Mahavishnu Orchestra...Mars Volta

i think that the mars volta are a modern day mahavishnu orchestra. im
basing purely off the only song available on this site from the mahavishnu
and from my extensive knowledge of the mars volta. both awesome
guitarists in their respected styles (similiar a bit though...i can see where
omar got a lot of his inspiration), both bands know how to convey a
feeling...a strong one. awesome drummers in both bands and awesome
keyboards in both. i also know that omar is a huge fan of these guys.
anyone else agree?

^eh...I'd maybe say that...I see the similarities...but I think TMV is a better/more enjoyable band...while MO was more of an experimental/less emotional effort. About Omar vs. McLaughlin...I like Omar more...but McLaughlin is probably the better player.

All boils down to opinion...just like always

^We musn't forget the keyboard playing of Jan Hammer either. His work with MO is really great. I haven't heard any of his solo material though.

meurglysIII wrote: ^We musn't forget the keyboard playing of Jan Hammer either. His work with MO is really great. I haven't heard any of his solo material though.

Jan Hammer produced a fine range of jazz rock going pop before the fall and Miami Vice (but I guess it pays the pension). The best jazz rock not on CD is Jan Hammer Group's Oh Yeah, but most other stuff is out on CD:

An album which possibile pre-dates MO, issue don the German label BASF.
Early Days  is  sampler of the earlier Nemperor LP recordings by JH
Melodies (Wounded Bird) finds Hammer shifting out of jazz rock into funky pop. (There is an obcure live Melodies album, issued to radio stations origially, which can be found with difficulty)
Black Sheep/Hammer has been just issued remastered by JH  on Wounded Bird - a bit of a demonstration that keys could equal Hendrix style guitar ????!!!! (Colin Hodgkinson on vocals and eventually bass).
Like Children (pop rock, fusion etc.) done immediately after leaving MO with Jerry Goodman, was supposed to have been issued on CD last year but.......
Jan Hammer is on several of the Al DiMeola earlier albums - Tour De Force  and Scenario (some critic suggested this was the last good jazz-rock album of the 70's)  are suggested.
Again strong presence on both Tony Williams' Joy Of Flying and Stanley Clarke's eponymous second album (with Tony Williams and the neglected Bill Connors, a great one-off quartet of jazzrock/funk). Part of the reason for the timelessness of Billy Cobham's Spectrum, (also check out the Tommy Bolin Archive recordings for other unexpected guest appearances by Hammer -e.g.  a great alternative to MO's Sister Andrea on Vol 1 with Bolin/Hammer recording of the demo version)

Replaced Max Middleton as Jeff Beck's jazz mentor during Wired  and then thru' to There & Back. Middleton btw was on 3rd and 4th Jeff Beck solo albums, 3 albums with Hummingbird, and an album with Robert Awai before becoming Chris Rea's keyboardist for 15 years. Toured with Beck last year as it happens.

And last time doing jazz rock fusion on record?? Present on one track of a  Steve Clarke's Network recording made in the late 90's ; also check out the Network compilation - a strange hybrid of death metal and fusion....

definitely, i will be checking these guys as soon as i get to a record store.
and i would agree mclaughlin is the better player...techinique wise...i
think
omar is a more creative writer...but hey only one song heard (MO) to
literally
everything (TMV) so i can't really say. i'm just saying, i can hear who omar
tries to be, at least live.
by the way jon theodore mentions billy cobham as his top influence. not a
bad one i say.
i would say 'meeting the spirits' has a definite amount of feeling and
depth into the song. i only hope that amount of feeling and depth is put
into the other songs on the album, whichever i get.
taking into account all contemporary music, i think TMV are the closest
thing to MO. and you know omar is gonna be a huge influence on future
guitar players.
just my opinion.

TMV is great.. but MO, it is not as neat as  Mahavishnu...

Eh...sorry i'm not seeing the connection

A quick look in the archive shows 10 albums by Mahavishnu Orchestra (I own 4), 5 by John McLaughlin with Shakti are listed (I've got 2) and who knows how many solo CDs he has? I've got at least 8 Billy Cobham albums in my collection and I've seen him in concert 7 times - also a drum clinic. I know I've got 3 Jan Hammer discs, I have Jerry Goodman on the Maha discs as well as 3 Dixie Dregs CDs and I've seen him perform with the Dixie Dregs three times.

There are only three full leangth albums listed of The Mars Volta.

Someo Therguy wrote: A quick look in the archive shows 10 albums by Mahavishnu Orchestra (I own 4), 5 by John McLaughlin with Shakti are listed (I've got 2) and who knows how many solo CDs he has? I've got at least 8 Billy Cobham albums in my collection and I've seen him in concert 7 times - also a drum clinic. I know I've got 3 Jan Hammer discs, I have Jerry Goodman on the Maha discs as well as 3 Dixie Dregs CDs and I've seen him perform with the Dixie Dregs three times. There are only three full leangth albums listed of The Mars Volta.

i don't think anyone is disbuting the fact that MO has more recorded
music than the mars volta. MO started in the 70's, the mars volta started
in 2001. MO has a good 30 years on the mars volta. all i was saying is
that i know MO is an inspiration of the mars volta, and as far as
contemporary music goes, the mars volta are the closest thing to them.

oh wait, i forgot. lets see, i got all of the mars volta's full lengths,
including their live album. i got their ep, and i have singles of live
versions and weird improvisation stuff. i got omar's solo project and am
working on getting his quintet cd, i one of the two de facto records, 2 of
at the drive-in's records, you know, their 'punk' band before the mars
volta, and have been to their key arena show. but i'm gonna count that
show as 8 shows just because i can. i can play all of deloused and frances
on guitar (well) and am in a band that writes awesome music.


just had to list my share of personal accomplishments. cuz you know,
thats what this topic is about. anyone else care to share?



Edited by jtdotto

I fail to see how quantity holds sway over quality.  Not that I'm denying the talent of those involved with the Orchestra, but the Volta-Mahavishnu link has been stated before.  It's nothing new.