The McLaughlin Report
Jazz-rock guitar icon John McLaughlin recently completed his first North American tour (at least with an electric band) in nearly a decade. And John Kelman, along for much of the ride with McLaughlin's quartet 4th Dimension (pushing the envelope here), has published a remarkably detailed seven-part account of the trip for All About Jazz. It includes extensive interviews with McLaughlin, snapshots (both literal and journalistic) from the tour, and more about what a road manager does than you probably need to know. McLaughlin released such excellent albums as Extrapolation in England before relocating to America to work with drummer Tony Williams and Miles Davis, whom he joined for In a Silent Way, Bitches Brew, On the Corner, Big Fun, and A Tribute to Jack Johnson. After becoming a follower of Indian spiritual guru Sri Chinmoy, McLaughlin formed the very loud and fast original version of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, which existed in three different incarnations between 1971 and 1987.
Asked for his take on the current jazz scene, McLaughlin told Kelman,
"Over the last 15 years I've been somewhat disenchanted with what's coming out of the jazz world. I know we don't like to make comparisons, but nevertheless I have to, the comparisons are there all the time. When I think of the '60s, I think of the fabulous innovations that came out—those shining, brilliant minds and hearts and souls coming out and expressing themselves in music. If you ask me, pure jazz was crystallized with [Miles Davis's] Kind of Blue."
McLaughlin leads the second and third versions of the Mahavishnu Orchestra in the two radically different concerts of impure jazz captured on the double-disc DVD album Mahavishnu Orchestra: Live at Montreux 1984/1974. The earlier performance features McLaughlin at the height of his devotional phase, dressed in white and wielding his double-necked instrument like a fiery scepter. The 1984 show produces fewer decibels and has influences ranging from Brazilian and Indian styles to flamenco, electronics, and Stevie Wonder's funk-rock. It's smooth yet dynamic.
Comments
Joe Skunca says:
Hey Richard
When I started to explore jazz in my teens I started with Mclaughlin My Goals Beyond, Extrapolation all the Mahavishnu Orchestra,Devotion,Bitches Brew, and then Shakti (which is to me one of the finest examples of ensemble playing recorded) and I have been a Mclaughlin fanatic ever since- Very few duds in his ouevre-
Now- Zakir Hussain- with whom I saw Mr. Mclaughlin at Central Park for Remember Shakti-few years ago- The greatest Living tabla player that I know of- you may know better or equal ones- I just saw with Mickey Hart, Giovanni Hidalgo and Sikiru Adepoju at Highline Ballroom on 10/17- What a wonderful show! The greatest drummers in the world-
It made me quite upset and i guess its ridiculous because de gustibus non es disputatam- but Time Out New York-whose music writers I tend to respect described this music as "weak". To me this is not just a question of taste but simply not knowing what the hell you are talking about. If you know those guys they need to be um,corrected.
Anyway, check this out if you haven't seen it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhDFhuiewVw
Thanks for all the great writing- BTW I LOVE the Alison Kraus/Robert Plant/T-Bone Burnett CD - its great
Joe Skunca
10/23/07 10:41 PM