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| Value for Money | 3/10  |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | 5.5/10 |
By jfderry
on 25th Jun 2007
| Other Artists Listened To | Not supplied |
|---|---|
| Value for money | 2/10 |
| Overall value | 1/10 |
 jfderry's recommendation | |
radio.string.quartet, Celebrating The Mahavishnu Orchestra
1. Open Country Joy - 03:54
2. A Lotus on Irish Stream - 06:15
3. Vital Transformation - 04:51
4. The Dance of Maya - 06:31
5. Dawn - 04:59
6. Dream - 05:03
7. Thousand Island Park - 03:01
8. Meeting of the Spirits - 05:29
9. Celestial Terrestrial Commuters - 04:56
10. Hope - 01:44
11. Birds of Fire - 04:56
12. You know, you know - 05:09
13. Sanctuary - 06:47
14. Resolution - 02:31
Bernie Mallinger - violin
Johannes Dickbauer - violin
Cynthia Liao - viola
Asja Valcic - cello
"When I was first given the demo CD of the recordings of the compositions I wrote for the "Mahavishnu Orchestra" performed by the radio.string.quartet.vienna, I imagined something of dubious quality. Remember, these compositions were written for an electric jazz-fusion group 34 - 35 years ago, and while the 2nd version of Mahavishnu Orchestra had a string quartet within the group, the drums, bass and electric guitar were always there and very present. From the first note I was struck by the way this group had 'appropriated' my music and made it their very own. They even got the atmosphere which was present all those years ago. The other aspect that touched me deeply was the importance they attach to improvisation, and they do improvise! The quartet is also not without humour: just listen to that version of "Celestial Terrestrial Commuters"... This is no ordinary string quartet. The love of, and the dedication they have to their respective instruments is marvelous, and the fact that they have taken what was electric jazz-fusion music, fused it with their training in 'classical' music, and conserved the 'electric' atmosphere is outstanding. Throughout the listening of this recording, the radio.string.quartet.vienna brought me back to the wonderful days of the Mahavishnu Orchestras with true enjoyment. Thank you!" - John McLaughlin
I disagree: limp, lacklustre string quartet renditions of Mahavishnu classics that add nothing new to the already swollen basket of Mahavishnu cover albums, (e.g., "The Mahavishnu Project Live Bootleg" - The Mahavishnu Project, "Play John Mclaughlin and Astor Piazzolla" - Pascal Bournet & Enrique Alberti, "Wild Strings Quartet" - Wild Strings Quartet, "ConFusion - The Recordings" - ConFusion, "The John McLaughlin Suites" - Groningen Guitar Duo), any one of which matches and many supercede (e.g., "A Meeting Of Spirits: Interpretations of the Music of John McLaughlin" - Gary Husband, "Meeting of the Spirits [A Celebration of the music of the Mahavishnu Orchestra]" - Billy Cobham/Colin Towns/HR Big Band) the uninspired rote playing here that at best reaches a tepid frenzy akin to a hoedown. Not much worth celebrating.
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