View source for Mahavishnu Orchestra

{{Short description|American jazz fusion band}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name              = Mahavishnu Orchestra
| image             = Between Nothingness and Eternity trade advert 1973 cropped.png
| landscape         = yes
| caption           = The original line-up on stage in 1973.<br>Left to right: [[Jerry Goodman]], [[Jan Hammer]], [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]], [[Billy Cobham]], [[Rick Laird]]
| background        = group_or_band
| origin            = [[New York City]], U.S.
| genre             = {{startflatlist}}
* [[Jazz fusion]]
* [[progressive rock]]
* {{nowrap|[[world jazz]]}}
{{endflatlist}}
| years_active      = {{hlist|1971–1976|1984–1987}}
| label             = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
| associated_acts   = {{hlist|[[Shakti (band)|Shakti]]|The One Truth Band|The Translators|The John McLaughlin Guitar Trio|[[Schon & Hammer]]|[[Journey (band)|Journey]]}}
| past_members      = [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]]<br/>[[Billy Cobham]]<br/>[[Jan Hammer]]<br/>[[Jerry Goodman]]<br/>[[Rick Laird]]<br/>Ralphe Armstrong<br/>[[Narada Michael Walden]]<br/>[[Gayle Moran]]<br/>[[Jean-Luc Ponty]]<br/>[[Stu Goldberg]]<br/>[[Bill Evans (saxophonist)|Bill Evans]]<br/>[[Jonas Hellborg]]<br/>[[Mitchel Forman]]<br/>[[Danny Gottlieb]]<br/>[[Jim Beard]]
}}

The '''Mahavishnu Orchestra''' was a [[jazz fusion]] band formed in [[New York City]] in 1971, led by English guitarist [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]].<ref name="Larkin">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=1997|edition=Concise|isbn=1-85227-745-9|page=787}}</ref> The group underwent several line-up changes throughout its history across its two periods of activity, from 1971 to 1976 and from 1984 to 1987.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/mahavishnu-orchestra-mn0000233862|title=Mahavishnu Orchestra – Biography, Albums, & Streaming Radio |publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=10 June 2016}}</ref> With its first line-up consisting of McLaughlin,  [[Billy Cobham]], [[Jan Hammer]], [[Jerry Goodman]], and [[Rick Laird]], the band received its initial acclaim for its complex, intense music consisting of a blend of [[Indian classical music]], [[jazz]], and [[psychedelic rock]] as well as its dynamic live performances between 1971 and 1973.<ref name = "harvardcrimson">{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Roger L. |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1972/2/11/rock-and-schlock-pbtbhey-came-as/ |title=Rock and Schlock |work=The Harvard Crimson |publisher=The Harvard Crimson Inc |date=1972-02-11 |access-date=2019-02-22 |quote=McLaughlin has chosen to work toward a musical intensity that aims inward rather than outward. There is never a wasted note, yet the improvisation by each member of the group is always present, always building and directing the music. }}</ref><ref name = "newyorktimes1">{{cite news |last=Heckman |first=Don |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/07/07/archives/jazz-mahavishnu-a-trip-into-rock.html |title=Jazz: Mahavishnu – A Trip Into Rock |work=The New York Times |date=1972-07-07 |access-date=2019-02-22 |quote=...the Mahavishnu ensemble has gradually developed a form of jazz that dips into rock, blues, Indian music, “classical music” and electronics for source material, stylistic elements and aesthetic energy. }}</ref> Many members of the band have gone on to acclaimed careers of their own in the jazz and jazz fusion genres.

== History ==
=== 1971–1974: First incarnation ===
By mid-1971, McLaughlin had been a member of [[Miles Davis]]' band and [[Tony Williams (drummer)|Tony Williams]]' Lifetime, and released three solo albums. He then set about forming his own [[jazz fusion]] group, the first line-up of which featured Panamanian drummer [[Billy Cobham]], Irish bassist [[Rick Laird]], Czech keyboardist [[Jan Hammer]], and American violinist [[Jerry Goodman]].<ref name=CD11-73/> Cobham and Goodman had played on McLaughlin's third solo album ''[[My Goal's Beyond]]'' (1971). McLaughlin's first choice for violinist was Frenchman [[Jean-Luc Ponty]], but he was unable to join due to immigration problems. After listening to various albums he hired Goodman, formerly of [[The Flock (band)|The Flock]]. Though American bassist [[Tony Levin]] was the first person McLaughlin wanted,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hit-channel.com/john-mclaughlin-solomahavishnu-orchestramiles-davis/18283|title=Interview:John McLaughlin (solo, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Miles Davis) – Hit Channel|last=thodoris|date=8 October 2012|website=Hit-channel.com|access-date=10 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hit-channel.com/tony-levin-stick-menking-crimsonpeter-gabrieljohn-lennon/34535|title=Interview:Tony Levin (Stick Men, King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, John Lennon) – Hit Channel|last=thodoris|date=21 February 2013|website=Hit-channel.com|access-date=10 June 2016}}</ref> Laird had known McLaughlin for several years and accepted the invitation. Hammer was found through a mutual friendship with [[Miroslav Vitous]] of the jazz fusion group [[Weather Report]].<ref name=CD11-73>{{cite journal|url=http://www.italway.it/morrone/jml-crawdaddy.htm|title=John McLaughlin & The Mahavishnu Orchestra: Two Sides to Every Satori|journal=Crawdaddy|first2=Patrick|last2=Snyder-Scumpy|first1=Frank |last1=DeLigio|date=November 1973|access-date=16 January 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121208221016/http://www.italway.it/morrone/jml-crawdaddy.htm |archive-date=8 December 2012}}</ref> The group's name originates from Indian spiritual leader and guru [[Sri Chinmoy]], of whom McLaughlin had become a follower, who gave him the name Mahavishnu, "Maha" meaning "great" in [[Sanskrit]] and "vishnu" after the Hindu deity [[Vishnu]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Shteamer|first=Hank|date=26 October 2017|title=John McLaughlin on His Final U.S. Tour, Revisiting Mahavishnu Orchestra|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/john-mclaughlin-on-his-final-u-s-tour-revisiting-mahavishnu-orchestra-117259/|access-date=26 December 2020|magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref>

