Customer Reviews

Power, Passion & Beauty: The Story of the Legendary Mahavishnu Orchestra

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

A most enjoyable read, Walter knows more about the MO then I do and I was the bass player! The facts are covered and there are bios of each of the members prior to the formation of the band
along with interviews from Pat Methany, Herbie Hancock and many others, plus some great photos. If you were a MO fan, you've got to read this book.

Due to the extensive and detailed research, this book is a must-read for any die-hard MO fan; but be prepared to slog through some lame prose.

Positives: Due to the paucity of information that has been available on the MO in the past, the depth and variety of insights that Kolosky has collected in this book are both astounding and riveting. The interviews with the band members are particularly great to read. The book humanizes every member, and does a good job of showing how each of them brought different talents, perspectives and insecurities that led to both the brilliance and the eventual demise of the group. I felt confident that Kolosky has left no stone unturned in his quest to illuminate us as to exactly what made the MO so great.

Negatives: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the MO, and can honestly say that their music has affected my life more than any other art I have ever encountered. But even I was put off by Kolosky's simpering fanboy tone. While the research is meticulous and impressive, the quality of the writing made the book an absolute drudge to read. A biased, reverent tone is welcome, as are some personal thoughts; but Kolosky often intrudes on the story, digressing and generally mucking it up with his opinions and self-indulgence. You're going to have to be a VERY dedicated fan to make it through.

The good news is you have to agree with most of Kolosky's conclusions regarding the place of the MO in the history of music. They remain unique, spanning the improvisation of jazz, the compositional sensibility of classicism, the rhythmic variation of Indian music and the energy and power of Rock. The bad news is Kolosky's methodology and his own limitations prevent a completely satisfying book. The book consists almost entirely of interviews, which in and of itself is not a problem. but in telling the story Kolosky doesn't always ask the right questions. He does effectively trace the careers of the key participants and the interviews provide a wealth of anecdotal information detailing the short life of the Mo, but his lack of technical knowledge leave us still guessing at the processes that created this unique band, its triumphs and limitations.

Being a HUGE fan of the MO since '73- I was amazed to even SEE a book like this come out, and even MORE amazed when I read it.
This is truly the STORY of the MO- not a boring, highbrow or drug-induced fantasy from someone whose cousin once met John or Billy. The author interviewed EVERYONE, including people you wouldn't expect about how this band impacted their lives. The story of the MO is told through anecdotes, photos and quotes with a good dose of wit and sarcasm, as though a friend was letting you in on something that no one else knew. Once I started reading this book- I could not put it down. For true fans of the MO, buying this book will be a no-brainer. This book also has a great accompanying website for even more photos and in-depth musical analysis. 5 stars!!

Being an ardent Mahavishnu fan, I could not wait to read what I thought would be an inside look into the band's genius. Boy was I disappointed. In short, the book substantially consists of the author's gushing (to the point of distraction) about how great the band is and quotes from various musicians discussing the first time they heard the band and how great the band is. I'm sorry, but I could not care less to hear about how great the band is from other musicians. I already know the band is great. I get it. Why do I need to read page after page about the first time the author heard the band and what the band means to him? I was hoping to gain insight and detail into how the music was created and a personal look into the minds that created it. It would also have been nice to get a glimpse into the inner conflicts that plagued the band, but the author, obviously ga ga over the band, appeared afraid to travel down that path or say anything that might even remotely be controversial. There is nothing revealed in this book that any fan would not otherwise know except maybe details concerning the font the band used. In short, this a very superficial read about a complex and important musicial group.

As a fan of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, I have such vivid memories of seeing the band in performance during the early 1970s. After requesting a minute of silence (in which you could literaly hear a pin drop), John McLaughlin and the his fellow band mates would launch into its performance. The ferocity and intensity of the live performance would literally make your hair stand on edge and give you the feeling of what it must be like to be caught within a hurricane. I still have visions of John McLaughlin and his double-necked Gibson pointing to the skies and playing with a speed and dexterity unlike anything I had ever witnessed. I became a believer. Simply amazing...

