PAWLING- The Mahavishnu Project is back in action, this time to perform the entire “Birds of Fire” album, the 1973 classic of jazz-rock fusion music, with new interpretations of the music of Jeff Beck and Jan Hammer in a bonus set of Beck’s “Wired” and “Blow By Blow” material, played in honor of the late/great guitar hero.
The Mahavishnu Project has become well-known for reaching into the jazz-rock repertoire beyond the John McLaughlin-led originals to include songs of Jeff Beck, featuring guitar virtuoso Robbie Mangano (Sean Lennon/Tom Morello), keyboardist Neil Alexander (The Machine/Eric Person) and bassist Brian Mooney, joining drummer and bandleader Gregg Bendian – well-known for his work with Todd Rundgren, Jan Hammer, Pat Metheny, Nels Cline and Ornette Coleman.
The Mahavishnu Project was founded by Bendian in 2001, during a time of far less attention for “classic jazz-rock fusion.” MP has remained to this date the only ensemble to have:
• The blessing, praise, and gratitude of ALL the original MO members, including founder and guitarist/composer John McLaughlin.
• Performed the entire Mahavishnu songbook, incl. tunes never done live by the original band.
• Specifically requested by original Mahavishnu Orchestra keyboardist Jan Hammer, to be his back-up band for his “MoogFest 2006” appearance and DVD release. Jan’s only other appearance during the last three decades was with Jeff Beck at the Hollywood Bowl.
The Mahavishnu Project has recorded three critically-acclaimed live albums, including a stunning double disc interpretation of Return to the Emerald Beyond – McLaughlin’s favorite MO album. Besides that fan favorite, they frequently perform the full “The Inner Mounting Flame” album.
Bendian was tapped by producer Bob Belden as “special musical consultant” for the Sony Legacy box set, The Original MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA: The Complete Columbia Albums Collection. Gregg helped craft the bonus disc of the MO live album, “Between Nothingness and Eternity” and is considered an internationally-respected authority on Mahavishnu music.
The Mahavishnu Project is on the road this fall and will be headlining Progstock 2023 on October 6, 2023, at The Williams Center in Rutherford NJ. They will be joined by virtuoso keyboardist Rachel Flowers who will perform selections from “Birds of Fire,” “Apocalypse,” as well as a set of Jeff Beck tunes and a nod to Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s “Brain Salad Surgery,” also celebrating a 50th Anniversary this year.
The band is on the road through the end of this year. Tour dates at www.mahavishnuproject.com
