JOHN McLAUGHLIN GETS ELECTRIC

Legendary guitarist rocks masonic center Sept 22

John McLaughlin’s guitar exploded into the late ‘60s jazz world. His recordings with Miles Davis (In a Silent Way, Bitches Brew) and Tony Willams’ Lifetime (Emergency!) were landmarks in the early jazz-rock era. (On hearing Lifetime, Herbie Hancock said “It was exciting and very arresting. It snatched you. It yanked you out of your seat.”) McLaughlin brings that same electric guitar virtuosity to the Masonic Center September 22 for a night of incendiary artistry.

McLaughlin combined stellar technique with a throaty, Hendrix-tinged tone in a style that alone would mark him as a jazz legend. That the guitarist would go on to create ever-more influential music with the east-meets-west sounds of Mahavishnu Orchestra and Shakti places McLaughlin among influential group of musical innovators.

All About Jazz marks McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu period as the closest stylistic parallel to his recent album Industrial Zen.  “The thrilling…Industrial Zen combines McLaughlin’s high-octane playing with the Indian influences that have pervaded much of his career…a perfect confluence of his divergent interests.”

Check out more John McLaughlin:

John McLaughlin "Noonward Race"

Mahavishnu Orchestra "You Know, You Know"