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John McLaughlin

John McLaughlin, also Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is ajazz fusion guitar player from Doncaster, Yorkshire inEngland. He came to prominence with the electric groupof 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, McLaughlinrecorded Extrapolation (with Tony Oxley andJohn Surman) in 1969. The album showcasedMcLaughlin as a guitarist of great technical virtuosity,power, speed, and inventiveness (such as the ability toplay in odd meters).

He moved to the United States in 1969 to join TonyWilliams's group Lifetime. He subsequently played withMiles Davis on his landmark albums In A SilentWay, Bitches Brew (which has a tracknamed after him), Big Fun (where he isfeatured soloist on "Go Ahead John") and A Tributeto Jack Johnson. Davis paid tribute to him in theliner notes to Jack Johnson, callingMcLaughlin's playing "far in." He returned to the Davisband for one recorded night of a week-long club date,which was released as part of the albumLive/Evil.

His reputation as a 'first-call' session player grew,resulting in recordings as a side-man with MiroslavVitous, Larry Coryell, Wayne Shorter, Carla Bley andothers.

The Mahavishnu Orchestra, John's 1970s electric band,featured violinist Jerry Goodman (later Jean-Luc Ponty),keyboardist Jan Hammer (later Gayle Moran / StuGoldberg), bassist Rick Laird (later Ralphe Armstrong),and drummer Billy Cobham (later Narada MichaelWalden). The band were respected for their technicalvirtuosity and complex fusion of eclectic jazz and rockwith hints of Eastern/Indian influence.

After the Mahavishnu Orchestra split, McLaughlin workedwith the far more low-key, acoustic group Shakti. Thisgroup combined Indian music with elements of jazz andthus may be regarded as a pioneer of world music. Johnwas one of the first westerners, if not the first, to attainany acclaim performing Indian music for Indianaudiences.

Along with Carlos Santana, McLaughlin was a follower ofthe guru Sri Chinmoy, and in 1973 they collaborated onan album of devotional songs, Love DevotionSurrender, which included recordings of Coltranecompositions including A Love Supreme.

He has also worked with the jazz composer Carla Bley.

In the early 1980s he teamed up with flamenco guitaristPaco de Lucia and Larry Coryell (later replaced by Al DiMeola) as the Guitar Trio, the virtuoso talents of all threemusicians equally on display. The Trio re-united in 1996for a second recording session and a world tour.

In the early 1990s he toured with his trio on the QueAlegria album. The trio consisted of JohnMcLaughlin, Trilok Gurtu and Dominique DiPiazza.

In recent times he has toured with Remember Shakti. Inaddition to original Shakti member Zakir Hussain, thisgroup has also featured eminent Indian musicians U.Srinivas, V. Selvaganesh, Shivkumar Sharma, andHariprasad Chaurasia.

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57

Album Review

Tony Williams Lifetime: Tony Williams Lifetime Emergency! Reference: With John McLaughlin & Larry Young

Read "Tony Williams Lifetime Emergency! Reference: With John McLaughlin & Larry Young" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


Tony Williams was barely twenty-three when he put the Lifetime trio together in 1969, only five years past his stint as the engine of the Miles Davis Quintet. Emergency!, the group's sprawling doublealbum debut, paired Williams with organist Larry Young and a littleknown British guitarist named John McLaughlin, and the record still stands as one of the founding documents of jazzrock fusion--loud, unruly, ahead of where the rest of the music was standing. The original Polydor LP, mixed by Gene ...

4

Album Review

Cindy Blackman Santana: Coherence

Read "Coherence" reviewed by Kyle Simpler


Some musicians communicate their passion almost before they ever play a note, and drummer Cindy Blackman Santana is one of them. Whether performing jazz, rock, soul, or world music, she approaches each style with the conviction that music ultimately transcends categories. Coherence is possibly her clearest statement of that philosophy. Blackman Santana's broad musical perspective comes naturally. She began busking on the streets of New York during the 1980s before quickly moving onto major stages, performing with jazz ...

2

Radio & Podcasts

New music from John McLaughlin, Peter Fernandes,The Rewind Collective and Stephan Thelen,

Read "New music from John McLaughlin, Peter Fernandes,The Rewind Collective and Stephan Thelen," reviewed by Len Davis


We open with John McLaughlin a music score from a film recorded in1994 Music For Abandoned Heights. Keyboard player Peter Fernandes and bassist Ric Fierbracci with their latest, The Rewind Collective features some superb rock fusion with outstanding solos from Richard Hallebeek and Joel Hoekstra, and the sounds inspired by Allan Holdsworth from Quube with Chad Wackerman. The newest from guitarist Stephan Thelen and more from Spanish Drummer Xavi Reija. Italian guitarist Mateo Mancusco, and Simon Phillips with Protocol. Spirit ...

