Ralphe Armstrong (Jean Luc-Ponty, Mahavishnu Orchestra)

By Thomas Semioli 

 

Detroit keeps producing more great musicians than any other place on Earth, and that’s a true story… Ralphe Armstrong

 

A student of James Jamerson and Ron Carter, and classically trained at Michigan’s Interlochen Arts Academy, Ralphe Armstrong succeeded Rick Laird in the Mahavishnu Orchestra in 1974 at the age of 16 – a gig that Jaco Pastorious had also auditioned for.

 

An upright player, solo recording artist, and among the early proponents of the fretless, Ralphe went on to work with Herbie Hancock, Jean Luc-Ponty, Santana, Aretha Franklin, Lenny White, Earl Klugh, Narada Michael Walden, Eddie Harris and as a studio cat on sessions produced by George Martin, among others. Armstrong’s weapons of choice in this era was the Gibson Ripper, G-3, RD Artist, and Victory.

 

After a brief break from the biz to raise a family, Ralphe was back on the bandstand and recording studio with Sting, Roger Daltrey, and Eminem’s ensemble D-12. In addition to gigs and sessions, Ralphe is currently an educator at the Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio.

 

Ralphe Armstrong Sound & Vision…

 

Mahvishnu Orchestra “Smile of the Beyond” https://youtu.be/IjM-UQ0zVUU

 

Jean-Luc “Egocentric Molecules” https://youtu.be/bFQyqJNwFI8

 

Lenny White https://youtu.be/CxPe0ucLjro  

 

Aretha “Wonderful” https://youtu.be/S9X3IAYzh48

 

KYBP Adjunct Professor Tony Senatore’s rendition of “Mirage” replete with a comedic preamble, as played on Ralphe’s fretless bass: https://youtu.be/uFR32Zx6MDQ

 

Jonas Hellborg (Mahavishnu Orchestra)

Courtesy of Jonas Hellborg Com

An instrument designer, prolific recording artist, studio and label owner, collaborator, producer, composer, and bass guitarist – Jonas Hellborg has been at the forefront of the jazz fusion / world fusion movements since the 1980s.

 

A dexterous player who draws from Western, Indian, classical, jazz, rock and permutations thereof, among Jonas’ high-profile gigs have been with the Mahavishnu Orchestra, The Word with Tony Williams, PiL, Ginger Baker, and Michael Shrieve among many others.  Since 1979 Jonas has waxed nearly thirty albums as a bandleader! 

 

Jonas Hellborg Sound & Vision

 

John McLaugnlin and Billy Cobham https://youtu.be/Kr0OO3oEPkE

 

Jonas Hellborg Band live 1988 https://youtu.be/CfeVVt4ojOE

 

Shawn Lane and The Vinayakrams https://youtu.be/eOofD4F2K-g

 

 

Rick Laird (Mahavishnu Orchestra)

 

He anchored the first and most influential of many incarnations of John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra.

 

However before Rick Laird assumed rock star status on electric bass with the classic lineup of McLaughlin, Billy Cobham, Jan Hammer, and Jerry Goodman – he was an upright player who served as the house bassist at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London in the early 1960s. Rick backed many of most revered artists of the era, including Sonny Stitt, Buddy Rich, Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz, Chick Corea, and Wes Montgomery to cite a few. Rick’s credits as a sideman also include Eric Koss, Yusef Lateef, and Richie Cole.

 

A student at Berklee College of Music in Boston, the Dublin-born Laird’s fluid lines, warm tone, and tuneful solo break on “One Word” from the classic Birds of Fire (1973) album exemplified fusion at its finest – melding rock and jazz into a coherent, mind expanding listening experience – as opposed to a serving as a showy platform to display instrumental dexterity.

 

Among Rick’s voltage enhanced weapons of choice were the Fender Jazz, S.D. Curlee, and Dan Armstrong. Aside from his accomplishments as a musician, Rick forged a successful career as a photographer.

 

Rick Laird Sound & Vision….

 

“One Word” https://youtu.be/GWT6xt6QMpQ

 

“Now You Know” https://youtu.be/FQHNabnyyuM

 

Rick on BBC TV with the Victor Feldman Trio https://youtu.be/LLwvdv5oWVw