With the line-up secured, the five met in New York City in July 1971 and rehearsed for one week. They adopted an instrumental fusion sound characterised by electric rock, funk, complex [[time signatures]], and arrangements influenced by McLaughlin's interest in [[Indian classical music]]. Their debut gigs followed at the [[Cafe Au Go Go|Gaslight at the Au Go Go]] as the opening act for bluesman [[John Lee Hooker]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.guitar-channel.com/rich_murray/mahavishnu-orchestra-40th-anniversary.html|title=Exclusive: After 40 Years, The Mahavishnu Orchestra Looks Back|website=The Guitar Channel|first=Walter |last=Kolosky|date=7 November 2011}}</ref> McLaughlin recalled: "The first set was shaky but the second set just took off and every night it was great. They wanted to hold us over and a few days after the second week ... we went into the studio".<ref name="crawdaddy1973">{{cite journal|url=http://www.italway.it/morrone/jml-crawdaddy.htm |title=John McLaughlin & The Mahavishnu Orchestra: Two Sides to Every Satori |journal=Crawdaddy |first2=Patrick |last2=Snyder-Scumpy |first1=Frank |last1=DeLigio |date=November 1973 |access-date=16 January 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121208221016/http://www.italway.it/morrone/jml-crawdaddy.htm |archive-date=8 December 2012 }}</ref> McLaughlin secured a record deal with [[Columbia Records]], giving the green light to record an album.

[[File:JohnMcLaughlin.jpg|thumb|left|upright|McLaughlin in 1973 performing with the band]]
''[[The Inner Mounting Flame]]'' was released in November 1971, peaking at No. 11 on the ''Billboard'' Jazz Albums and No. 89 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]. This was followed by ''[[Birds of Fire]]'' (1973) which peaked at No. 15 on the ''Billboard 200''. Due to the pressures of sudden fame, exhaustion and a lack of communication, the original band began to tire. The stress was further exacerbated by problematic recording sessions in June 1973 at London's [[Trident Studios]] that found some of the players not speaking to others. Their project was never fully completed. Cobham was disappointed and felt that the group "were knocking on the door of something really new. Something unique, something that had never been done before in rock and roll."<ref name=MM0274>{{cite web|url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/mahavishnu-orchestra-cobham--it-ended-in-total-fiasco|title=Mahavishnu Orchestra: Cobham — it ended in total fiasco|first=Chris|last=Welch|date=2 February 1974|work=Melody Maker|via=[[Rock's Backpages]]|access-date=27 December 2020}}</ref> This was followed by the release of their first live album ''[[Between Nothingness & Eternity]]'', which featured material from the Trident sessions.<ref name="Larkin"/>

Later in 1973, Hammer and Goodman expressed their frustrations about McLaughlin's leadership in an interview for ''[[Crawdaddy (magazine)|Crawdaddy]]'' magazine. An attempt was made to improve group relations by having each member introduced as they walked on stage, and tunes by Hammer, Laird, and Goodman mixed into the live set.<ref name=CD11-73/> It was not enough, however, and the five played their final gig on December 30.<ref name=MM0174>{{cite web|url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/john-mclaughlin-it-was-natural-evolution|title=John McLaughlin: It Was Natural Evolution|first=Chris|last=Charlesworth|work=Melody Maker|date=2 February 1974|via=[[Rock's Backpages]]|access-date=26 December 2020}}</ref> According to Laird, the band did not say goodbye to each other afterward.<ref name=RS74>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/rick-laird-why-mahavishnu-is-breaking-up|title=Rick Laird: Why Mahavishnu is Breaking Up|first=Loraine|last=Alterman|date=28 February 1974|magazine=Rolling Stone|via=[[Rock's Backpages]]|access-date=27 December 2020}}</ref> In January 1974, McLaughlin split the group.<ref name=MM0174/> Laird spoke about the group weeks later, claiming that despite McLaughlin's having composed most of the group's tunes, the rest of the band contributed "a great deal" and did not receive credit. He was also critical of Cobham's claim that the group had rejected his musical ideas, and that Hammer, Goodman, and Laird pushed to have their songs performed because of "an ego trip".<ref name=RS74/>

