptional compositions are interpreted with the power and the sound that can be expected from all the talented musicians (mainly guitarists) that feature on this album. Thanks to Mike Varney for the concept and the production, which reminds me of the two exceptional Mahavishnu Project live-in-the-studio releases, full of inspiration and technically overwhelming. This one is a jewel, so that I might even say that I prefer some of the versions on this album to the Mahavishnu originals, which is a lot to say. Steve Morse is colossal on "Celestial Terrestrial Commuters", Mike Stern tears everything apart on "Can't Stand Your Funk" (here's a man with perfect phrasing), Frank Gambale gives a lesson in violent improvisation on "Dawn", John Abercrombie embroiders "Follow Your Heart" quite formidably (it would take a Metheny to compete with this magnificent intrerpretation. John is fantastic here), Jimmy Herring pulls out all the stops on "Meeting of the Spirits". Jeff Richman interprets "Jazz" with old-fashioned style and heaps of feeling, Warren Haynes goes heavily for the blues on "Lila's Dance", David Fiuczynski as usual unleashes a powerful, almost noisy fusion style on "Faith", Greg Howe goes purely metal on "Dance of Maya", and - wonder of wonders (Jimmy and McLaughlin are not alone in the pantheon of the holy ones) - Steve Lukather presents us with the most beautiful version of "Birds of Fire" that I can personally imagine.. Simply explosive, extraterrestrial. a really progressive effort from the great Luke, something he's never given us in the 30 years he's been in Toto (the ultimate example of the band who plays - Luke, we'll never thank you enough).

The Colaiuta/Eckhardt/Forman/Richman quartet is fantastic, with a very big sound, extremely changeable - Mitchell Forman being one of the best keyboardists in the world - and the presence of Jerry Goodman is proof of the fact that Mahavishnu is not dead. He smashes everything in his way - with the help of age, one gets the impression that the natural violence of his expression reaches new heights. This sounds very wicked, a cyclopean emulation. it is really a Mahavishnu tribute.

A wonderful album, which I highly recommend, as it hasn't disappointed me one bit. Mike Varney's productions keep to a very high standard of quality. I think that the challenge is now issued, and that Mahavishnu Orchestra should reform in order to try to do better than this tribute album - utterly awesome!

Only one minor complaint: evidently, the symphonic orchestra on 1974's "Apocalypse" was a heavenly dream. here, there is no orchestra, but I'm not going to hold a grudge because of that. maybe next time?

John McLaughlin's arrangements are always worth their weight in 24-carat gold.

Very glad I read up on this so I, too, could be enraged by this false advertising haha. Good God. They really were like, "Oh yeah, the excellent Allan Holdsworth, one of the greatest guitarists of all time, is on this album" and he straight up wasn't... Woof. Fortunately, here is a tribute to Mahavishnu Orchestra (and specifically to John McLaughlin) featuring, still, some of Holdsworth's (and McLaughlin's) peers. Released in 2005, the main band throughout features the impenetrable Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, and I can't think of a better person to also honor both Billy Cobham and Narada Michael Walden; a giant to fill the shoes of fellow giants. Vinnie's consistent bandmates on this effort are Jeff Richman, a notable fusion guitarist in his own right, bassist Kai Eckhardt (associated with McLaughlin, Cobham and Vital Information), and Mitchel Forman (associated with McLaughlin and numerous other Jazz greats, including a feature here, Mr. Mike Stern... and Wayne Shorter!). And from song to song there are some phenomenal features, some of the most notable and greatest guitarists of Jazz Fusion (and other Rock idioms, interestingly specifically from Jam bands), as well as Mahavishnu violinist Jerry Goodman on 4 of the 10 tracks. So exciting. Couldn't miss this one.

Our first track is the forever Fusion classic "Birds of Fire" with Steve Lukather... And from the start... this is, indeed, fire. Lukather is of course the guitarist of Toto, likely understating his outstanding ability and expertise on the instrument for those unaware. This track is, unsurprisingly, a refreshingly modern Guitar Fusion take on the original; blazing, beefy and excellent. Crazy good drum solo over the main underlying riff from Vinnie... yeesh... Followed by another low blaze from Forman on synth. Oh f*ck! Goodman's solo to start off "Can't Stand Your Funk"... What am I supposed to say?... This is a much groovier rendition (yes, slinky as hell haha), so therefore, being an excellent song anyways, super fresh! Even still, as to be expected, Goodman's second solo, if you wouldn't have known, straight up sounds like a guitar... Honestly though, Mike Stern, the guitar feature here, plays what I feel is frequently less than inspired...

