Re: Jazzis Web Shop News 03/2006

Two albums by my favorite guitar player added today:

MCLAUGHLIN, JOHN ~ THE HEART OF THINGS

Since the late 1960's John McLaughlin's career enfolded like a
continuous success story, moving from one musical hilltop to another:
recording with Miles Davis, leading the Mahavishnu Orchestra, world
music excursions with Shakti, etc. - all remarkable achievements.
Keeping a position "in the lead" for so many years is never easy, but
McLaughlin manages to deliver an amazingly consistent high quality
output time after time with elegance and grace. This album, recorded in
1997, is no exception and presents the genius player / composer at his
best again. Listening to this album raises almost immediately an
attempt to compare the music and the group of musicians playing it to
the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Although never formally called by that name,
it is indeed a direct continuation of the work McLaughlin did with
Mahavishnu about 20+ years earlier - electric fusion. Of course this
group is more mature, slightly more jazz oriented, and definitely much
more relaxed and laid back, all for
the good. Not that the fire and passion of the original Mahavishnu
wasn't fantastic - it definitely was, but it often ventured into
moments of havoc and confusion, which are completely absent here.
McLaughlin uses on this recording a set of seasoned and experienced
players: saxophonist Gary Thomas (one of the most talented players of
the new generation and the jazziest player in this group), keyboards
player Jim Beard and drummer Dennis Chambers, both veteran fusion
players and finally the youngest member - Matthew Garrison on bass (son
of the legendary bass player Jimmy Garrison from John Coltrane's
quartet). McLaughlin composed all the music on this album, and the
result should be equally appealing to both jazz and fusion fans. Highly
recommended!

MCLAUGHLIN, JOHN ~ THE HEART OF THINGS - LIVE IN PARIS

This is a live companion album to the studio recording of the same
name. Recorded in 1998 during a tour that followed the release of the
studio album, this album complements the studio recording perfectly, as
there is very little parallel materiel on the two. Only three of the
tunes present on the studio album are played here, and as usual they
get a completely different treatment, which of course is the essence of
live recordings. The rest of the material consists of earlier
compositions by McLaughlin. The group is almost identical to the one
which recorded in the studio, except for keyboards player Otmaro Ruiz
(who replaces Jim Beard) and the presence of percussionist Victor
Williams (who was only a guest on the studio album). The musicians
perform splendidly, with the lengthy tunes leaving plenty of space for
individual players to solo extensively. There is not a dull moment
here, with enough inspiration, professionalism and talent to satisfy
even the harshest critics. Definitely
worth having.

=========================

Have Fun!

Adam Baruch
Jazzis Web Shop
https://www.jazzis.com/shop/

Adam's Blog
http://www.jazzis.com/journal/

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Jazzis Web Shop News 03/2006
    ... Two albums by my favorite guitar player added today: ... McLaughlin manages to deliver an amazingly consistent high quality ... Listening to this album raises almost immediately an ... McLaughlin uses on this recording a set of seasoned and experienced ...
    (rec.music.progressive)
  • Re: Jazzis Web Shop News 03/2006
    ... Two albums by my favorite guitar player added today: ... McLaughlin manages to deliver an amazingly consistent high quality ... Listening to this album raises almost immediately an ... McLaughlin uses on this recording a set of seasoned and experienced ...
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  • Re: Jazzis Web Shop News 06/2006
    ... Here it is at last - the finest album recorded in the 21st century! ... especially as far as the overall sound is ... these are completely new to McLaughlin. ... Bless you John for giving us such a wonderful musical ...
    (rec.music.progressive)
  • Re: Jazzis Web Shop News 06/2006
    ... Here it is at last - the finest album recorded in the 21st century! ... especially as far as the overall sound is ... these are completely new to McLaughlin. ... Bless you John for giving us such a wonderful musical ...
    (rec.music.bluenote)