Customer Reviews

Visions of an Inner Mounting Apocalypse: A Tribute in Guitar

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am an old time Mahavishnu fan who has been going back down memory lane and rediscovering the band. Being a purist I NEVER buy tribute albums. I find them unnecessary & unworthy. I stumbled across the listing for this when I was buying the remastered version of Visions of Emeralds Beyond and after seeing that it contained some of my all time favorite players I decided to give it a shot. I'm so glad I did! I can't stop playing it.
What makes this tribute different? How about the inclusion of orginal band members to back up the guest guitarists! The contributions of the much underrated Mitchel Forman on Keys and the superb Jerry Goodman (often covering what was Ponty material)on violin are outstanding.
What are the highlights...nearly too many to list: Steve Lukather (Toto)shines on "Birds of Fire'. The Mike Stern (Miles Davis & solo work)and Jerry goodman interplay on "can't Stand Your funk" is exceptional. I bought this in part because I am addicted to the Dixie Dregs but found Steve Morse playing a little too clean. (Most of the other players expanded beyond the Mahavishnu parameters but sadly not Morse). Jimmy Herring (Aquarium Rescue Unit & the Other Ones) strikes a nerve on "Meeting of the Spirits". "Jazz" is a nice unexpected inclusion from '84. Frank Gambale's (Vital Information) cover of "Dawn" again with Goodman is lively and memorable. As much as I admire Warren Haynes (Govt Mule/Allman Brothers) I was skeptical of how he might come across on a fusion LP; in truth "Lila's Dance" may be the best cut on the CD. The final wind down comes with John Abercrombie bringing us back to Earth with "Follow your heart" The whole cd is a solid pleasant surprise. If your an old fan give it a try. If you are a new fan listen to this first and then compare it to the original material; you'll be opening the doors to some great fusion.

If you're a hardcore M.O. fan (and a sucker like me), you've bought every tribute band, album, and inmitator that's come down the pike over the last 20+ years. But let's face it, they've all disappointed. No one's matched the in-your-face power and virtuosity of the original M.O. No exception here, although I'd put this tribute towards the top of the heap. The tunes have been arranged to suit the individual guitarists style...and there's some kick-ass good music here, no question. Just don't expect your mind to get blown like it's 1973 and any fusion fan should enjoy this.

As a Maha fanatic I really wanted to love this CD, but outside of John Abercrombie's take on Follow our Heart, nothing takes flight. Problematic are the arrangements that pay little respect to the original compositions and a rhythm section that plods along with none of the forward leaning urgency and intensity of the original Mahavishnu Orchestra. As far as tributes go, The Mahavishnu Project does a much better job of honoring both the spirit and the musical innovations of the Mahavishnu Orchestra.

because of their ensemble interaction, full force tempos and jagged solos. This tribute is fun to listen to...all these guitarists are phenomonal players but many of the takes are lock stock and barrel rock solos, slow tempos, or corny arrangements. The highlights are the tunes with Jerry Goodman- an original MO member. He cuts through the music like a knife because its his territory. Especially "Dawn" with Frank Gambale... in Lilas Dance he shines again. Cant stand your funk goes on too long with Stern. Another stand outs are Steve Morse on Cellestial commuters. For the MO fan its a must but makes you appreciate
the original gang.

Too bad that superior listening formats SACD & DVD Audio have not permeated the release market; this multi-layered concept album is begging for 5.1 playback.

That having been said, there are moments on this guest guitarists' (alongside the house band) CD to justify its purchase. In particular, Mike Stern's: Can't Stand Your Funk...Meaning Of The Spirits featuring Jimmy Herring and some mellow Frank Gambale on Dawn.

I would say Visions can be placed alongside Greg Bendian's Mahavishnu Project (Live!) on your shelf.

Superbly excellent playing by all involved in this production.
Great to re-visit John McLaughlin's music from the 1970s but with modern recording techniques!!

