t 68, legendary guitarist John McLaughlin has nothing left to prove.
He’s played with everyone from Miles Davis to Jimi Hendrix. And, as leader of the Mahavishnu Orchestra in the ’70s, McLaughlin created a bold new fusion of jazz, rock and Indian influences that remains some of the most challenging music ever recorded.
Currently on tour with a new ensemble that makes a stop tonight at the Granada Theater, McLaughlin was kind enough to take some time and talk about his illustrious career. Read our Q&A with the virtuosic composer in full after the jump.
What do you think of the term « jazz fusion »?
I know the US beauracracy is horrible. But please dont punish us loyal fans in the US by not touring here.
I think neither John or Frank are at fault here – but rather, the interviewer had taken Frank’s quote horribly out of context, which understandably prompted such a reaction from John.
If anything, in fact, Frank Zappa praised John McLaughlin in another interview.
Both Frank and John are musical legends, and both deserve their fair due of great respect for the incredible influence they have had in the world of music.
It is however bothersome, a shame, and sad that Zappa’s quote was taken so out of context by the interviewer – when in fact Frank had many good things to say about John.
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Following are the 2 correct quotes from Zappa’s interviews:
Here’s the correct quote from a 1977 interview:
Steve Rosen: What about the contemporary heavies, like Jeff Beck or John McLaughlin?
Frank Zappa: I like Jeff, yeah. I’ve listened to « Wired » [Epic], and there are a couple of solos on there that I like. And I like some of his stuff on « Rough and Ready » [Epic]. A person woud 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. But I’m not always enthusiastic about the lines I hear or the ways in which they’re used. I don’t think you can fault him, though, for the amount of time and effort it must have taken to play an instrument that fast. I think anybody who can play that fast is just wonderful. And I’m sure 90% of teenage America would agree, since the whole trend in the business has been « faster is better. »
1984 interview:
Interviewer: John McLaughlin?
Frank Zappa: I met John. I think he’s a great guitar player and I think that he’s probably done a lot to educate American audiences to some aspects of Eastern music that they wouldn’t have come into contact with before. We did a tour with McLaughlin and old Mahavishnu, we did 11 concerts with them.
I tend to agree with Zappa: Faster isn’t necessary better.
While I appreciate guitar virtuosity, A old Bluesman can like Elmore James blow me away with a few bars.