=== 1974–1976: Second incarnation ===
After the original group dissolved, it reformed in 1974 with a new cast of musicians behind McLaughlin: [[Jean-Luc Ponty]] (who had performed with [[Frank Zappa]] and the Mothers of Invention) on violin, [[Gayle Moran]] on keyboards, Ralphe Armstrong on bass, and [[Narada Michael Walden]] on percussion, Steve Kindler and Carol Shive on violin, Marcia Westbrook on viola, Phil Hirschi on cello, Steve Frankevich, Premik Russell Tubbs on alto, tenor and soprano saxophones, and Bob Knapp on brass.<ref name="Larkin"/> This "new" Mahavishnu Orchestra (which McLaughlin has reportedly called the "real" Mahavishnu Orchestra) changed personnel slightly between 1974's ''[[Apocalypse (Mahavishnu Orchestra album)|Apocalypse]]'' and ''[[Visions of the Emerald Beyond]]'' in 1975. ''Apocalypse'' was recorded in London with the [[London Symphony Orchestra]] under the direction of [[Michael Tilson Thomas]], with [[George Martin]] producing and [[Geoff Emerick]] engineering the sessions.<ref name="Larkin"/> The band was then reduced to a four-piece for 1976's ''[[Inner Worlds]]'', with Jean-Luc Ponty leaving after a heated disagreement about writing credits on the ''Visions'' album (one of Ponty's compositions, Pegasus, was mistakenly credited to John McLaughlin),<ref>{{Cite journal |year=1975 |orig-date=June 5 |title=Ponty Splits Orchestra |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/DownBeat/70s/75/DB%201975-06-05.pdf |journal=[[DownBeat]] |language=EN |pages=8 |via=Worldradiohistory}}</ref> and Gayle Moran being replaced with [[Stu Goldberg]].  Ponty would later settle over the royalties for the tracks ''Pegasus'' and ''Opus 1'' for an undisclosed amount of money.

=== 1984–1987: Third incarnation ===
After the dissolution of this version of the Orchestra, McLaughlin formed another group called [[Shakti (band)|Shakti]] to explore his interest in Indian music;<ref name="Larkin"/> following that, he went on to form other bands including the [[Electric Dreams (John McLaughlin album)|One Truth Band]] and [[Belo Horizonte (album)|the Translators]], and a guitar trio with [[Al Di Meola]] and flamenco guitarist [[Paco de Lucía]].

In 1984, McLaughlin reformed the Mahavishnu Orchestra with [[Bill Evans (saxophonist)|Bill Evans]] on saxophones, [[Jonas Hellborg]] on bass, [[Mitchel Forman]] on keyboards, and original member [[Billy Cobham]] on drums. Cobham participated in the sessions for their self-titled 1984 album, but was replaced by [[Danny Gottlieb]] for live work, and [[Jim Beard]] replaced [[Mitchel Forman]] for the latter period of this band's life. This band's overall sound was different from the original Mahavishnu Orchestra, in particular because of McLaughlin's extensive use of the [[Synclavier]] synthesizer system.

=== Post-Mahavishnu Orchestra ===
McLaughlin then worked with a number of incarnations of the John McLaughlin Guitar Trio, all of which featured [[Trilok Gurtu]] on percussion, and, at various times, [[Jeff Berlin]], [[Kai Eckhardt]], and [[Dominique Di Piazza]] on bass. He then formed the Free Spirits, a guitar, organ and drums trio, with [[Joey DeFrancesco]] on Hammond organ and trumpet, and [[Dennis Chambers]] on drums, as well as touring and recording again with [[Al Di Meola]] and [[Paco de Lucía]].

[[Billy Cobham]] went on to perform as a solo artist, recording many albums including ''[[Total Eclipse (Billy Cobham album)|Total Eclipse]]'', ''[[Crosswinds (Billy Cobham album)|Crosswinds]]'' and ''[[Spectrum (Billy Cobham album)|Spectrum]]'', and toured with the "Billy Cobham & [[George Duke]] Band" for many years. [[Jan Hammer]] went on to collaborate with [[Jeff Beck]] (together with [[Narada Michael Walden]]) in Beck's acclaimed album ''[[Wired (Jeff Beck album)|Wired]]'' and also recorded a [[Jeff Beck with the Jan Hammer Group Live|live album]] with Beck. He released several solo albums and composed the theme and incidental music for the hit 1980s TV show ''[[Miami Vice]]''. [[Jerry Goodman]] recorded the album ''[[Like Children]]'' with Mahavishnu keyboard alumnus Jan Hammer. Starting in 1985 he recorded three solo albums for [[Private Music]] and went on tour with his own band, as well as with [[Shadowfax (band)|Shadowfax]] and the [[Dixie Dregs]]. [[Rick Laird]] played with [[Stan Getz]] and [[Chick Corea]] as well as releasing one solo LP, ''Soft Focus'', but retired from the music business in 1982. He worked both as a bass teacher and photographer since then. He died on July 4, 2021, at the age of 80.

