Black Light (Abstract Logix)

John McLaughlin

Released October 2, 2015

DownBeat Four-and-a-Half-Star Review

YouTube:

https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nfcSQ2c3IsdBS4mOcLE8BphrKdTezFJRM

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/album/4YRiHjDCVoFFJH8s56om9u?si=DbHCEv2RTOePRfW-bknLkg

About:

All my recordings are personal and reflect what is happening in my interior world, and I’m happy about the way the diverse cultural influences that have impacted on me for so many years, are showing themselves in this new album. The inclusion of ‘movements’ inside the pieces is a new development for me and I like the way they work within, giving a breath, or pause with a different dynamic. The work here relates to, and is a development of the work I began with the album ‘Industrial Zen’ .
In addition there are a number of homages:, namely in « Here come the Jiis » to the memory of the wonderful musician with whom I played for 14 years, Mandolin Shrinivas. The piece « Panditji » is a small thank you to a great human being and musician, Pandit Ravi Shankar, with whom I had the honor of studying under during the middle 1970’s.

« El Hombre que Sabià » is for the unforgettable Paco de Lucia, and is one of the pieces we had planned to record together last year. He was particularly fond of this piece, so I changed the title and worked out an arrangement with the great musicians of 4D; I’m really happy how it turned out.
« Being you being me » comes out of an experience of seeing the One in the many. I am personally convinced that the only real evolution in humanity will be when we all see the divine in each other, and so accord the respect that every individual merits. In the opening and closing of this piece, you’ll hear the synth guitar.

« 360 Flip » comes from skateboard move my son introduced me to, and reminded me of a 360 Flip that can happen in your mind, when your mind turns 360 degrees and you see everything the same but differently. This can happen while playing music, meditating or even walking in the mountains.

« Clap your hand » is a pun on the Zen koan, « What is the sound of one hand clapping? »
« Gaza City » requires no explanation after the bombardment of that City in the summer of 2014. I played the synth guitar and electric guitar on this piece.

And finally « Kiki » who is such a dear friend and wonderful drummer.
I hope you find something in the music.

John McLaughlin

Track Listing:

1. Here Come the Jiis (John McLaughlin) 06:28

2. Clap Your Hand (John McLaughlin) 06:01

3. Being You Being Me (John McLaughlin) 05:43

4. Panditji (John McLaughlin) 06:18

5. 360 Flip (John McLaughlin) 06:37

6. El Hombre Que Sabia (John McLaughlin) 05:38

7. Gaza City (John McLaughlin) 04:17

8. Kiki (John McLaughlin) 05:55

Personnel:

John McLaughlin: electric and acoustic guitars, synth guitar programming

Gary Husband: piano, synths, percussion and drums

Etienne Mbappe: electric bass, fretless bass

Ranjit Barot: drums, vocals (konokol)

Recorded March 2015, at Eastcote Studios, London, and Mediastarz, Monaco, by George Murphy

Produced by John McLaughlin

Mixed and Mastered by Marcus Wippersberg

Cover and Logo Design: Beat Pfaendler

Review:

The late Frank Zappa once said of one-time Mahavishnu Orchestra guitarist John McLaughlin: “A person would be a moron not to appreciate McLaughlin’s technique. The guy has certainly found out how to operate a guitar as if it were a machine gun.” Forty-some years later, at age 73, the avatar of electric guitar is still operating with the same uncanny proficiency. Several tunes from his latest album—particularly his opening fusion salvo, “Here Come The Jiis,” and the mind-blowing closer, “Kiki”—feature the septuagenarian six-stringer at the very top of his game. Pushed by his powerhouse 4th Dimension Band (keyboardist Gary Husband, electric bassist Etienne Mbappé, drummer Ranjit Barot), the once and future guitar god rises to some inspired heights on “Panditji,” dedicated to the late Indian music master and teacher Ravi Shankar. Barot drives this band with an intensely muscular attack, much in the same manner that Dennis Chambers fueled McLaughlin’s The Heart of Things band of the late ’90s. This fusion juggernaut manages to cool things down a bit on the mellow “Being You Being Me” and the requiem-like synth number “Gaza City.” McLaughlin’s homage to his friend Paco de Lucía, the late flamenco guitar master, on “El Hombre Que Sabia” has him burning with requisite duende on nylon-string guitar. And for something completely nouveau, there’s “360 Flip,” which incorporates elements of triphop and electronica alongside McLaughlin’s patented speed licks.

Bill Milkowski (DownBeat)