Black Light
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
Really looking forward to this record Ji! And hope to see the band on tour again in Europe soon!
Same as you brother! 🙂
I am eagerly awaiting the delivery of your new CD. I do hope you tour here in the U.S. again. It was an honor to have had the opportunity to speak with you briefly in Asheville on the last tour.
Your music speaks to me so deeply.
Again, I thank you for all you have given the world.
John Orsborn
¡Gran disco, John!
Y gracias por el homenaje a nuestro querido Paco. Pero por favor corregid los acentos: en español se escribe « Paco de Lucía » y « El hombre que sabía ». A diferencia del inglés, en español el título de las canciones se escribe en minúsculas (menos la inicial, claro).
Wow! Just finished listening to your latest album that I downloaded from iTunes. My favorites after listening once are Being you being me, which is reminiscent of the sound of Shakti and remember Shakti, Here come the Jiis, El Hombre que Sabia, and Gaza City.
Thank you for the music, John.
Musica Divina! Again and again, again. Thank you, John!
Hi, ist das DER Ralf Starkloff, der vor bald 50 Jahren mit seiner halbakustischen E-Gitarre von einem Gitarrenbauer aus Taunusstein eine Kriegel beeinflusste Band hatte, bei der ich – aus heutiger Sicht kurze Zeit – trommeln durfte? Ja? Okay Ralf, ich bin besser geworden, denke ich!
Liebe Grüße aus Hannover!
Wolf-Rüdiger
The CD is comming home (Amazon email).
By now I have found something in the description of the tracks, so I think the music will be fantastic.
Hope 4D is going come to France this year.
Salut
I always loved your music with SHAKTI group (and Remember Shakti) and I should be very happy if you could register, sooner or later, a new longo, very long version of your beautiful song LOTUS FEET.
Excuse my poor english
carlo briganti
hi,is the album available on vinyl?
Just received BLACK LIGHT yesterday. As always I will need time to explore, absorb and enjoy fully this music – which I am very much looking forward to doing. On first listen, the depth and beauty is abundantly apparent. To quote:-
« Superbe, Superbe »
Thank you John.
Bravo !pour encore cette sensibilité qui émane de cet extrait !Merci
« 360 Flip » is absolutely sensational. If this were released as a single to the dance community, in any just world it would go Platinum within a year. I’ve never heard better dance music anywhere, any time over the past 45 years – pure genius to combine highly complex time-signature dance music with a serene spiritual sensibility and ambiance – John is peerless. I just spontaneously danced around my own kitchen on my own for the first time in my life. I’m deadly serious. If you’re a dancer, this is compulsory listening – and after « 360 Flip », dancing to music will never be the same again.
Tres grand fan de vous Maitre John, depuis Mahavishnu….on aimerait ecouter un peu de Black light..pour gouter…Los Cabos, Mexico …Rene, Merci pour tant de sentiments bien musicaux
Excelente disco, lo pude ver y oir en vivo en Santiago de Chile, abril 2016, una joya.
Sublime música John, gracias!