== Legacy ==
Mahavishnu Orchestra has been cited as an influence on many bands of different genres. [[Greg Ginn]], guitarist and main composer of [[hardcore punk]] band [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]], cited their early records which inspired him to record more progressive guitar work and even record instrumental albums.<ref>{{cite web | access-date = 17 March 2017 | website = HeavyMetalBebop.com | url = http://heavymetalbebop.com/post/41782901627/9-greg-ginn | title = #9: GREG GINN | date = July 2012 | location = Manhattan, New York City | first = Hank | last = Shteamer }}</ref> There has been a resurgence of interest in the Mahavishnu Orchestra in recent years, with bands like [[The Mars Volta]],<ref>{{Cite news|last=Klein|first=Joshua|date=2005-05-18|title=More than prog or fusion|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2005-05-18-0505180305-story.html|access-date=2010-06-10}}</ref> [[Opeth]],<ref>{{cite web | access-date = 14 March 2017 | url = http://iheartguitarblog.com/2011/09/interview-opeths-mikael-akerfeldt.html#sthash.1X24RQum.gWTQ5PJp.dpbs | title = INTERVIEW: Opeth's Mikael Åkerfeldt | publication-date = 16 September 2011 | first = Peter | last = Hodgson | quote = ''Q'': There’s an obvious fusion feel to a lot of the material on ''Heritage''. Where did that come from?<br/>''Mikael Åkerfeldt'': [...] the fusion aspect comes from Mahavishnu Orchestra [...] | website = iheartguitarblog.com | archive-date = October 15, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111015124028/http://iheartguitarblog.com/2011/09/interview-opeths-mikael-akerfeldt.html#sthash.1X24RQum.gWTQ5PJp.dpbs | url-status = dead }}</ref> [[Black Midi]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theface.com/music/black-midis-morgan-simpson-picks-his-favourite-drummers|title=Black Midi's drummer Morgan Simpson picks his favourite players|date=Apr 17, 2019|website=Theface.com|access-date=August 14, 2024}}</ref>[[The Fierce and the Dead]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Music Radar - The Fierce & The Dead's Matt Stevens picks 10 essential prog-rock albums|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/the-fierce-the-deads-matt-stevens-picks-10-essential-prog-rock-albums-626212 |date=11 August 2015 |access-date=18 April 2025}}</ref> and [[the Dillinger Escape Plan]],<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rocking.gr/interviews/The-Dillinger-Escape-Plan-interview/18163 | access-date = 14 March 2017 | website = Rocking.gr | title = The Dillinger Escape Plan interview | publication-date = 25 November 2013 | date = 5 November 2013 | first = Jason | last = Tsimplakos | location = Glasgow, Scotland }}</ref> naming them as an influence.  Jon Fishman, drummer for Phish, has also cited them as an influence.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Baron |first1=Josh |title=Hooking Up With Fishman |url=https://relix.com/articles/detail/hooking-up-with-fishman1/ |website=Relix |date=15 June 2010 |publisher=Relix Media Group |access-date=30 November 2020}}</ref> There have been no fewer than five major tribute recordings released.  In addition, a book ''Power, Passion and Beauty: The Story of the Legendary Mahavishnu Orchestra'' by Walter Kolosky (AbstractLogix Books) has been published.  It contains interviews with all of the band's members and quotes obtained specifically for the book from many famous admirers such as [[Jeff Beck]], [[Pat Metheny]], the artist [[Peter Max]], [[Bill Bruford]] and many more. The Mahavishnu Orchestra have also been sampled in contemporary music, most notably by [[Massive Attack]] on their track "[[Unfinished Sympathy]]", which sampled "Planetary Citizen", resulting in the band's being sued by Ralphe Armstrong, who received a healthy out-of-court settlement.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kolosky|first=Walter|title=Mahavishnu Orchestra – Planetary Citizen|url=http://www.jazz.com/music/2009/3/11/mahavishnu-orchestra-planetary-citizen|publisher=JAZZ.COM|access-date=8 December 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518012935/http://www.jazz.com/music/2009/3/11/mahavishnu-orchestra-planetary-citizen|archive-date=18 May 2013}}</ref>   "You Know, You Know" was sampled on Massive Attack's "One Love" and Mos Def's "Kalifornia."

