Description
Book SynopsisIn the hierarchy of British jazz & rock musicians, the electrifying guitarist, composer, and bandleader John McLaughlin arguably holds an unassailable position at the very top.
Across dozens of official studio and live albums that encompass solo acts, The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Shakti, and co-headlining group projects, GRAMMY Award-winner John McLaughlin has consistently enthralled and surprised with boundary-pushing, genre-defying music. He revolutionized guitar playing with his virtuosic style, carving out one of the most critic-proof and prolific careers in modern times and was Miles Davis’s guitarist of choice on epochal albums In A Silent Way, Jack Johnson, Bitches Brew, and Live-Evil.
Drawing on hundreds of sources and interviews with key collaborators, Matt Phillips takes us on an exciting journey through McLaughlin’s entire career: his early years on the London pop scene; his flirtations with the European avant-garde; groundbreaking work with Miles Davis and Tony Williams; the electrifying fusion groups The Mahavishnu Orchestra and Shakti; special projects with the likes of Chick Corea, Sting, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Carlos Santana, and Jeff Beck; hugely popular acoustic collaborations with Paco De Lucia, Larry Coryell, and Al Di Meola; and his 4th Dimension band.
This is the first major book about McLaughlin to illuminate his entire output from 1980–2020. Including never-before-seen photographs, it’s a thrilling ride through the life of a master musician.
Trade ReviewJohn McLaughlin is one of a kind. What he has contributed to the world of music will never be duplicated. It’s the reason why a book reflecting on his musical career should be a must-have in every aspiring musician's personal library.
-- Billy Cobham, drummer, Mahavishnu Orchestra, inductee, Modern Drummer Hall of Fame
Table of ContentsIntroduction
Chapter 1: The Early Years (1942 – 1968)
Chapter 2: 1969-1970
Extrapolation, Miles and Lifetime
Chapter 3: 1970-1973
From Devotion to Between Nothingness & Eternity
Chapter 4: 1974-1979
From Apocalypse to Electric Dreams
Chapter 5: The 1980s
From Friday Night In San Francisco to Paco & John At Montreux
Chapter 6: The 1990s
From The Mediterranean Concerto to Remember Shakti
Chapter 7: The 2000s
From The Heart Of Things Live to Five Peace Band Live
Chapter 8: The 2010s
From To The One to Is That So?
Epilogue: Covid, Liberation Time and John’s Goals Beyond
Acknowledgments
Bibliography
Selected Online References
Selected Print References
About The Author
