Essay of a Jazz Artist - John McLaughlin

Essay of a Jazz Artist- John McLaughlin

John McLaughlin was born on January 4, 1942 in Yorkshire, England. He is one of the greatest jazz-fusion guitarists of all time. He specializes in Jazz, Indian classical music, Fusion and Flamenco. Even today he is an active musician, releasing his latest composition in 2006 called Industrial Zen and in 2007 he began to tour with his new jazz fusion quartet the 4TH Dimension.

John McLaughlin began his career in England in the 1960’s when he recorded the album Extrapolation. In the late 1960’s John moved across the pond from England to New York where he signed a recording contract for two albums. The first was called Devotion and the second was his first acoustic album My Goal’s Beyond that was inspired by the spiritual leader Sri Chinmoy and it was from this Indian spiritual leader that John McLaughlin adopted the name “Mahavishnu”. From there had the opportunity to work with Miles Davis’ on a couple of recording like In A Silent Way, Bitches Brew, On The Big Corner, and Big Fun and Live-Evil. In the 1970’s John McLaughlin formed a guitar fusion band called the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Which included such artists as Jerry Goodman on electric violin, Billy Cobbham on drums, Rick Laird on electric bass, Jan Hammer on both keyboard and moog, and of course John McLaughlin on electric guitar. In 1971 they recorded The Inner Mounting Flame and in 1973 they recorded Birds of Fire, The Lost Trident Secessions and Between Nothingness and Eternity. In 1974 some members of the band were replaced and they recorded Apocalypse and in 1975 Visions of Emerald and in 1976 Beyond Inner Words. In 1973 McLaughlin worked with today’s very popular artist Carlos Santana, and wrote Love Devotion Surrender.

The album that I listen to was Mahavishnu Orchestra’s

Birds of Fire as stated above it was made it 1973 and manufactured by Columbia Records/CBS Inc. . It was such a great album. I listened to it about eight times throughout my research and writing of this paper, and even in the car when I took a break to grab a bite to eat. It was a little like a time machine too, cause when I asked my girlfriend’s father and her uncle about the Mahavishnu Orchestra and John McLaughlin they began to smile and said yeah we remember band. I could see the excitement in their eyes when we began to listen to a couple of tracks. They thought it was really cool that I was listening to such a classic album. It definitely earned me a few points with her family. Track one was called Birds of Fire opens slowly with a gong and then later with a sax, then builds even more with an electric guitar rips from John McLaughlin. This track sets the tone for the album and builds the excitement that wants you wanting more and leaves you with a thirsting desire to listen to next track. It goes on for about six minutes with crashing symbols and the music seems to get faster and faster until it quietly ends and proceeds with track 2. This track is named Miles Beyond and I believe is a tribute to Miles Davis. It reminds me of walking through a park on a cool spring night and as I walk I just want to start to celebrate. I want to be around people that I love. Maybe even have a couple of drinks and a good laugh. Track 3 was called Celestial Terrestrial Commuters was a pretty far out song, I loved to hear all the instruments; the guitar, violin, keyboard, bass, and drums playing together, it just seem to all fit. Track 4 was named Sapphire Bullets of Pure Love was really short a guess it was kind of like an intermission. It sounded like the starting up of an old space ship. Track 5 was called Thousand Island Park. It was nice; I thought I heard an acoustic guitar. It reminded me of riding on a trolley through a quite city. Track 6 was given the name Hope. It seemed to be building up to something. Something very mysterious but does not…it just ends and was kind of a let down. Track 7 was named One Word; this was the longest track on the album at just under 10 min. It starts off with a snare drum. I really enjoyed the electric bass in this song. I believe it was the most prominent instrument on this track. Of the album in whole this track portrayed the rock in roll side of jazz-fusion music. One other aspect of this track that I enjoy was the great percussion solo. Track 8 was called Sanctuary. I though the resonation of the guitar chords in the beginning of the song added a very mischievous setting. I felt that the song was trying to find something maybe safe place. It was obvious to me why they had named the song Sanctuary.