==Band members==
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
! width="75" |Image
! width="150" |Name
! width="160" |Years active
! width="170" |Instruments
!Release contributions
|-
|{{CSS image crop|Image=John_McLaughlin_Blue_Note_2016.JPG|bSize=190|cWidth=75|cHeight=75|oTop=60|oLeft=35}}
|[[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]]
|{{Hlist|1971–1976|1984–1987}}
|{{Hlist|guitar|vocals}}
|[[#Discography|all releases]]
|-
|{{CSS image crop |Image=Cobham-Wölpl-Schmid Billy Cobham Unterfahrt-2013-02-28-012.jpg |bSize=200 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=18 |oLeft=50 }}
|[[Billy Cobham]]
|{{Hlist|1971–1973|1984}}
|drums
|{{flatlist|
* ''[[The Inner Mounting Flame]]'' (1971)
* ''[[Birds of Fire]]'' (1973)
* ''[[Between Nothingness & Eternity]]'' (1973)
* ''[[Mahavishnu (album)|Mahavishnu]]'' (1984)
* ''[[The Lost Trident Sessions]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Unreleased Tracks from Between Nothingness & Eternity]]'' (2011)}}
|-
|{{CSS image crop|Image=Jerry_Goodman_in_London_1970_(rule_of_thirds_crop).jpg|bSize=450|cWidth=75|cHeight=75|oTop=95|oLeft=110}}
|[[Jerry Goodman]]
| rowspan="2" |1971–1973
|violin
| rowspan="3" |{{flatlist|
* ''The Inner Mounting Flame'' (1971)
* ''Birds of Fire'' (1973)
* ''Between Nothingness & Eternity'' (1973)
* ''The Lost Trident Sessions'' (1999)
* ''Unreleased Tracks from Between Nothingness & Eternity'' (2011)}}
|-
|{{CSS image crop|Image=Jan_Hammer_2_-_1977.jpg|bSize=825|cWidth=75|cHeight=75|oTop=1000|oLeft=630}}
|[[Jan Hammer]]
|keyboards
|-
|{{CSS image crop|Image=Rick_Laird_1973_(cropped).png|bSize=130|cWidth=75|cHeight=75|oTop=35|oLeft=20}}
|[[Rick Laird]]
|1971–1973 {{Small|(died 2021)}}
|bass guitar
|-
|
|Ralphe Armstrong
| rowspan="2" |1974–1976
|{{Hlist|bass guitar|vocals}}
| rowspan="3" |{{flatlist|* ''Apocalypse'' (1974)
* ''[[Visions of the Emerald Beyond]]'' (1975)
* ''[[Inner Worlds]]'' (1976)}}
|-
|{{CSS image crop|Image=Jeff_Beck_2011_3.jpg|bSize=850|cWidth=75|cHeight=75|oTop=372|oLeft=417}}
|[[Narada Michael Walden]] 
|{{Hlist|drums|percussion|vocals|keyboards}}
|-
|{{CSS image crop|Image=Jean-Luc_Ponty_2008_by_Guillaume_Laurent.jpg|bSize=300|cWidth=75|cHeight=75|oTop=30|oLeft=70}}
|[[Jean-Luc Ponty]]
| rowspan="2" |1974–1975
|{{Hlist|violin|vocals}}
|-
|{{CSS image crop|Image=Gayle_Moran,_Blue_Note_Jazz_Club,_New_York_City,_10_December_2016.jpg|bSize=300|cWidth=75|cHeight=75|oTop=30|oLeft=100}}
|[[Gayle Moran]]
| rowspan="2" |{{Hlist|keyboards|vocals}}
|{{flatlist|
* ''Apocalypse'' (1974)
* ''Visions of the Emerald Beyond'' (1975)}}
|-
|
|[[Stu Goldberg]]
|1975–1976
|''Inner Worlds'' (1976)
|-
|{{CSS image crop|Image=Bill_Evans_(saxophonist)_2004-07-24.jpg|bSize=425|cWidth=75|cHeight=75|oTop=130|oLeft=165}}
|[[Bill Evans (saxophonist)|Bill Evans]]
| rowspan="2" |1984–1987
|{{Hlist|saxophone|keyboards}}
| rowspan="4" |{{flatlist|
* ''Mahavishnu'' (1984)
* ''[[Adventures in Radioland]]'' (1987)}}
|-
|{{CSS image crop|Image=Jonas_Hellborg.jpg_in_large_format.tif|bSize=75|cWidth=75|cHeight=75|oTop=5|oLeft=0}}
|[[Jonas Hellborg]]
|bass guitar
|-
|{{CSS image crop|Image=MitchelForman-1.jpg|bSize=300|cWidth=75|cHeight=75|oTop=30|oLeft=58}}
|[[Mitchel Forman]]
|1984–1986
|keyboards
|-
|{{CSS image crop|Image=Hammering_the_Skins_(3788414593).jpg|bSize=900|cWidth=75|cHeight=75|oTop=175|oLeft=492}}
|[[Danny Gottlieb]]
|1985–1986
|{{Hlist|drums|percussion}}
|-
|{{CSS image crop|Image=Steely Dan With The Doobie Brothers - The O2 - Sunday 29th October 2017 SteelyDanO2291017-12 (38016673842).jpg|bSize=1500|cWidth=75|cHeight=75|oTop=55|oLeft=185}}
|[[Jim Beard]]
|1987 {{small|(died 2024)}}
|keyboards
|none
|}

