B, N & E was released in 1973 and proved to be the swansong of the first edition of The Mahavishnu Orchestra. There is no doubt that despite the greatness of the first two Mahavishnu albums, to see and hear the band live was an experience on an even higher plateau. That being said, this recording does not fully capture that experience. Despite that failing, this album is still a powerhouse of a recording and a fitting testament to the driving force that was the original Mahavishnu Orchestra.

          B, N & E was recorded live in NYC's Central park in 1973. (The stage was set-up in an outdoor hockey rink and tickets for the event cost a whopping two dollars!) The members were not getting along at this time. In fact, the studio version of this album, along with new tunes from Jerry Goodman and Rick Laird, was already in the can. However, it was not released until 2000 as The Lost Trident Sessions. This was apparently due to differences among the members at the time.

          "Dream", a long extended piece, is often cited as one of the all-time Mahavishnu explorations. It may very well be. It is highlighted by extensive unison playing and a guitar-drum duel (collaboration) that very well may be the most exciting ever put on record. Over the course of 25 minutes, "Dream" is lush and ferocious. It is one of those tunes which could be played over and over and you would hear something different each time.

          "Trilogy" emphasizes the interplay of the band. Much of this interplay surrounds Jan Hammer who was featuring his moog synthesizer. This is the weakness of the album. The problem is not contained in Hammer's performance. As usual at that time, he was in top form. But for some reason, the recording does not capture his sound in an entirely pleasing way. This is because either the recording equipment was defective or the sound equipment on stage was. Simply put, there are passages in which Hammer is either calling or responding in which his instrument can barely be heard! This is unfortunate. And in fact, the overall sound quality is not very good. We must remember that the Mahavishnu Orchestra played VERY LOUD and perhaps the technology at the time just couldn't handle it. The other view is that some listeners may enjoy the raw energy which may have "overpowered" the recording equipment. This is especially true of McLaughlin's wailing and distorted guitar which over-modulates from time to time.

          All in all, despite the sound problems, B, N & E is a kick-ass production. It is a must to obtain this album and The Lost Trident Sessions in order to compare the compositions and how they were fleshed-out in concert.



          Walter Kolosky
          smsi@attbi.com


          Walter Kolosky is a businessman and jazz fan who lives in South Natick, MA, USA