A much more metal, well-rounded guitarist is up next on "Celestial Terrestrial Commuters", Dixie Dregs' Steve Morse (also of Kansas, Deep Purple and Prog supergroup Flying Colors). This is another funkier rendition compared to the original. The whole rhythm section (of course) is just... crazy haha. And also meeting my expectations, blazing soloing from Morse here. The second half is more of a blues thang, with laxed rhythm and widened organ. Super cool syncopated playing toward the end! Very nice! Super spacy on this version of "Meeting of the Spirits", this'n featuring Jimmy Herring, whom I know (yet don't quite know) from Southern-Fusion Jam giants Widespread Panic. He plays an impassioned solo here... like... wow... I must check out his solo stuff (and... whatever else!). Always great, as McLaughlin did originally on this one, when performers bring out the absolute potential of something that would be otherwise slow and merely 'feeling'. Another one where Vinnie, even in quietness, is just on fire. And then this Hammer-worthy, though super-effected solo from keyboardist Forman! Everyone is matching his energy perfectly during this section... My word...

"Jazz" is actually the first track that I was utterly unfamiliar with, released on the significantly later album Mahavishnu (1984), which originally featured our keyboardist here, Mr. Forman (worth a mention every time) alongside Cobham and the great Jonas Hellborg. This is more explictly a track to more prominently feature the main band member here, guitarist Jeff Richman. Great performances all 'round. Back into exceeding prominence with Frank Gambale on "Dawn". Super upbeat intro here, they get right down to business. And here we have Goodman's next feature (what an awesome opportunity to perform these tracks again afresh). And it's here I must say, excited to dig deeper into Gambale's material. I know very little still. He and Jerry are such a great match. And also here, another opportunity to the rhythm section to shine bright over something low, slow and sweet. Then we're in for the groove and of course more soloing on the backend (freakish soloing). How could I forget?! God, Mahavishnu was something so special.

Next we have "Lila's Dance" featuring latter-day Allman Brothers' Band and Gov't Mule's own Warren Haynes (our second predominantly Jam Band feature). Such a beautiful song, I always wish Visions of the Emerald Beyond didn't feel so unsung. Love it. I find this Goodman feature super interesting as for that album it was the equally untouchable Jean-Luc Ponty on violin originally [I believe this is one of 3 tracks with Goodman playing what were Ponty-features]. This track is... perfect for Haynes. Soulful, feeling and groovy. And yet another honor for him, I'm sure, to play alongside Vinnie and Jerry. I can't imagine it. Excellent performance, excellent soloing. One of the first tracks that feels super true to the original. "Faith" is a little less true, and yet just as great [if not significantly greater], a feature of guitarist David Fiuczynski, one of the youngest performers here, of Screaming Headless Torsos and Hasidic New Wave. I'll be rectifying my ignorance thereof as soon as possible, as this guy is incredible. I mean, this is what I think of when I think 'Guitar Fusion'. Contemporary to guys like Garsed and Helmerich. Excellent, excellent rendition. Everyone is bringing their A(+++) game. One of the many absolute must-hears here.

Coming to the close of the album, Greg Howe is ablaze on "Dance of Maya", and good Lord!!! He is matched with Goodman on his final feature of the album... Again, goodness gracious... These guys... One of the most prominent featurings of bassist Kai Eckhardt. Greg Howe is yet another of the now-renowned, younger players here. Fantastic stuff. To close things out, we have one of my favorite guitarists ever, John Abercombie on "Follow Your Heart", the second track I [thought I] didn't know before. It was originally released in 1970 off the excellent must-hear Jazz release Joe Farrell Quartet, also featuring Chick Corea, Dave Holland, and Jack DeJohnette! If you're a fan of Mahavishnu, and you somehow don't know Abercrombie, highly recommend his debut Timeless, featuring Jan Hammer(!) and DeJohnette (1975), the first Gateway album (1976), Crosswinds (Billy Cobham, 1974), and Lookout Farm (Dave Liebman, 1974) for some of the greatest (earlier) Fusion albums ever. Anyways, a grooving, feeling song to end things out. Overall, a phenomenal tribute. I can't recommend it enough.

A rare, but more legitimate round-up from my True Rate of 4.5/5.0. [I believe I calculated it as ~4.65.]