Any modern band that comes close to Mahavishnu Orchestra ?


Nothing that I can find.
inna
Another great fusion band from the 70*s/80*s nobody has mentioned was Pierre Moerlen*s Gong. Great stinging guitar solos by Allan Holdsworth mixed with jazzy sax and xylophone riffs backed by Moerlens fluid drumming.  Best albums:   Shamal, Expresso ( aka known as Gazeuse ),  Time is the Key and Downwind.  Have them all on lp don*t know if cd copy is available. Someone else mentioned Brand X WITH Phil Collins which I also endorse . Sounds similar to Return to Forever with Dimeola. Also recommend the original and later version of Tony Williams Lifetime.  The later version featured Allan Holdsworth and Williams powerhouse drumming.
I did not know that Brand-X is modern band as well as Return to Forever.
I've always thought that they're 'siblings' to Mahavishnu, but definitely not 'children' with exception that there was a tour called 'Return of Return to Forever.

Inna, Oz can kick in the afterburners when needed.  Most of the time it's not needed.  There are many virtuosic guitar players, some mentioned here, with incredible technical facility but whose music leaves me totally unsatisfied.  I've seen Oz about 5 times in a trio setting.  I've seen Al D. with Return to Forever and with Paco and John.  I was very impressed with Al's handling of the guitar, but I'll take Oz any day.  I've never thought it was all about the speed but rather the composition, arranging and where applicable, improvisation.  There are no absolutes in these things,  it's largely subjective.  DIfferent strokes.
When I say " in slow motion " I don't only mean speed per se, it is the mastery of the technique.
Any sound or noise can have subjective meaning to someone, we are not talking about that.


I think Oz has all the technique he needs to do what he does.  McLaughlin has long been my fave electric guy but as far as the last 20 years go I like Oz.  I appreciate the musicanship of all those other cats but his music reaches me and theirs does not.   Same with George Harrison--hardly virtuosic but IMO he always did the right thing in the allotted space.  I realize other people have their favorites and may not care for mine.  I've been around the diMeola faction at a concert of "the trio" and I've seen people who thought Eric Johnson put on a clinic jamming with Oz Noy.  They could not believe that I or anyone else could have found Oz more musically satisfying than Eric.