John McLaughlin: Past, Present and Future

The following is a review on John McLaughlin's Electric Guitarist CD, that I submitted for publication in December 2008:

'Electric Guitarist' (1978) came to fruition due to McLaughlin arriving at a very distinct crossroads. His record company CBS/Columbia pressurised McLaughlin to return to the electric guitar after the inevitable drop-off of record sales since disbanding wild electric Hendrix-influenced 'Mahavishnu Orchestra' and emerging with the sophisticated acoustic Indian-fusion ensemble Shakti (despite the immense quality of the latter). Thus, this was the first of McLaughlin's two 'contractual-obligation' albums (Electric Dreams followed in 1979). Not that this means a diminished sense of responsibility and reduction of quality compositions and performances. In fact, instead of a re-hash of the Mahavishnu formula that Columbia probably expected, McLaughlin finds a new 'sound' that is more Indian (using a scalloped electric guitar neck to facilitate Indian-esque micro-tonal string bends in 'New York On My Mind'), more funky (using a Mu-tron Envelope Follower in 'Are You The One?' or a 'Flange' effect in 'Phenomenon: Compulsion'), and more Jazzy (although amplified via a Leslie cabinet plus with a extra heavy bass string tuned down to a low A pitch to create a drone effect on 'My Foolish Heart'). Even the title 'Electric Guitarist' (complete with a boyhood picture of the maestro on the front cover) may even be a subtle dig at his record label. There are parallels with Jack Bruce's Things We Like (1970) too as an example of another 'contractual' album, this time completed for another major record label Polydor. The ex-Cream Bassist turned to McLaughlin back in 1970 for his help (plus McLaughlin needed the money to fund his invitation to join with Tony Williams' Lifetime, a trip to the USA that he could ill-afford). Bruce returns the favour on 'Are You The One', a vocal narrative stating the title by the former 'Lifetime' Trio which is a brilliant tongue-in-cheek fusion of blues and funk with just a hint of Shakti's Get Down And Sruti. Further backwards glances are found in the tribute to John Coltrane 'Do You Hear The Voices You Left Behind' (Chick Corea on Moog synth plus Stanley Clarke and Jack DeJohnette). The harmonic progression from Coltrane's Giant Steps are re-worked into this new McLaughlin tune, which commences with a brief slow and thoughtful melody followed by an up-tempo recapitulation plus some of the best improvisation on any McLaughlin album. Each track consists of different ensembles - a formula that McLaughlin would return to on The Promise (1995) - all with old band members such as ex-Mahavishnu's Billy Cobham (a Mahavishnu McLaughlin-Cobham duet 'Phenomenon: Compulsion' returns to wild rock), Michael Walden, Stu Goldberg and Jerry Goodman, ex-Lifetime Tony Williams and Jack Bruce, ex-Miles Davis' Chick Corea and Jack DeJohnette. Carlos Santana appears after the 1973 McLaughlin/Santana collaboration Love Devotion Surrender album, plus many notable others including Stanley Clarke, David Sanborn, etc. For it's inventiveness, diversity, and multiple personalities 'Electric Guitarist' would very well be one of my top 10 'desert island disc' selections. This is a also favourite of my five year old niece; which in many ways shows that inherent directness and simplicity is at the heart of the music. Thus, one can nullify the 'pre-conceived' notion of McLaughlin complexity so that both fans and new listeners to the work of one of the most-important jazz-guitarists of the 20th Century should absolutely adore.
c.2008 Dale G. Harris: All Rights Reserved