John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin, also Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is a jazz fusion guitar player from Doncaster, Yorkshire in England. He came to prominence with the electric group of Miles Davis in the late 1960s, and with other well- known players such as Chick Corea and Tony Williams.
Before moving to the United States, McLaughlin recorded Extrapolation (with Tony Oxley and John Surman) in 1969. The album showcased McLaughlin as a guitarist of great technical virtuosity, power, speed, and inventiveness (such as the ability to play in odd meters).
He moved to the United States in 1969 to join Tony Williams's group Lifetime. He subsequently played with Miles Davis on his landmark albums In A Silent Way, Bitches Brew (which has a track named after him), Big Fun (where he is featured soloist on Go Ahead John) and A Tribute to Jack Johnson. Davis paid tribute to him in the liner notes to Jack Johnson, calling McLaughlin's playing far in. He returned to the Davis band for one recorded night of a week-long club date, which was released as part of the album Live/Evil.
His reputation as a 'first-call' session player grew, resulting in recordings as a side-man with Miroslav Vitous, Larry Coryell, Wayne Shorter, Carla Bley and others.
The Mahavishnu Orchestra, John's 1970s electric band, featured violinist Jerry Goodman (later Jean-Luc Ponty), keyboardist Jan Hammer (later Gayle Moran / Stu Goldberg), bassist Rick Laird (later Ralphe Armstrong), and drummer Billy Cobham (later Narada Michael Walden)
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Radio & Podcasts
Album Review
- The Montreux Years by Ian Patterson
- Where Fortune Smiles by Maurizio Comandini
Radio & Podcasts
- John McLaughlin, Matthew Garrison,Tim Miller and Birelli Lagrene
- John McLaughlin, Beledo, Spherical Agenda and Reza Tajbakhsh. Favourites with...
- Niacin, Mike Stern, Bob Berg, Dave Weckl, Lee Riteniour
- John McLaughlin, Mike Stern, Teymur Phell, Justin Rothberg
Album Review
- Liberation Time by Geno Thackara
Radio & Podcasts
- John McLaughlin, Gary Willis, Tribal Tech, David Binney, Tom Coster
- Jazz-Rock-Fusion, Early Days: 1967-1971
January 04, 2022
Jazz Musician of the Day: John McLaughlin
January 04, 2021
Jazz Musician of the Day: John McLaughlin
January 04, 2020
Jazz Musician of the Day: John McLaughlin
January 04, 2019
Jazz Musician of the Day: John McLaughlin
January 04, 2018
Jazz Musician of the Day: John McLaughlin
September 15, 2017
John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola & Paco De Lucia "Passion Grace & Fire"...
January 04, 2017
Jazz Musician of the Day: John McLaughlin
January 04, 2016
Jazz Musician of the Day: John McLaughlin
November 24, 2015
Music Education Monday: Guitar lessons from John McLaughlin, and more