Wow. Everyone on this disc is top shelf and Jerry Goodman has just gotten better with time. This is for reals ya'll.

Like another person wrote here, I'm usually skeptical about tribute albums. But this one is a MUST for Mahavishnu fans, and lovers of fusion guitar. Without exception the soloists understand the drawing power of each song they play. The orchestration in several cases actually improves on the original recording, in Lila's Dance, Jazz, and Can't Stand Your Funk. The MO's one weakness was its occasionally thin sound - and here each song gets the full treatment. The guitarists are literally tearing the place apart with every solo. And it is so fantastic to hear violinist Jerry Goodman in top form on several songs, like the original MO didnt play 30 years earlier. It's like he's the special guest star. Add to that how modern recording makes the music sound better, and you will love this music every bit as much as the originals.
A final tribute in the album is John Abercrombie's gentle and subtle rendition of one of McLaughlin's early, best songs, Follow Your Heart. Does anyone remember that from Joe Farrell's quartet LP? A beautiful song, and a perfect way to close and calm down from the joyful frenzy you have just experienced.

The aggressive, brooding notes of 'Birds of Fire' sets the tone of this exciting tribute album. This Tone Center release is in a different league to 'Royal Dan'(which I rated 2 stars). Like all Tone Center releases the production and recording values are generally top notch in addition this time the band play and interpret the compositions so that it feels like a new album of music in its own right.

Forget Mahavishnu Orchestra, forget the cheesy artwork; rather listen to a great group of musicians play John McLaughlin's music from the funky 'Faith', the drowsy 'Dawn' to the bluesy 'Dance of the Maya'- an incredible range of heavy fusion.

Like 'Fusion for Miles'Fusion for Miles: A Guitar Tribute another excellent Tone Center release, the success of this album is the tight, core band who create new life with these pieces without playing note for note covers of the originals. Vinnie Coliauta is the heartbeat - feast your ears as he is as superb as always with his variety from subtle to flamboyant fills and three impeccable 'solos', though not in the sense of drums alone but playing over the band's backing.

Arguably it is the contribution of the original Mahavishnu band member, Jerry Goodman on violin, that sets this album apart. Whether he is playing rapid unison lines with the guitarist and keyboardist or taking the lead, Goodman is a monster and gives this album its unique sound.

If you like violin and jazz-rock, then don't hesitate purchasing this. I kept thinking this was a new Dixie Dregs album and of course on 'Celestial terrestial Commuters' this seems even more the case as Steve Morse does his thing.

I am surprised how fresh and open this album sounds. For example, the middle section of 'Meeting of the Spirits' is superb as Mitchel Forman begins to play his synth solo. The song gently breathes and takes time before Vinnie builds the track to a crescendo of double bass drum mayhem. It is great that the guest guitarists appear to interact rather than merely shred. In 'Dawn' the song evolves and it's only two and a half minutes into the track before we hear Gambale begin to weave his lines. Yet Jerry Goodman still continues with his playing as much as Gambale does until, Frank, Vinnie and Jerry bring the piece to a mindblowing conclusion.

Which guitarists shine? I think this is personal preference as there are some strong outings by a number of them. Lukather is particularly good on the opening 'Birds of Fire' but then Warren Haynes is also great on 'Lila's Dance' with Kai Eckhardt, the bassist throughout, who is really strong here. Jimmy Herring never disappoints and the producer, Jeff Richman, always blows me away with his talent both as arranger, producer, player. 'Follow your heart' is a beautiful, gentle end with Abercrombie initially on acoustic followed by an ethereal fretless bass exploration from Eckhardt and some intelligent drumming flurries to bring the album to an end.

What is pleasing is that having listened to the album five or six times now, it's still growing on me. 61 minutes of exciting interplay and a delight for the listener. Well done again, Mr Richman. I'll have to obtain a few more of these tribute albums!

Masterful playing and smoking fusion grooves. Nice tribute that is true to the original while being current.