Comments on: John McLaughlin and the 4th Dimension

By: John Hanford

John Hanford — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 04:50:55 +0000

John and Colleagues,

Saw last night’s 10:00 show at Seattle’s Jazz Alley. It was a performance beyond description – I mean it was joy for all to share. A great restorative, to say the least.

Special thanks to the guv’ and Gary for coming to University of Washington. I teach music history there nowadays. I started their as a political history major back during the Spring 1970 release of Bitches Brew. On the strength of John’s showing on that recording I leapt at his release of Devotion and subsequently sent off to England for Extrapolation.

Saw Mahavishnu when they hit Seattle back in the early 70s.

As an undergrad playing in bands and snooping around the Music School for some information that I could relate to John’s music I struck out (as much because of my own great ignorance as for the kind of stage band oriented jazz program in place at that time, I think).

So I had to wait 40 years for enlightenment. Not too high a price to pay!

Thank so very, very much for decades of inspiring, uplifting and challenging music.

John Hanford
Seattle

By: Greg Fey

Greg Fey — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 23:21:13 +0000

Saw the show at UCLA last night, very very good show and the playing was superb. The sound quality on Mark’s drums is just a revelation. John, your energetic playing was just wonderful to hear, it reminded me somewhat of the Electric Dreams/Electric Guitarist period. It just seemed so fresh. The drum duo was fantastic. The new CD sounds a lot like the show! I’m just really gratified to hear this music and the playing is so inspired. I could go on and on, it was just a great pleasure. To think I last heard you on electric ahem, 34 years ago?

By: Mark McGouirk

Mark McGouirk — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 17:36:58 +0000

I too was at the Atlanta show last night at the Rialto. It was very inspiring to hear the new material as well as tunes from Electric Guitarist and the One Truth Band. Mark Mondesir was amazing on drums. What a fluid technique! Great to see Gary Husband again. I saw him when he was only 25? with Holdsworth here.
I first saw you with the French musicians and Katia LaBeque on piano and synclavier in 1982 here (my group tried to get the gig opening for you but instead got 2 shows with Maynard Ferguson at that same club), then with Trilok Gurtu at the Atlanta Jazz Festival with Tony Williams, the 5 Peace Band with Chick in 2009 which was so very hot!
Everytime I see you play, it is always such an inspiration for me. Please know that you have always been one of the greatest guiding forces in my musical life and one who gave me much understanding of the spiritual language of music.

By: Brian Hubbard

Brian Hubbard — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 05:26:46 +0000

John, I just arrived home after your show at the Rialto in Atlanta. You guys blew me away. My wife and I left the theater on a cloud and commented on how Gary and Mark’s drum interchange as you and Etienne chimed harmonics was like a meditation. I am so grateful I had the chance to hear you play live. Thanks so much for the heartfelt show.

By: vb schulze

vb schulze — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:54:24 +0000

Thanks for coming to Bremen JazzAhead – thats so great…had you here with Shakti the last time – we had had a Shakti Remembered event in our Bernsteinzimmer club before… watched both 4th D + 5 Peace, but great to have you back in town!

By: Marco

Marco — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:18:41 +0000

hello!
When you go to Portugal or Spain??

thanks

By: valentina.

valentina. — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 14:56:39 +0000

Hey. It would be really really cool with a concert in Stockholm

By: Bruce Rea

Bruce Rea — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:45:43 +0000

Hi John! You have GOT to come to the lovely west coast of Canada and WOW us with your fabulous sound!! I think it’s been 30 years since I saw you in a riverside tent in Edmonton…can’t wait to see you again! Have fun you guys!

By: Jon Godfrey

Jon Godfrey — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:43:51 +0000

I’ll second the request for south west of England! How about the Colston Hall in Bristol? The Remember Shakti gig there in 2006 was wonderful. I look forward to the return of 4th Dimension!

By: Lothar Schaaf

Lothar Schaaf — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:27:04 +0000

Hey John,

i am really happy to see you in concert next year in Hamburg, haha. May be in Hamburg,ha.That would be great! And i am curious at your new stuff!

tashi delek
Lothar