Tony Williams Lifetime - Dance of Maya+ (live 1970)

The Dance of Maya was featured on the Mahavishnu Orchestra's first album. Here's an earlier version by Lifetime (with vocals) - John McLaughlin, Tony Williams, Jack Bruce and Larry Young.

The familiar riff starts 6.5 minutes in, but what leads up to there is also quite wonderful. That is, if you enjoy Lifetime's unique blend of psychedelia, fusion and prog. At various times, they sound like the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return To Forever, early Yes, Emerson Lake and Palmer and a bad acid trip.

This is a live recording from the City Hall, Newcastle (UK) on 11 June 1970. Look for it at jazzfusion.tv. Find (or ask for) more of my work at: http://www.myspace.com/starrex

Category:

Music

Tags:

• John
• McLaughlin
• Tony
• Williams
• Dance
• Maya
• Mahavishnu
• Orchestra

[avs002]

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Jimmy Page praises JML in my latest video: "Jimmy Page 1972 audio: Evolution of Modern Guitar"!

[avs002]

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hi, everybody!

There's now plenty of background info about this piece - thanks to great comments from eveyone, including the original taper.

And click the "avs002" link/s to see what's currently going on around here, video-wise.

[jsilence418]

Just got the LIFETIME' Emergency' album, this is most welcome. thank you.

[avs002]

Don't forget "(turn it over)", too!

To Whom It May Conern... play VERY loud!

[geoffnicholson999]

Yes indeed - I saw LIfetime at the Sheffield City Hall at pretty much this time - and my reaction was "What the f*** is that noise?" - That's been the standard by which I've judged great music ever since

[guilbert53]

I went to see Lifetime in 1970 with this line up (Shaftsbury Theatre London ?), mainly because I was a fan of Cream and wanted to see Jack Bruce.

Tony Williams had the smallest drum kit I had ever seen (I was used to rock band kits).

But he was STAGGERING.

He used every bit of the kit and has hand and wrist movement were amazing.

He really blew me away with how good he was, shame he died so young.

[GaryALucas]

Gee, do I hear a riff from The Byrd's 'Eight Miles High' here? Maybe. Roger McGuinn said that tune was inspired by a John Coltrane melody.

[GaryALucas]

@GaryALucas I remember Robert Fripp interviewing John McLaughlin in Musician magazine 80ish, I forget exactly when. Fripp said he avoided listening to Mahavishnu as much as possible as he didn't want to be too influenced by it. But Bruford was influenced by Billy Cobham to an extent so he couldn't really avoid it. It was just like Hendrix a few years before, it really influenced everybody.

[GaryALucas]

@avs002 Personally, I picked up a distinct Mahavishnu influence in 'Houses of the Holy'. Led Zeppelin were already pretty tight, but they picked it top a notch there. Plus Page using the double neck guitar.

[mloaks]

@soctrang

there is, and He gave us MUSIC!!!

[Merstheman]

They are playing "Smiles and Grins" here, too

[Deaconblue2u]

I never saw Life Time live but did see the soon to come Mahavishnu Orchestra live many times. There first two albums changed my ears and way I played the guitar forever, I have marveled at them, no other ban eclipsed them. I was amazed to see that Dance of Maya probably my favorite MO song had its birth with Life Time and has lyrics and Jack Bruce who is major talent and yet all you ever hear about is, Clapton, who sorry plays the same old sh-t licks, he needs to listen to JML to get some chops!

[Deaconblue2u]

I think you have it all wrong, JML was serious musician dropping acid before playing a show would be like suicide it just don't go that way, believe me I know. Life Time was JML's cutting of his teeth for the The Mahavishnu Orchestra just as playing with Miles was his paying his dues, Miles was mercilous to play with moody, Tony Williams was like the ghost of Cobham to come, funny how talented Jack Bruce is and yet all you hear about is Clapton. Wow I did not know Dance of Maya lived before MO

[jlmpeace27]

cant wait to see the tony williams tribute band...rip tony

[soctrang]

I was 19 or so when I encountered Tony Williams lifetime. A friend of mine had a brother that was an JML addict and a great guitarrist. He had the records Vol1 and Vol 2 with Tony Williams Lifetime. After that I looked for the records on all continents for two decades (no kidding) and finally I found them by coincidence in Stockholm at a local used record dealer. Both albums stood exposed in the beginning of the trays in the jazz section. There must be a good out there ;-)

[soctrang]

Yes JML was on Acid and it sounds like Devotion as one comment says. I was 19 or so when I first heard Tony Williams Lifetime and this was Vol1 and Vol1 albums. I looked for thoose albums in in used records shops all over the world for 20 years (no kidding) and finally I got hold on them locally by coincidence in Stockholm where I live. I haven't been able to digitalize them yet but will do it eventually.