John Mclaughlin Montreux box, Acoustic duets CD 7, 10, 11

baksheesh · June-20th-2009, 11:48 AM

Reviewing these three together though out of sequence because they consist of duets. Disc 7 (1982) is with Corea, and of some interest as being part of the impetus behind their current touring together. It's excellent stuff by and large, although John kicks Chick's arse all over the place, particularly on La Baleine and Thelonious Melodious.
Discs 10 and 11 (1987) are with Paco de Lucia and make you wonder why the hell they didn't include another guitarist - were both Coryell and di Meola unavailable? It works pretty well, with the mindboggling speed a factor as always - it reminds me of being by a highway and seeing cars zip by in either direction. Good stuff with Chiquito and David really standing out, although that's partly because they're two of my favourite compositions anyway.

Pete C · July-28th-2009, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baksheesh

Discs 10 and 11 (1987) are with Paco de Lucia and make you wonder why the hell they didn't include another guitarist - were both Coryell and di Meola unavailable? It works pretty well, with the mindboggling speed a factor as always - it reminds me of being by a highway and seeing cars zip by in either direction. Good stuff with Chiquito and David really standing out, although that's partly because they're two of my favourite compositions anyway.

If you like the duo, why are you upset it wasn't a trio? Maybe they wanted to do a duo.

baksheesh · August-17th-2009, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete C

If you like the duo, why are you upset it wasn't a trio? Maybe they wanted to do a duo.

I wasn't quite 'upset' Mr. C, just curious.

baksheesh · October-5th-2009, 01:48 PM

Anyone heard this album yet?

Tom Storer · October-5th-2009, 03:03 PM

Not I. McLaughlin is certainly a skilled guitarist but I haven't been terribly interested in his music since the 70's. I liked his stuff with Miles, and the early Mahavishnu albums; I oohed and aahed to "Spaces" like everyone else, and was impressed by Shakti (I guess Shakti was the 80's?). But that was enough. It's also true that I'm not a big guitarophile, and my favorite guitarists are beboppers.

baksheesh · October-6th-2009, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Storer

Not I. McLaughlin is certainly a skilled guitarist but I haven't been terribly interested in his music since the 70's. I liked his stuff with Miles, and the early Mahavishnu albums; I oohed and aahed to "Spaces" like everyone else, and was impressed by Shakti (I guess Shakti was the 80's?). But that was enough. It's also true that I'm not a big guitarophile, and my favorite guitarists are beboppers.

That's a shame Tom! Shakti, at least in it's original and most dynamic form was the mid 70s. It's true the 80's weren't a productive time for McLaughlin, but live he's always a dynamo, and Que Alegria '91, and After the Rain '94, are two bona fide classics.
The various reformed versions of Shakti have also done some great stuff. The ones with Hariprasad Chaurasia and U. Srinivas in particular are musical treasure.

gonzo · October-8th-2009, 04:40 AM

i like the cuts with the original truth band w/sunship theus on drums. where is sunship?

baksheesh · October-8th-2009, 07:34 AM

They are pretty good it's true, but i think the real gems in this box are the sets with the original Shakti - that has to have been one of the all time great, most dynamic improvisational combos of all time. Zakir and John - what a team!