brandx@ihuxa.UUCP (Howard D. Weisberg) (03/07/84)
A new version of the Mahavishnu Orchestra is formed and will do a world tour starting in June. John McLaughlin : guitar, guitar synthesizer Billy Cobham : Drums Bill Evans : saxophone Katia LaBeque(sic) : keyboards (some unknown European - I forget his name) : bass maybe Bobby McFerrin : vocals It'll be interesting to see what McLaughlin does with electric guitar and synth. He hasn't played el. gtr. in several years and hasn't played gtr. synth since '75 or '76. This should be something new. McLaughlin is not one to repeat the past. His favorite Miles story: reporter to Miles: Why don't you play like you used to play? Miles: How'd I used to play? Material (especially Bill Laswell) are hot. They play everything from funky jazz (One Down) to no wave (Memory Serves, The Golden Palominos). You might even note that they were equal partners (w. Herbie Hancock) in creating Herbie's album "Future Shock". The Laswell-Beinhorn influence (weirdness?) is quite obvious. Herbie's new funk band includes Material contributors Bernard Fowler, Anton Fier and J.T. Lewis. They probably weird out (as well as funk out) in concert. Bill Laswell played bass on Laurie Anderson's new album. Ever since then he and Peter Gabriel have been hanging out together. Material's next album (on OAO/Celluloid Records) will have Peter Gabriel vocals. Also on Celluloid, there will be a Hendrix album with Bill Laswell and Ronald Shannon Jackson overdubbed (on bass and drums). Talk about STEAMING!! If Hendrix had lived longer, he would have definitely played harmolodic music. This will represent what it would have sounded like.