Dear Friends,
At year’s end, I often reflect on the passing of the year, and even more so on the passing of friends who have left us during this year. More than a few were musicians whom I’ve known for many years. And while I feel the loss deeply, it’s no reason to be sad since we are all on the same path to the end, so we should be joyful in the memories and love in our hearts.
In 2018 I am not accepting any tours, but will be playing special concerts/events. The first of these will be in India in February 2018, two of which will be with the 4D in Mumbai, and one in Bangalore with Shankar Mahadevan, which will be titled “Remembering Shrinivas”, the marvelous Mandolinist in Shakti whom we lost in 2014.
Speaking of Shankar Mahadevan, he and I have been working on an independent project for the past few years, and we intend to release some music from this collaboration during the 1st half of 2018. This project combines the music of the East and West in a completely new way that has both of us very excited.
I would like to take this moment to thank all of you who have supported, and continue to support my musical endeavors, you have my undying gratitude.
I would also like to offer my deepest thanks to all those who participated in the auction of the magnificent DoubleNeck guitar built for me by the great Paul Reed Smith. The people in the NGO in Ramallah are so grateful and thrilled to know that people outside the difficult world of the West Bank, care about the work they are doing with the children there.
Finally, I send my deepest and most sincere wishes to you all for good health, much laughter and clear perception that penetrates the falsehoods of the visions of society that our so called ‘leaders’ would have us believe. We are One, we have always been One, we can only be One.
With love and blessings to all,
john mclaughlin
Dear John McLaughlin, after years of listening to your music (I was born in 1978) I had the invaluable opportunity of hearing you and the great 4th Dimension live 3 times almost in a row: Stuttgart, Dresden (that’s because a live and work in Germany) and now that I’m on vacation in my homeland Guatemala I took a bus and went straight to Playa del Carmen. That was simple beautiful. There where times when we could listen to the sea (earth ship) and all was in the pocket along with the sea waves. Amazing concert!
Of course we had to think deeply about Paco.
We are eagerly waiting to hear your collaboration with Shankar Mahadevan! That must be a killer!
Así que otra vez gracias Juanito, gracias por toda la música y los universos accedidos. It is so: we are all one.
Feliz año 2018, mucha paz y bendiciones.
John:
Hello, and Happy New Year to you from your old friend from the Synclavier days!
I could not agree more with you final comments in your 2018 message. We are all one. It’s startling the more so called « advanced » our world becomes there are plenty leaders still out of the 15th century. Frustrating.
All the best and hope to catch up by a quick phone call via skype maybe?
Brad
Many thanks, John, unfortunately I should not have the chance to see you on stage this year, India is so far from Europe!
Je te souhaite une excellente année John
Many thanks again for all the art you did that I kept in heart and soul and all the new music you’ll doing the next 100 years!
Fouad from France
Master John, normally when a new year begins, the soul is ready to give new impetus to the coming year. However, from the first day of the year, I realized that it would not be a completely happy year. It was something hard.
I really like racing cars, and this year has been like an analogy of having an accident in the first corner. Then I know that it is impossible to win, in this case there are no miracles. However once with the car back on track, I will try to give the best possible.
I’ve been listening to your music and it’s been very refreshing. A few months have passed and now I can see life a little better. However, this year can not be good anymore. As I said, I will try to make it as good as possible.
A Happy New Year 2018 for you and your family.
Dear John
The first time I heard your music was in 1971 when I listened to a very bad radio frequency. Can you immagine: listening to the ‘fazer- start’ of Meeting of the Spirits, through a radio that had a sort-of-fazer-sound-of -it’s- own, due to bad radio wave. A double fazer! But as your name and bands’name were not mentioned it took me another 4 years before I finally knew what music this was. When I heard you live in Leiden Holland in 1975 with Mahavishnu 3rd incarnation, I finally knew. And from that day on I bought as many records I could find……
Man, You were and are really something. You’re music made a lot of people here happy. thanx!!! Stay with us for many years John……….!!!!
Hi John,
Are you touring Australia before you retire?
Either way all the best for the future.
Un abraço.
Robert
Canberra
DEar JOhn mcLaughlinn,
whom I just titled thr far most best guitarest ever – because
you are thr most efficent and proment to bring in « geophilsphic » prsprctive, which neans. AGAINST DEATJH and forve blessd concious life, like in Indian culture nad, that maybe liitle known, in th Spinozistic, pathistic, rationalist tradition, where Goethe and Nietzsche, anr liitlr known the sufis are most prominent.
There had been a British Indologist, named Moinier Williams, who saw the Indians as « Spinozist before Spinoza » in the early 19 century already.
Becaue of exploitation, peole are concerned with work, money and politcs, even on wars.
In their SPARE TIME!! masa media and music playsa very big role. NOw, the « spinozistioc -indian » culture knows. freddom and happines lies in INZREELLECT, highre understanding, reason, truth, which can build up thre etrnal konwing part of the intelect, jivatman, purusha, buddhis, ruh, where in earthly live the feelings and affects are controlled by reason (shiva-shakti).
Intellgent enough you avoided to produce the impression, that thr hearing of youtr musicm,espeically alone, wil bring enlightment! – as a substutute for ownb serious (religopis)phiosophical yogic EFFORTS by sure known methods and proved anfdproving texts and masters.
Of course, th Indian tradion and CIRCUMSTANCES, SOCIALZATIONSare quite diffrent, so that a phiosoipohical approach, ad given in marx-Spinoza line, mosdtly only available in frenchquit good sketched in WEtlsens. TH sage and the way., isa neceassary hint for listernes, who want to impriove themselves by improving their intellect.
besed thsat, the psycholigy and ethics of Spinopza shoufd be readdirectly, with Deleuze glossary for example, overcoming christian and western mass habits by adaption.
Dear John:
I’ve loved listening to you for years and years….what pleasure to my ears….you always seem to be smiling very happily in your photos….what makes YOU laugh in life?
FAN
Thanks Master ,
as I told you a few years ago when I was so lucky to meet you in Bologna, your life is as inspiring as your music!
Paolo
Thank you
Thank you, John. Listening to your Mahavishnu Orchestra albums in the 70’s was part of my spiritual awakening path.
I agree with the vision expressed in the last paragraph of your note. Great minds and all that . . .
I invite you to visit GreaterRealityLiving dot com and explore the vision of myself and a team of scientists who are proving that life is forever and we each indeed are connected in a sacred and unified way.
Namaste,
Mark
Thank You! 🙂
Have just listened to recording of Mahavishnu music in SF…fantastic.I was fortunate to see Mahavishnu Mark 2 in 1975. Any chance of hearing this great music again in Europe?
In 1971, my new roommate had a copy of « Bitches Brew » and, not yet being a jazz lover, I wondered why Miles would name that track « John Mclaughlin »… You sir, have been a part of my life ever since. Thanks for all the music! As life long hobby musician who now deals with arthritis in the bases of both thumbs, I understand your need to play only on your own terms… all I ask is that you PLEASE keep recording!