Just heard the 'song' 'Awakening' by Mahavishnu Orchestra (from 1971).

Waw, a VERY strong Xpectation vibe in that song (only with a LOT more bite).

I love that album, and I now love the Mahavishnu Orchestra

Mahavishnu were amazing band and yes Prince jazz fusion is very influenced by them.

I enjoy all of Prince's instrumental jazz-inflected work, especially Xpectation, but if he ever did an instrumental jazz-rock album as awesome as the first two Mahavishnu albums, I would be very happy indeed .

Mahavishnu Mk 1 was for me THE jazz-rock band of all time, live and on record, rivalled only by Frank Zappa's early 70s bands when in jazz fusion mode.

For me, I'd say Prince is more influenced by Return to Forever than Mahavishnu in most of his jazz fusion stuff though.

Miles said:

I enjoy all of Prince's instrumental jazz-inflected work, especially Xpectation, but if he ever did an instrumental jazz-rock album as awesome as the first two Mahavishnu albums, I would be very happy indeed .

Mahavishnu Mk 1 was for me THE jazz-rock band of all time, live and on record, rivalled only by Frank Zappa's early 70s bands when in jazz fusion mode.

For me, I'd say Prince is more influenced by Return to Forever than Mahavishnu in most of his jazz fusion stuff though.

Check out the song 'Awakening' --- it's like a blue-print for the Xpectattion album

Mahavishnu Orchestra is a million times better than Prince's noodling on Xpectation IMO. Their albums "The Inner Mounting Flame" and especially "Visions Of The Emerald Beyond" are some of my all time favorite jazzrock albums.

Slightly off topic, but I by far prefer N.E.W.S. to Xpectation personally. I think that was a much better effort and sound overall.

The music on N.E.W.S has a proper 70s / early 80s jazz fusion vibe and the compositions are structured like the stuff from that era. Sure, some of the sounds used on it are a bit "off", as some of the keyboard sounds are too digital-sounding and the reverberation could have been done differently (especially on the drums and the sax). However, he clearly made a more dedicated effort to do proper jazz fusion with it, whereas Xpectation is more about smaller pieces with way too many "night club jazz" licks thrown in the mix.

I personally like the last track on Xpectation the most. I wish there would have been more that kind of stuff on it.

I loved the track he left off Xpectation but that Prince played a great live version of during the ONA tour. Dunno what it was titled exactly, but it was a great and funky jazzrock tune. (edit: it was called Xenophobia).

[Edited 10/18/14 12:31pm]