John Mclaughlin

Superstar collaborations often look good on paper but don't pan out in reality, so it's a real pleasure to see that the pairing of two modern legends—keyboardist Chick Corea and guitarist John McLaughlin—is far more than some marketing representative's wet dream. Teaming with three younger players who add their own cachet—saxophonist Kenny Garrett, bassist Christian McBride and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta—Five Peace Band Live captures the group on the first leg of a nearly year-long tour, hot on the heels of Corea's much-lauded Return to Forever reunion, documented on Returns (Eagle Records, 2009). While FPB Live isn't as pedal-to-the metal fusion as Returns, there's no shortage of high-octane playing, as the quintet works through a number of originals, a couple of standards and a fine tribute to Miles Davis, who brought Corea and McLaughlin together for the first time 30 years ago on In a Silent Way (Columbia, 1969).

John McLaughlin & Shakti - Remember Shakti (1999) [2CD]
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC+CUE+LOG -> 280 Mb + 317 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 135 Mb + 165 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 45 Mb
© 2009 PolyGram / Verve | 559 945-2
Jazz / World / Fusion

On Remember Shakti, jazz guitarist John McLaughlin returns to one of his chief inspirations – classical Indian music – by re-forming his '70s group Shakti. Original members Zakir Hussain (tabla) and Vikku Vinayakram (ghatam) return, joined by Hariprasad Chaurasia on the bansuri (Indian flute). Remember Shakti has a more meditative, fluid feel than the percussive work of the original group, but McLaughlin's subtle, hypnotic guitar work bridges Shakti's past and present. Remember Shakti's double-disc length gives the group ample time to explore the intricacies of compositions like "The Wish," "Chandrakauns," and the hour-plus "Mukti." An emotionally rich, musically accomplished album, Remember Shakti reunites a unique group of players.

John Mclaughlin - The Promise (1995)
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC+CUE+LOG -> 444 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 166 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 12 Mb
© 1995 Polydor / Verve | 529 828-2
Jazz / Post Bop / Fusion

On THE PROMISE, John McLaughlin fuses together a variety of sessions that highlight his rich musical eclecticism. Tracks such as "Jazz Jungle" are all-out virtuoso jams that exalt the technical prowess of McLaughlin, drummer Dennis Chambers, and tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker.

"Django" is a rock-inflected jazz waltz featuring Jeff Beck on guitar. "Thelonious Melodius" is much more firmly rooted in the post-bop tradition, while "Amy and Joseph" is a funky Pat Metheny-esque sentimental ballad, and "No Return" shows off organist Joey DeFrancesco's hitherto little-known skill on the trumpet. Sting even makes a brief but memorable appearance on a track entitled simply "English Jam." An extremely diverse album, THE PROMISE is a surprising listen all round.

John McLaughlin, Jaco Pastorius, Tony Williams - Trio of Doom (1979) {2007 Columbia Remaster}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC+CUE+LOG -> 271 Mb| MP3 @320 -> 91
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 12 Mb
© 2007 Sony BMG / Columbia / Legacy | 82796 96450 2
Jazz / Fusion / Jazz Rock

Anyone with even a passing interest in classic fusion and progressive jazz will want to own TRIO OF DOOM. Comprising three giants of the genre–guitarist John McLaughlin, drummer Tony Williams, and bassist Jaco Pastorius–Trio of Doom recorded both a studio session and a live set in 1979, and this 10-track disc contains selections from each, including Pastorius's "Continuum," McLaughlin's "Dark Prince," and Williams's "Drum Improvisation." Needless to say the playing is superb, and the energy–complex, knotted, and consistently pushing toward astral heights–is dazzling.