===Timeline===
{{#tag:timeline|
ImageSize   = width:800 height:550
PlotArea    = left:125 bottom:120 top:0 right:50
Alignbars   = justify
DateFormat  = dd/mm/yyyy
Period      = from:01/01/1971 till:01/01/1988
TimeAxis    = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Legend      = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4
ScaleMajor  = increment:2 start:1971
ScaleMinor  = increment:1 start:1971

Colors =
  id:voc  value:red       legend:Vocals
  id:ww   value:tan2      legend:Wind_instruments_and_saxophone 
  id:br   value:magenta   legend:Brass_and_winds
  id:viol value:drabgreen legend:Violin
  id:c    value:darkblue  legend:Cello
  id:g    value:green     legend:Guitars
  id:key  value:purple    legend:Keyboards
  id:b    value:blue      legend:Bass
  id:dr   value:orange    legend:Drums
  id:p    value:claret    legend:Percussion
  id:alb  value:black     legend:Studio_releases

LineData =
  at:14/08/1971 layer:back
  at:01/03/1973
  at:01/07/1974
  at:01/02/1975
  at:01/01/1976
  at:01/07/1984
  at:01/01/1987

PlotData =
  width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,–4)
  bar:John&nbsp;McLaughlin            from:start      till:01/07/1976 color:g
  bar:John&nbsp;McLaughlin            from:01/12/1974 till:01/07/1976 color:voc width:3
  bar:John&nbsp;McLaughlin            from:01/04/1984 till:end        color:g
  bar:John&nbsp;McLaughlin            from:01/04/1984 till:30/06/1984 color:key width:3
  bar:Jerry&nbsp;Goodman              from:start      till:01/01/1974 color:viol
  bar:Jean-Luc&nbsp;Ponty             from:01/01/1974 till:01/12/1975 color:viol
  bar:Jean-Luc&nbsp;Ponty             from:01/12/1974 till:01/12/1975 color:voc width:3
  bar:Carol&nbsp;Shive                from:01/12/1974 till:01/12/1975 color:viol width:7
  bar:Carol&nbsp;Shive                from:01/12/1974 till:01/12/1975 color:voc width:3
  bar:Steve&nbsp;Kindler              from:01/12/1974 till:01/12/1975 color:viol width:3
  bar:Philip&nbsp;Hirschi             from:01/12/1974 till:01/12/1975 color:c   width:3
  bar:Russell&nbsp;Tubbs              from:01/12/1974 till:01/12/1975 color:ww  width:3
  bar:Hari&nbsp;Chaurasia             from:01/04/1984 till:30/06/1984 color:ww  width:3
  bar:Bill&nbsp;Evans                 from:01/04/1984 till:end        color:ww
  bar:Bill&nbsp;Evans                 from:01/01/1986 till:end        color:key width:3
  bar:Bob&nbsp;Knapp                  from:01/12/1974 till:01/12/1975 color:br  width:7
  bar:Bob&nbsp;Knapp                  from:01/12/1974 till:01/12/1975 color:voc width:3
  bar:Jan&nbsp;Hammer                 from:start      till:01/01/1974 color:key
  bar:Gayle&nbsp;Moran                from:01/01/1974 till:01/12/1975 color:key
  bar:Gayle&nbsp;Moran                from:01/01/1974 till:01/12/1975 color:voc width:3
  bar:Stu&nbsp;Goldberg               from:01/12/1975 till:01/07/1976 color:key
  bar:Stu&nbsp;Goldberg               from:01/12/1975 till:01/07/1976 color:voc width:3
  bar:Katia&nbsp;Labeque              from:01/04/1984 till:30/06/1984 color:key width:3
  bar:Mitchel&nbsp;Forman             from:01/04/1984 till:01/05/1987 color:key
  bar:Jim&nbsp;Beard                  from:01/05/1987 till:end        color:key
  bar:Rick&nbsp;Laird                 from:start      till:01/01/1974 color:b
  bar:Ralphe&nbsp;Armstrong           from:01/01/1974 till:01/07/1976 color:b
  bar:Ralphe&nbsp;Armstrong           from:01/12/1975 till:01/07/1976 color:voc width:3
  bar:Jonas&nbsp;Hellborg             from:01/04/1984 till:end        color:b
  bar:Billy&nbsp;Cobham               from:start      till:01/01/1974 color:dr
  bar:Billy&nbsp;Cobham               from:start      till:01/01/1974 color:p   width:3
  bar:Billy&nbsp;Cobham               from:01/04/1984 till:01/01/1985 color:dr
  bar:Billy&nbsp;Cobham               from:01/04/1984 till:01/01/1985 color:p width:3
  bar:Narada&nbsp;Michael&nbsp;Walden from:01/01/1974 till:01/07/1976 color:dr
  bar:Narada&nbsp;Michael&nbsp;Walden from:01/01/1974 till:01/07/1976 color:key width:7
  bar:Narada&nbsp;Michael&nbsp;Walden from:01/01/1974 till:01/07/1976 color:voc width:3
  bar:Danny&nbsp;Gottlieb             from:01/04/1984 till:31/12/1984 color:p   width:3
  bar:Danny&nbsp;Gottlieb             from:01/01/1985 till:end        color:dr
  bar:Danny&nbsp;Gottlieb             from:01/01/1985 till:end        color:p   width:3 
  bar:Zakir&nbsp;Hussain              from:01/04/1984 till:30/06/1984 color:p   width:3

