The Mahavishnu Project has remained as the only ensemble to have the blessing and praise of every original Mahavishnu Orchestra member, including founder, guitarist and composer John McLaughlin.

“...a little note of appreciation for what you are bringing back to life. ....the beginning of finding my own way in music, and to hear you guys playing those tunes ....is quite amazing.” - John McLaughlin

"What is primary to me is that they are all great musicians. Everyone has to be a good improviser. You have to be able to take them to another place. These guys get there." - Jan Hammer

‍‍Featuring:

GREGG BENDIAN: Drums‍

‍Drummer/composer/producer GREGG BENDIAN founded THE MAHAVISHNU PROJECT in 2001, making it the first jazz-rock special repertory ensembles, and the only one to receive the endorsement of guitar wizard Mahavishnu John McLaughlin and all original Mahavishnu members. During Gregg's wide-ranging career he has toured internationally and recorded with Todd Rundgren, Jan Hammer, Keneally-Bendian-Lunn, The Musical Box, John Zorn, Derek Bailey, Nels Cline, Cecil Taylor, Pat Metheny, Ornette Coleman, and Zoot Horn Rollo. Gregg teaches drumming, production, and conceptual composition. In addition to being the producer of The Bottom Line Archive for Grammy-winning Omnivore Recordings, is the chief interviewer at the Yale Oral History of American Music in New Haven CT.‍

NEIL ALEXANDER: Keys‍

‍Master pianist, synthesist, keyboardist and composer Neil “Nail” Alexander remains passionately involved in performance and production across multiple genres - including jazz, rock, funk, blues, electronica, ambient and contemporary classical. In a career spanning more than 4 decades Neil  has made his mark on the regional and international music scenes. In addition to his long running original music project Neil Alexander & NAIL, he has worked with numerous notable artists and toured worldwide with Pink Floyd Tribute “The​ Machine“, where he was a driving force in the group’s sound and subsequent success.

JONGYOON LEE: Guitar

Jongyoon Lee began playing guitar in middle school and quickly developed a passion for music that led to a career as a professional guitarist. After high school, he joined the military as an Army musician and is currently serving with the prestigious West Point Band and for the last two years, as a member of The Mahavishnu Project. Throughout his military service, Jongyoon has also spent time in South Korea, where he recorded and performed with various groups and worked as a studio session guitarist. His notable performances include appearances at the Lincoln Center in New York City and the Seoul Arts Center in South Korea.

BEN RUBIE: Violin

Ben Rubie started playing violin at age 5, studying at Harlem's highly regarded Opus 118 program. At age 11, he joined the classical Inter School Orchestra and attended a Harlem School of the Arts jazz program taught by a Berklee professor Rob Thomas. In middle school, he was given special permission to attend the Calhoun High School jazz camp and played as part of The Jazz Mafia with Roy Ayers at Central Park's Summer Stage

MELISSA STYLINOU: Voice

Jazz vocalist, lyricist, and educator Melissa Stylianou, hailed by piano master Fred Hersch for her “gorgeous instrument, superb musicianship, and great taste,” has garnered acclaim as both a gifted songwriter and a bold, imaginative interpreter of wide-ranging material spanning diverse genres, from the Great American Songbook to Johnny Cash to Joanna Newsom. Stylianou is also one-third of the infectious, Boswell Sisters-inspired close-harmony vocal trio Duchess, which has amassed many mentions in year-end critics’ polls and received the 2021 & 2022 Vocal Group of the Year Award from the Jazz Journalists Association.

BRIAN MOONEY: Bass‍

‍Bassist, composer, solo artist, Mooney, is also the bandleader and founder of Jazz-Rock fusion group Piktor's Metamorphosis. He performs regularly with Neil Alexander and NAIL, Rob Paparozzi, Glenn Alexander's Jan Hammer/Stretch, Bernard 'Pretty' Purdie, Ritchie "LaBamba" Rosenberg and Mark Pender (Conan O'Brien).