3

Radio & Podcasts

Maestro John mcLaughlin, Oz Noy, Nick Freer, Janek Gwizdala and Frederico Heliododro

Read "Maestro John mcLaughlin, Oz Noy, Nick Freer, Janek Gwizdala and Frederico Heliododro" reviewed by Len Davis


Experience an electrifying journey through a dynamic live performance with guitar virtuoso John McLaughlin, captured live at Montreux 2022. The legendary New York guitarist Oz Noy is joined by an all-star lineup including Andrew Synowiec, Melbourne's Nick Freer from Apperseptions, British bassist Janek Gwizdala, and powerhouse drummer Jojo Mayer. Next, take a turn into something more unexpected and experimental with Brazilian guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Frederico Heliodoro, followed by an atmospheric collaboration between British drummer Gavin Harrison and guitarist Nick Johnston. ...

22

Album Review

Shakti: Mind Explosion

Read "Mind Explosion" reviewed by Ian Patterson


This is the end--the final recording from arguably the greatest of genre-busting bands. A celebration, not only of Shakti's 50th anniversary tour in 2023 but of an entire career--one that began in 1973, when John McLaughlin and Ustad Zakir Hussain first jammed in New York's Greenwich Village. By embracing Indian Carnatic and Hindustani traditions--fused with McLaughlin's jazz DNA--Shakti broke down musical boundaries, and by extension, cultural and social boundaries as well. Cherry-picked from multiple shows, these six tracks ...

2

Play This!

John McLaughlin with the One Truth Band: Guardian Angels

Read "John McLaughlin with the One Truth Band: Guardian Angels" reviewed by Scott Lichtman


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 ...

1

Radio & Podcasts

Mr. Roboto, Meet Mr. Mahavishnu

Read "Mr. Roboto, Meet Mr. Mahavishnu" reviewed by Patrick Burnette


This episode's title is a wee bit misleading. The boys don't meet Mr. Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, of course) but rather Matt Phillips, long-time listener to the podcast who just happened to write a very good book on the famous fusion guitarist called John McLaughlin: From Miles and Mahavishnu to The 4th Dimension. The book covers the whole of McLaughlin's recorded career--not just his best known years with the Mahavishnu Orchestra--and our conversation is also wide-ranging. And, no, Mike hasn't turned ...

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1
Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: John McLaughlin

Jazz Musician of the Day: John McLaughlin

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating John McLaughlin's birthday today!

John McLaughlin, also Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is a jazz fusion guitarist 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 ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: John McLaughlin

Jazz Musician of the Day: John McLaughlin

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating John McLaughlin's birthday today!

John McLaughlin, also Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is a jazz fusion guitarist 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 ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: John McLaughlin

Jazz Musician of the Day: John McLaughlin

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating John McLaughlin's birthday today!

John McLaughlin, also Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is a jazz fusion guitarist 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 ...

1
Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: John McLaughlin

Jazz Musician of the Day: John McLaughlin

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating John McLaughlin's birthday today!

John McLaughlin, also Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is a jazz fusion guitarist 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 ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: John McLaughlin

Jazz Musician of the Day: John McLaughlin

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating John McLaughlin's birthday today!

John McLaughlin, also Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is a jazz fusion guitarist 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... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: John McLaughlin

Jazz Musician of the Day: John McLaughlin

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating John McLaughlin's birthday today!

John McLaughlin, also Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is a jazz fusion guitarist 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... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on ...

5
Recording

John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola & Paco De Lucia "Passion Grace & Fire" Reissued On 180g Virgin Vinyl by Audio Fidelity

John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola & Paco De Lucia "Passion Grace & Fire" Reissued On 180g Virgin Vinyl by Audio Fidelity

Source: All About Jazz

In 1983 the guitar super trio of John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola and Paco de Lucía reunited for another set of acoustic guitar trios. Unlike their first album the phenomenal live acoustic performance Friday Night In San Francisco this masterpiece consists entirely of studio sessions. Passion Grace & Fire is a mix of flamenco, fusion, jazz, latin and classical music, bathed with beauty and compassion. It is simply three mindblowing musicians that united to produce the last word in acoustic ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: John McLaughlin

Jazz Musician of the Day: John McLaughlin

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating John McLaughlin's birthday today!

John McLaughlin, also Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is a jazz fusion guitarist 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... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: John McLaughlin

Jazz Musician of the Day: John McLaughlin

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating John McLaughlin's birthday today!

John McLaughlin, also Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is a jazz fusion guitarist 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... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on ...

1
Education

Music Education Monday: Guitar lessons from John McLaughlin, and more

Music Education Monday: Guitar lessons from John McLaughlin, and more

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

As a sideman to Miles Davis and Tony Williams, founder of the bands Mahavishnu Orchestra and Shakti, and a prolific solo artist and collaborator, John McLaughlin is one of the most admired guitarists of the past 50 years. Drawing on jazz, rock, classical, Indian music, and more, McLaughlin, now 73 years old, helped pioneer the jazz/fusion sound of the 1970s, influencing several generations of guitarists in the process. He continues to tour with his current band, the 4th Dimension, and ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Coherence

Mack Avenue Records
2026

buy

Tony Williams...

thingamajig
2026

buy

Next In Line

MVD Audio
2026

buy

Mind Explosion

Abstract Logix
2025

buy

This Moment

Abstract Logix
2023

buy

Holz-Stathis:...

MVD Audio
2023

buy

Shrini's Dream

From: This Moment
By John McLaughlin

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