}}
{| class="wikitable"
!Period
!Line-up
|-
! style="background:#e7ebee;"| 1971–1973
|
* '''[[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]]''' – guitar
* '''[[Jan Hammer]]''' – keyboards
* '''[[Jerry Goodman]]''' – violin
* '''[[Rick Laird]]''' – bass guitar
* '''[[Billy Cobham]]''' – drums
|-
! style="background:#e7ebee;"| 1974–1975
|
* '''John McLaughlin''' – guitar
* '''[[Gayle Moran]]''' – keyboards, vocals
* '''[[Jean-Luc Ponty]]''' – violin
* '''Ralphe Armstrong''' – bass guitar
* '''[[Narada Michael Walden]]''' – drums, vocals
|-
! style="background:#e7ebee;"| 1976
|
* '''John McLaughlin''' – guitar, vocals
* '''[[Stu Goldberg]]''' – keyboards, vocals
* '''Ralphe Armstrong''' – bass guitar, vocals
* '''Narada Michael Walden''' – drums, vocals
|-
! style="background:#e7ebee;"| 1976–1984
| '''Disbanded'''
|-
! style="background:#e7ebee;"| 1984
|
* '''John McLaughlin''' – guitar
* '''[[Mitchel Forman]]''' – keyboards
* '''[[Bill Evans (saxophonist)|Bill Evans]]''' – saxophone
* '''[[Jonas Hellborg]]''' – bass guitar
* '''Billy Cobham''' – drums
|-
! style="background:#e7ebee;"| 1985–1986
|
* '''John McLaughlin''' – guitar
* '''Mitchel Forman''' – keyboards
* '''Bill Evans''' – saxophone, keyboards
* '''Jonas Hellborg''' – bass guitar
* '''[[Danny Gottlieb]]''' – drums
|-
! style="background:#e7ebee;"| 1987
|
* '''John McLaughlin''' – guitar
* '''[[Jim Beard]]''' – keyboards
* '''Bill Evans''' – saxophone, keyboards
* '''Jonas Hellborg''' – bass guitar
* '''Danny Gottlieb''' – drums
|}

==Discography==

===Studio albums===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album details
! scope="col" colspan="6" | Peak chart positions 
! rowspan="2" |Certifications
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |US<br/><ref name="us">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-mclaughlin-mn0000223701/awards|title=John McLaughlin – Awards|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=10 June 2016}}</ref> 
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |US Jazz<br/><ref name="us"/> 
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |[[Kent Music Report|AUS]]<ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=188}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |GER<br/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.de/suche.asp?search=mahavishnu&x=0&y=0&country=de|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140920142102/http://www.officialcharts.de/suche.asp?search=mahavishnu&x=0&y=0&country=de|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 20, 2014|title=Home - Offizielle Deutsche Charts|website=Officialcharts.de|access-date=10 June 2016}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |NOR<br/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://norwegiancharts.com/search.asp?search=mahavishnu&cat=a|title=norwegiancharts.com – Norwegian charts portal|first=Steffen|last=Hung|website=Norwegiancharts.com|access-date=10 June 2016}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |UK<br/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/carlos%20santana%20&%20mahavishnu%20john%20mclaughlin/|title=Official Charts Company|website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=10 June 2016}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |''[[The Inner Mounting Flame]]''
|
* Released: November 3, 1971<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/music/player/albums/B007KTBH6K|title=The Inner Mounting Flame|publisher=[[Amazon Music]]|access-date=December 13, 2023}}</ref>
* Label: C.B.S., Columbia
* Formats: CD, LP, digital download
|| 89 || 11 || — || — || — || — 
|
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Birds of Fire]]''
|
* Released: January 19, 1973
* Label: C.B.S., Columbia 
* Formats: CD, [[Cassette tape|CS]], LP, [[Quadraphonic sound#Quadraphonic 8-track tape (Quad-8 and Q8)|Q8]], digital download
|| 15 || — || 38 || 29 || 18 || 20
|
* US: Gold<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gold & Platinum|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/|access-date=2020-08-03|website=RIAA|language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Apocalypse (Mahavishnu Orchestra album)|Apocalypse]]''<br/>with [[London Symphony Orchestra]]
|
* Released: March, 1974<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/apocalypse-mw0000204267|title=Apocalypse – Mahavishnu Orchestra – Songs, Reviews, Credits|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=10 June 2016}}</ref>
* Label: C.B.S., Columbia
* Formats: CD, LP, Q8, digital download
|| 43 || 10 || 82 || — || — || — 
|
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Visions of the Emerald Beyond]]''
|
* Released: February, 1975<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/visions-of-the-emerald-beyond-mw0000691521|title=Visions of the Emerald Beyond – Mahavishnu Orchestra – Songs, Reviews, Credits|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=10 June 2016}}</ref>
* Label: C.B.S., Columbia 
* Formats: CD, CS, LP, Q8, digital download
|| 68 || 18 || 74 || — || — || — 
|
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Inner Worlds]]''
|
* Released: January, 1976<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/inner-worlds-mw0000116252|title=Inner Worlds – Mahavishnu Orchestra – Songs, Reviews, Credits|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=10 June 2016}}</ref>
* Label: C.B.S., Columbia 
* Formats: CD, CS, LP, Q8, digital download
|| 118 || 24 || — || — || —  || —
|
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Mahavishnu (album)|Mahavishnu]]''
|
* Released: October 8, 1984<ref>{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/6qe8KZlC3g2aP01qzA5Dnp|title=Mahavishnu|publisher=[[Warner Records Inc.]]|access-date=December 13, 2023}}</ref>
* Label: WEA Musik, Warner Bros.  
* Formats: CD, CS, LP  
|| — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Adventures in Radioland]]''
|
* Released: 1987
* Label: Relativity, PolyGram 
* Formats: CD, LP, digital download
|| — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" |''[[The Lost Trident Sessions]]''
|
* Released: September 21, 1999<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-lost-trident-sessions-mw0000249818|title=The Lost Trident Sessions – Mahavishnu Orchestra – Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=10 June 2016}}</ref>
* Label: Sony
* Formats: CD, HDCD, digital download
|| — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
| colspan="11" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
|}

