If there's such a thing as a Living God of the Guitar, John is it.
Posted on 09/27/2007 9:26:30 AM PDT by arbooz
MONTEREY, California (Reuters) - Nearly 40 years after helping pioneer jazz fusion with Miles Davis, guitar maestro John McLaughlin still faces harsh critics who dismiss such technically demanding, electronically charged music as "steroidal" or even a "pestilence."
British-born McLaughlin, 65, accompanied trumpeter Davis on the seminal 1969 "Bitches Brew" and "Silent Way" albums, which shocked jazz purists and delighted others by bringing together elements of jazz and rock.
He has continued to fuse different musical styles such as Indian classical music with improvisations over complex chords and time signatures. Despite the sceptics, he has won praise as one of the world's great guitarists.
"It stems from certain puritanical ideas about what they think jazz truly is," McLaughlin said of critics in an interview after playing at the Monterey Jazz Festival late last week. "I could care less. What do they know?
"You find this everywhere. I've played with a number of musicians who are really not jazz musicians. Paco de Lucia, for example, when we made this association in the '80s, Paco was viciously criticized by the Flamenco purists.
"When Zakir and I got together, when we came out in '76 with (Indo-jazz group) Shakti, there was real consternation in the Indian camp because they thought the music was going to be sullied by my influence," he told Reuters.
Over the years, McLaughlin has performed a wide variety of styles, from acoustic groups in which he sat on the floor with tabla player Zakir Hussain and other Indians to hard-charging electric groups such as the electric fusion Mahavishnu Orchestra. He is now touring the United States with his electric fusion group, the 4th Dimension.
"Frankly speaking, if I care what people write, whether it is positive or negative, I believe personally I'm on the wrong path," he continued. "To pay attention to flattery or criticism is a waste of time for artists."
GREATEST GUITARIST?
Even if rock guitar heroes such as Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page attracted many more fans, some music lovers see McLaughlin as the fastest, most versatile guitarist of his generation.
"We are contrasted, but the idea of a superior or inferior guitar player is an absolute nonstarter," said McLaughlin, a resident of Monte Carlo, Monaco. Of his stardom, he said he's "a
little marginal, but jazz is a marginal music, compared to mainstream pop, rock, rap."
Indian music has provided important inspiration for the guitarist and he lived in India with his family between November 2006 and July 2007. He is soon to release an instructional video on how understanding Indian rhythms can help inspire musical composition and improvisation.
Although the Internet has made it easier than ever to access specialized types of music, McLaughlin said he must rely on concerts and other work to earn the bulk of his income.
"If I had to live on record sales, I'd be pushing up the daisies," he said over a breakfast of eggs at a Monterey hotel. "In my world, if you want to make a record to make money, you're already off to a bad start."
McLaughlin says he has twice come perilously close to bankruptcy because of what he called unscrupulous agents.
"You have to become a musician with your eyes wide open, especially a jazz musician, because if you are lucky, you can make a living," he told Reuters. "I knew, throughout my life, really excellent musicians struggle just to get by."
Even with his skill in improvising at breakneck speed before a live audience, McLaughlin says he has not mastered the six-stringed instrument.
"As soon as you try to play a musical instrument, you learn the meaning of humility," he said. "The greatest musicians I have ever known, they're all humble."
"The discovery of how little you really know, this is very sobering. But this is very good: it separates the men from the boys."
If there's such a thing as a Living God of the Guitar, John is it.
I love the work he did with Mortiny Tone Tunes and Freddy the Beetle Barnes.
Wow, a pundit of many talents!
WRONG!
I had the extreme privilege of seeing Mahavishnu Orchestra about four times in the early 70’s, including one concert at Madison Square Garden.
The three guitarists of the 70’s that always impressed me the most were Fripp, Coryell, and John.
Many of his shows are archived out there on the net, although sound quality sometimes leaves alot to be desired.
I think my favorite McLaughlin work is is Cellar Door dates with Miles.
You is one lucky bastard ;>)
That's some story...Did he put you in his will? ;^)
I love most of his stuff, Mahavishnu years for me being a standout for some reason. I saw him with Paco and Al, and I still think it was not real - some kind of “Star Wars” type optical and acoustical illusion. You had to pinch yourself nonstop.
It is hard to make it in the music industry without ego. And ego is shown in different ways, including false modesty. If John has met with humble musicians, chances are that most of them are not well known... not your Eric Clapton types. When music becomes the stage for competition of who’s the fastest, has the best technique, etc., then it destroys its own art. I’ve seen John with Al Dimeola and Paco in concert and, unfortunately, it became a circus of who could out shed the other. This was done for the audience’s benefit and thank God it wasn’t for the whole night. But they knew what some in the audience wanted to see and it was all about technique and speed, a winner and a loser. I guess this showmanship is more entertainment than art, more like wrestling than ballet. The crowd roots for their hero.
A music career has never been easy when it comes to paying the bills. For every commercially successful musician there is a sea of failed ones. A true artist has to navigate a narrow path between being faithful to his muse and a sellout. When a musician of John’s caliber is dwarfed income-wise by the likes of Britney Spears, a sense of humor is as crucial as being humble. The “shredding competition” probably helped to pay some bills - the guys themselves couldn’t care less. It’s like a tennis star sometimes hits the ball between the legs without any need for it - helps to entertain the crowd.
I saw John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra at Florida State back in 1971 (now I’m showing my age). I’ve seen lots of bands, including Led Zepplin, but john McLaughlin was the highlight among them.
Fortunately, my step-dad introduced me to Mahavishnu Orchestra a couple years ago. Great stuff. I also like JOhns recent solo album Industrial Zen.
If you haven’t already, check out John Petrucci of Dream Theater, there seems to be alot of influence by McLaughlin.
No but we are still great friends.
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