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John
MclaughlinA
household name since the early '70s, John McLaughlin was an innovative fusion
guitarist when he led the Mahavishnu Orchestra and continued living up to his
reputation as a phenomenal and consistently inquisitive player through the years.
He started on guitar when he was 11 and was initially inspired by blues and swing
players. McLaughlin worked with Alexis Korner, Graham Bond, Ginger Baker, and
others in the 1960s and played free jazz with Gunter Hampel for six months. His
first album was a classic (1969's Extrapolation) and was followed by an obscurity
for the Dawns label with John Surman, a quintet set with Larry Young (Devotion),
and My Goals Beyond in 1970 which was half acoustic solos and half jams involving
Indian musicians.
In 1969, McLaughlin moved to New York to play with
Tony Williams' Lifetime and he appeared on two classic Miles Davis records: In
a Silent Way and Bitches Brew. In 1971, McLaughlin formed the Mahavishnu Orchestra,
a very powerful group often thought of as rock but having the sophisticated improvisations
of jazz. After three influential albums (The Inner Mounting Flame, Birds of Fire,
and Between Nothingness and Eternity), the group disbanded in 1973. McLaughlin,
who recorded a powerful spiritual album with Carlos Santana that was influenced
by John Coltrane, put together a new Mahavishnu Orchestra in 1974 that, despite
the inclusion of Jean-Luc Ponty, failed to catch on and broke up by 1975. McLaughlin
then surprised the music world by radically shifting directions, switching to
acoustic guitar and playing Indian music with his group Shakti. They made a strong
impact on the world music scene (which was in its infancy) during their three
years. McLaughlin then went back and forth between electric and acoustic guitars;
leading the One Truth Band; playing in trios with Al DiMeola and Paco De Lucia;
popping up on some mid-'80s Miles Davis records; forming a short-lived third version
of the Mahavishnu Orchestra (with saxophonist Bill Evans); recording an introspective
tribute to pianist Bill Evans; and, in 1993, touring with a rollicking jazz trio
featuring Joey DeFrancesco and drummer Dennis Chambers. Throughout his productive
career John McLaughlin has recorded as a leader for Marmalade, Dawns, Douglas
International, Columbia, Warner Bros., and Verve.
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John
McLaughlin Montreux Concerts [BOX SET] [LIVE] [IMPORT]
This monumental
compilation features all the artist's concerts at the Montreaux Jazz Festival
spanning the years 1974 through 1999. Featuring Shakti in July 1976 & 1977
(three discs), John McLaughlin & The One Truth Band in July 1978, John McLaughlin
& Chick Corea in July 1981, Mahavishnu Orchestra in July 1984 (two discs),
John McLaughlin & Paco DeLucia in July 1987 (two discs), John McLaughlin &
The Free Spirits in July 1993 & 1995 (three discs), John McLaughlin &
The Heart Of Things in July 1998, & John McLaughlin & Remember Shakti
in July 1999. The last disc is a bonus CD containing two tracks one featuring
McLaughlin performing with Santana in July 1993 'Canto de Xango' & another
with McLaughlin & Paco DeLucia in July 1996 'Frevo'. 17 CDs packaged in two
CD books. Includes 50-page hard cover book with liner notes & many b&w
photos. Warner Jazz. 2003. |
"Play
What You Hear" author Chris Standring has a brand new album out on Ultimate
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with Blue Bolero, but it's one his fans will certainly embrace as they follow
Standring's ever-evolving career. - Brian Soergel, Jazz Times Listen
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