=== Live albums ===

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album details
! scope="col" colspan="6" | Peak chart positions 
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |US<br/><ref name="us"/> 
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |[[Kent Music Report|AUS]]<ref name=aus/>
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Between Nothingness & Eternity]]''
|
* Released: November, 1973<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/between-nothingness-eternity-mw0000188331|title=Between Nothingness & Eternity – Mahavishnu Orchestra – Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=10 June 2016}}</ref>
* Label: C.B.S., Columbia
* Formats: CD, LP, Q8, digital download
|| 41 || 42
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Unreleased Tracks from Between Nothingness & Eternity]]''
|
* Released: 2011
* Label: C.B.S., Columbia
* Formats: CD, digital download
|| — || —
|}

===Compilations===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album details
! scope="col"| Peak chart positions 
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |US<br/><ref name="us"/> 
|-
! scope="row" |''The Best of Mahavishnu Orchestra''
|
* Released: 1980
* Label: Columbia, CBS
* Formats: LP, CS, CD
|| 
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Mahavishnu Orchestra: The Complete Columbia Albums Collection|The Complete Columbia Albums Collection]]''
|
* Released: 2011
* Label: Columbia, Sony
* Formats: CD
|| 
|-
! scope="row" |''The Essential Mahavishnu Orchestra with John McLaughlin''
|
* Released: 2013
* Label: Columbia, Sony
* Formats: Digital download, streaming
||
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|32em}}

==Sources==
* Kolosky, Walter (2006). ''Power, Passion and Beauty: The Story of the Legendary Mahavishnu Orchestra''

==External links==
*[http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=22802 Power, Passion and Beauty, The Story Of The Legendary Mahavishnu-Orchestra]
*[http://www.johnmclaughlin.com/ John McLaughlin Official Website]
*[http://www.janhammer.com/ Official Jan Hammer website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041119075833/http://www.synthtopia.com/interviews/Jan_Hammer_Interview.html Mahavishnu Orchestra, Miami Vice and More] – Jan Hammer interview
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090112150604/http://crawdaddy.wolfgangsvault.com/Article.aspx?id=3042 "Acceptible [sic&#93; Fusion: the Mahavishnu Orchestra, 1973"], by Dinky Dawson, ''[[Crawdaddy!]]'', September 19, 2007.  Archive of dead link.
*[https://archive.today/20121208221016/http://www.italway.it/morrone/jml-crawdaddy.htm "Two Sides to Every Satori"], a John McLaughlin interview, ''[[Crawdaddy!]]'', November 1973.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100606034709/http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=57204 John McLaughlin video interview at allaboutjazz.com]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20111106112333/http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=73853 Jean-Luc Ponty interview at Allaboutjazz.com]

{{Mahavishnu Orchestra}}
{{John McLaughlin}}
{{Billy Cobham}}
{{Jan Hammer}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Jazz ensembles from New York City]]
[[Category:American jazz fusion ensembles]]
[[Category:Mahavishnu Orchestra members]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1971]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1976]]
[[Category:Musical groups reestablished in 1984]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1987]]
[[Category:1971 establishments in New York City]]
[[Category:1976 disestablishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:1984 establishments in New York City]]
[[Category:1987 disestablishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Columbia Records artists]]
[[Category:Musical quintets from New York (state)]]