Home » Jazz Articles » Play This! » John McLaughlin with the One Truth Band: Guardian Angels

John McLaughlin with the One Truth Band: Guardian Angels

By Scott Lichtman
February 28, 2024
Sign in to view read count

John McLaughlin's "Guardian Angels" must be on the ultra-short list of "most iconic jazz/fusion songs clocking in under 1 minute." The song takes us back to the time when experimental fusion artists were exploring jazz/rock, classical and world music. "Guardian Angels" is a nugget of shape-shifting guitar arpeggios and time signatures, unified by L. Shankar's entrancing violin melody. It's so catchy that once you hear it, you're likely to remember it for decades—like this reviewer has. Fifty-one seconds is all it takes. For further context, check out the All About Jazz Electric Dreams album review or the faster, extended video version on YouTube by McLaughlin, Paco de Lucia and Larry Coryell.

Contact Scott Lichtman on All About Jazz.
Jazz/fusion keyboardist & autograph collector in Stamford CT.

Contribute to Play This! Recommend a favorite song, album, or performance and we'll share it with your fellow All About Jazz readers. Submit it here.

< Previous
Big Band Stories

Next >
Novoa / Gress / Gray Trio, Vol. 1

Comments

About John McLaughlin

Instrument: Guitar

Tags

For the Love of Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help

To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.