John McLaughlin “Now Here This” Interview [Listen 23:36] – Being happy and proud of what I do S03 Ep04 (Part 1 of 2)

Summary: S03 Ep04 (Part1 of 2)- Being happy and proud of what I do with John McLaughlin Special Guests: John McLaughlin: McLaughlin started his career off as a 19 year old trailblazing guitar master, blowing away audiences just as the British blues was exploding on the scene. Bands like Cream and the Yardbirds were just starting to take shape, and guitarists like Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and Jimi Hendrix were just starting out and hoping to cut their teeth. My next guest had a different calling, going on a different tangent and taking his sound away from the blues-rock world of guitar hooks and classic rock solos and instead schooling himself on some of the most beautiful but also technically challenging music styles known to music. He delved into playing styles like: flamenco guitar with Al Di Meola and Paco de Lucia; world music with people like Carlos Santana and Trilok Gurtu, and straight ahead jazz with too many jazz legends to mention.  John McLaughlin was a major player in helping take jazz on one of most extreme and fun rides ever with the sub-genre 'jazz fusion." He is so respected that Miles Davis immortalized him in two songs, one of them on his landmark album, Bitches Brew, the honorary titled "John McLaughlin." Currently, McLaughlin and his band, The 4th Dimension have a brand new album out called “Now Here This” - an album about which McLaughlin has been quoted as saying “It’s the best thing I ever did, from the beginning until today.” In this podcast John McLaughlin and I talk about about the atmosphere in the studio while recording the songs: "Echoes From Then," "Take It or Leave It," "Guitar Love," and  "Not Here Not There." You can hear the excitement in John McLaughlin’s voice when talking about this new album and the band he has put together. Check out more here: http://www.johnmclaughlin.com/ or  get your limited edition vinyl copy here (while supplies last): AbstractLogix Label Jazz guitarists you should know Besides John McLaughlin, we wanted to showcase some of the other guitar legends in jazz to give you an introduction and give you some pretty pictures to look at. But besides that, look into the music they've done. Give them a listen. These guys are pioneers in the field and have pushed the frontiers of music beyond conception. While we can't cover every guitarist that should be mentioned, which often leads to objections and bitterness from fans, take note of the ones listed here, and wait for the rest to be mentioned in a later episode. Jim Hall. Innovative and constantly pushing the boundaries, he takes a unique approach to his music and believes music is a ways to peace. Pat Metheney Innovative primarily in sound and always challenging himself Metheny has evolved into new forms and a passionate fan-base. I recommend starting off with his album "We Live Here." Charlie Christian One of the first jazz guitarists to use an electric guitar, he influenced many others. Phenomenal skills, he apparently could match Django Reinhardt note for note. Tal Farlow Nicknamed "The Octopus" for his incredibly large hands and clean playing style. He only started playing guitar at age 21, but soon was playing guitar professionally. Known for only playing publicly very rarely. George Benson Said to be the best guitar players Joey DeFancesco played with. Benson was a child prodigy, and can play a multitude of styles. He posesses impeccable technique, and can mimic his heroes perfectly at will. Allan Holdsworth A jazz guitarist of a different vein, this jazz fusion guitarist is known to have influenced players like: Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, and even Frank Zappa. Like John McLaughlin, Holdsworth played with drumming legend Tony Williams. Django Reinhardt Django Reinhardt deserves all the prestige placed on him. After he injured his hand in a fire, he developed a new way of playing to accommodate losing the use of his last two fingers.