John McLaughlin Trio - Live At The Royal Festival Hall (1990)
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC+CUE+LOG -> 297 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 145 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 11 Mb
© 1990 JMT Productions | 834 436-2
Jazz / Fusion / Jazz-Ethnic

John McLaughlin, known for his successful experiments with rock fusion, Indian modal music, orchestral music, and Spanish guitar stylings, here plays virtuoso jazz on acoustic guitar, accompanied by the brilliant electric bass player Kai Eckhardt and Trilok Gurtu's unique, spellbinding percussion. They perform mostly original tunes, at once complex, rhythmically diverse, harmonically advanced, and beautifully melodic.
The group really burns on "Florianapolis" and "Mother Tongues," the latter of which features blazing solos by all three players. The concert ends with a moving blues for the then- Polish Solidarity leader Lech Walesa, where McLaughlin's haunting, melancholy playing soars with passion. The tune climaxes with a wonderful vocal duet between the guitarist and Gurtu.

This is the second album under the guise of The 4th Dimension, who are every bit a match for McLaughlin’s intensity. Etienne M’Bappe’s five string bass and Gary Husband’s keys and extra drumming follow every twist, turn, leap and tangent, but gone is Mark Mondesir to be replaced by polyrhythmic powerhouse Ranjit Barot.

Ever since guitarist John McLaughlin formed the 4th Dimension—his first electric fusion band in a decade—fans have been hoping he'd dig a little further into his back catalog. The wait is over with The Boston Record, a live album recorded in 2013 at Boston's Berklee College of Music. This isn't 4th Dimension's first live album, though it is the first to feature the seven year-old group's current configuration. Ranjit Barot, first heard with McLaughlin on Floating Point (Abstract Logix, 2009), replaced drummer Mark Mondesir on Now Here This (Abstract Logix, 2013), and is as outrageously virtuosic as ever; the equally impressive bassist Etienne Mbappe is back too, as is serious double-threat keyboardist/drummer Gary Husband.

John McLaughlin & Shakti - Remember Shakti (1999) [2CD] {Verve}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 616 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 315 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 46 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2009 PolyGram / Verve | 559 945-2
Jazz / World Fusion / Indian Classical / Post Bop / Guitar

On Remember Shakti, jazz guitarist John McLaughlin returns to one of his chief inspirations – classical Indian music – by re-forming his '70s group Shakti. Original members Zakir Hussain (tabla) and Vikku Vinayakram (ghatam) return, joined by Hariprasad Chaurasia on the bansuri (Indian flute). Remember Shakti has a more meditative, fluid feel than the percussive work of the original group, but McLaughlin's subtle, hypnotic guitar work bridges Shakti's past and present. Remember Shakti's double-disc length gives the group ample time to explore the intricacies of compositions like "The Wish," "Chandrakauns," and the hour-plus "Mukti." An emotionally rich, musically accomplished album, Remember Shakti reunites a unique group of players.

Remember Shakti - Saturday Night In Bombay (ft. John McLaughlin) (2001) {Verve}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC+CUE+LOG -> 370 Mb| MP3 @320 -> 148 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 36 Mb
© 2001 Verve / Universal | 014 164-2
Jazz / Post Bop / Fusion / World Fusion

SATURDAY NIGHT IN BOMBAY was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Award for Best World Music Album.
John McLaughlin brought his revived Indo-jazz project Shakti to Bombay (Mumbai) in late 2000, and the result is this live disc, which features ly four compositions but runs over an hour in length. (The title is a deliberate play on 1980's Friday Night in San Francisco.) McLaughlin's electric guitar and Zakir Hussain's tabla remain at the core of the group's sound. U. Shrinivas (on mandolin) and V. Selvaganesh (on kanjira, ghatam, and mridangam, all Indian percussion instruments) remain from the previous album, but there are also a number of Indian guest musicians, giving the music many added dimensions.

John McLaughlin - Molom - A Legend Of Mongolia (1995) {Verve 529 034-2}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 312 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 136 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 165 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1995 Verve / Polydor/PolyGram S.A. France | 529 034-2
Jazz / World / Fusion / Etnic Fusion

This McLaughlin album is a rare limited edition French release - soundtrack to a limited edition film "Molom - A Legend Of Mongolia" . All this combination sounds a bit strange, so I almost missed that album. It could be a big mistake! Album contains 22 compositions, only around half of them is McLaughlin pieces, all others are original Mongolian folk songs played and recorded very tastefully, with all acoustic mysticism possible!