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Probably one of the greatest guitarists in the world. Came into prominence during the early seventies when he took the world by a storm with his highly acclaimed Mahavishnu Orchestra. The short lived, but extremely intense musical adventure of the Mahavishnu Orchestra established McLaughlin as the brightest star on the musical firmament of the glorious fusion scene in the seventies.
There have been only three guitarist before
McLaughlin whose influence could be compared to the undeniable impact of
McLaughlin's musical vision -- Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian
and Wes Montgomery. Among the four of these guitar Masters, McLaughlin
stands out as the most intense, most virtuosic, most spiritual. This should
not be too surprising, given that his aim was to achieve the level of guitar
playing that could be comparable to the level of saxophone playing achieved
by John Coltrane. McLaughlin's early testimonies point to the fact
that, while he simply had always adored many of the mainstay jazz guitarists,
he was always wondering how come no one attempts to elevate their playing
to the lofty heights that Miles Davis and John Coltrane and
Ornette Coleman (as well as the other progressive jazz musicians)
have hinted upon. By finding himself in such a vacuum, he was propelled
to the previously unheard of heights of guitar mastery.
This impetus resulted in some of the most
intense music ever played. Listeners throughout the world have always been
mesmerized by many of McLaughlin's staple ingredients that defy rationalization
-- his odd time signatures that somehow bend out of shape the regular flow
of time, his blisteringly fast ever-ascending runs that unmistakably convey
the sense of spiritual search, realization and bliss, his tantalizingly
elusive harmonies that stretch our ears beyond the realm of the ordinary,
his razor-sharp rhythmic patterns that make us feel as if we're floating,
suspended above the ground... All of these musical elements were stunningly
new when he introduced them back in 1970. Even now, almost thirty years
later, his recordings sound fresh and exciting.
McLaughlin's influence on the younger
generations of guitarists and musicians in general is staggering. One would
be hard pressed to find a contemporary guitarist whose overall approach
to guitar playing is not deeply influenced by the many-faceted genius of
John McLaughlin.
Biography
Discography
Style
Personality
Resources