"Power, Passion & Beauty: The Story of the Legendary Mahavishnu Orchestra" by Walter Kolosy fully captures that feeling; it totally defines what makes the Mahavishnu Orchestra "the greatest band that there ever was." The author weaves the story of the creation (and demise) of the Mahavishnu Orchestra through the eyes and ears of a fan. But beyond the author's words, you will also hear the words of the band members from Mahavishnu Orchestra 1 and 2 as well as of those who witnessed this band and had their lives and musical influences changed forever. Legendary musicians such as Pat Metheny, Jimmy Herring, Jeff Beck, John Abercrombie, Steve Morse, Chick Corea, and Herbie Hancock (to name just a few) all agreed to share their thoughts on the band in this book.

The world has never lost interest in the Mahavishnu Orchestra; if anything it clamors to hear its works, see its performances, and to know more about the band and what it represented in the world of jazz and rock. There is an entire younger generation that continues to hunger for music by this band. This book is a must read for fans as well as for those who are curious about the legacy of the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Who knows, perhaps this book will become a catalyst to have the band reform. God knows we need the Mahavishnu Orchestra and its message of spiritual harmony now more than ever.

Like the author, I was born a little too late to experience the full brunt of this band of virtuosos in a live setting. Also like the author, I was BLOWN AWAY at first sight of the 1973 Don Kirshner performance footage referenced in the book. In fact it remains one of my all-time favorite live rock performances to this day! This book has helped me fill in the missing pieces and understand the life and times of my favorite band immensely.

Power, Passion and Beauty has a LOT to offer fans of all levels, whether you're new to the band or a seasoned veteran of M.O.'s musical-spiritual universe, or anywhere in between. The book's `interview' format is the perfect context to tell this incredible tale and leaves no doubt about the true feelings, aspirations and accomplishments of the band's members.

Let me also add what an HONOR and TREAT it is to even appear in a book review thread with the bass-master himself Rick Laird! Thank you for the music Rick! May it live on forever!

I received this book yesterday and devoured it. It is thorough and has some nice pics (though small). Now is the time for a reunion. I would willingly pay a couple of hundred bucks per ticket for myself and my neices if these guys ever decide that it's time to bury the hatchet and play their extraordinary music one more time for their fans (and fans-to-be).

This book is great. Every Mahavishnu Orchestra fan should read this. Walter Kolosky has given us a behind-the-scenes look at what was really going on within this band. The incredible music, the rise to fame and the unfortunate break-up. You will read remarks by such legends as Jeff Beck, Herbie Hancock, Bill Bruford and many more on how this music influenced their style. Plus interviews with all the band members. It is surprising to find out what their relationship is like today. Did you know there was a connection between the Mahavishnu Orchestra and The Beatles? I found this book very interesting and have developed a new appreciation for the music they created. You will too.

I came late to knowing about the Mahavishnu Orchestra, but better late than never! And I continue to enjoy John McGlaughlin's cosmic creations, be they purely musical (Floating Point), educational (This is How I Do It), or both (Meeting of the Minds). This book provided me with an essential grounding in the reality of the human events that precipitated, sustained, and ultimately fragmented "The Greatest Band That Ever Was."

I believe that the book gives both a good account of the band and their direction, as well as an important account of how the music industry failed so comprehensively to understand, promote, or ultimately support this truly creative team as they wrote a significant chapter of modern music.

While I have some quibbles with the voice and diction that the author used, I blame the editors for not correcting those tiny lapses. They author surely did his homework, as evidenced by the unprecedented access and cooperation he secured while writing the book.

The only reason I'm not giving the book 5 stars is that it is not a 5 star production--it's not a gorgeous coffee-table book in full bleeding color, it's a black-and-white halftone paperback. But the content and the subject is definitely 5 stars, and highly recommended to anybody the least bit interested in the Mahavishnu Story.