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John McLaughlin with The One Truth Band: Electric Dreams
ByMcLaughlin recorded Electric Dreams with the One Truth Band, which also included L. Shankar on violin, Tony Smith on drums, Stu Goldberg on keyboards, Fernando Saunders on bass, and Alyrio Lima handling various percussion duties. The OTB was a much more rhythmic unit than JM's previous bands, and although its members may not have been the "master" musicians like those who comprised The Mahavishnu Orchestra, they certainly knew how to "funk a groove." Electric Dreams is full of such grooves and infectious tunes. Sure, we could have lived without the God-awful "Love and Understanding." But Electric Dreams offers the beautiful "Electric Dreams, Electric Sighs," featuring JM on banjo! The classic "Dark Prince" is a brooding, straight-ahead jazz-fusion homage to Miles that overshadows the album's other Miles tribute piece, "Miles Davis."
On this recording, McLaughlin used a guitar that had a scalloped fret board. The concave spaces allowed McLaughlin to stretch notes beyond believability. A main component of the band's sound, Shankar's far-eastern violin, does seem ill placed at times, and Goldberg's synth patches are outdated in some areas as well. But, these issues actually endow the album with a bit of charm. The veterans Smith and Saunders make for a very steady rhythm section. Lima is more effective in concert than on this recording. Saxophonist David Sanborn, a guest star on several McLaughlin albums, makes a more than welcome guest appearance on the haunting "Unknown Dissident."
The mix wasn't always successful. But on the whole, Electric Dreams offers some of the best composing and playing of McLaughlin's career and has been unfairly overlooked.
Track Listing
Guardian Angels; Miles Davis: Electric Dreams, Electric Sighs; Desire and the Comforter; Love and Understanding; Singing Earth; The Dark Prince; The Unknown Dissident.
Personnel
Album information
Title: Electric Dreams | Year Released: 2002 | Record Label: Columbia Records
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