McLaughlin’s career has taken many twists and turns, criticised by few, admired by many. Here are most of the groups McLaughlin has been involved with, and described by him.

The 4th Dimension

This group has existed in a vague kind of form for several years now. It began as an experiment in 2004. I had been invited to play a couple of concerts in La Reunion. I had a desire to bring up to date my jazz fusion music since I was already involved in writing music that came out on the CD ‘Industrial Zen’. I invited Mark Mondesir and his brother, bass-guitarist Michael, along with Keyboardist/Drummer Gary Husband to accompany me on these concerts, and I was very happy about the music that happened there.

Before even finishing my Shakti touring, I was planning another tour with this formation. The only difference being Hadrien Feraud on bass-guitar. This particular formation is a delight for me. The fact that Gary can move from keyboards to drums, gives a dimension to a group that is rarely found. That, coupled with the outstanding musicianship of Mark and Hadrien, has given us wonderful opportunities in the world of music.

The 5 Peace Band

Chick Corea and John McLaughlin are truly kindred spirits. Both are brave musical explorers and singular virtuosos on their respective instruments. As young jazz artists, they both did stints with the legendary Miles Davis and appeared together on the groundbreaking jazz/rock/funk classic Bitches Brew. Each later ventured out to form his own revolutionary band: McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra and Corea’s Return to Forever. The innovative music played by these two groups attracted huge audiences in the 70s and helped shape a new genre of music, turning multitudes of rock fans on to a new form of jazz. Since then they have both had extraordinarily prolific careers, with continual creative output spanning many genres of music and in a host of different musical settings, while maintaining unparalleled artistic integrity and becoming legends in their own right.

Now, along with a group featuring some of the greatest musicians on the planet: Kenny Garrett on sax, Christian McBride on bass and Vinnie Colaiuta on drums in Europe while Brian Blade takes over the drum chair in Asia and on select dates in U.S. you can expect an eclectic night of highly creative music. From a nod to Miles to intimate duets. Intricate acoustic jazz to burning jazz/rock/funk. And, of course, Corea and McLaughlin classics. This musical pairing is one of the most important collaborations for jazz in our times. And an evening not to be missed!

Remember Shakti

At the end of 1997 I get a call from Zakir. He invites me to play with him for a short UK tour. We try to reform the original Shakti, but are unable to. We invite flautist Hari Prasad Chaurasia and record the first ‘Remember Shakti’ live at the Royal Festival Hall in London.

The short UK tour with Zakir, ‘Vikku’ and Hariji is all too short for me. I realise at that moment just how much I have missed Zakir and his playing. He is, without doubt, the greatest tabla player in the world today. I have also missed the particular ‘atmosphere’ of sentiments that exists between musicians from India and Pakistan.
This relates in part to their respective cultures, but it is also an indication of the depth and breadth of their music; the entire range of feelings and experiences that the human being may have; from the most frivolous and comic to the absolute depths of the human spirit. In concerts employing fundamentals of Indian music, a Tanpoura is normally used to create the ‘Drone’ of the principal tonality. For the first time in London, I have an urge to use my ‘meditation/chanting’ drone that I have been using for some years, to replace the Tanpoura with the tonality. I really like it.

On the first rehearsal Hariji hears my ‘drone’, and really wishes to use it for himself. I am very pleased and make him a special audio CD with an hour of ‘drone’ tuned exactly to his flute… It has been quite a few years since we played together, and I am so happy to have the opportunity to play with him again. He has to be one of the most soulful musicians I have ever heard. Zakir and I really want to continue to work and play together. We ask Hariji, but unfortunately, he has already many concerts booked for the following 2 years, and we try again to find Violinist L.Shankar. We are unable to contact him and since ‘Vikku’ is also extremely busy with his Madras music school, we invite his son Selva Ganesh to replace him on Kanjira. Selva is an amazing percussionist…

Several years earlier, I had the great fortune to see electric mandolin player U. Shrinivas in concert when he was only 12 years old. I had never heard such deep feelings expressed in music coming from a person so young, he was simply phenomenal, and more than qualified to replace the violin of Shankar.

1998-2006: We become ‘Remember Shakti’, and we hit the road with tours all over the world. What a band!!!

The Heart of Things

1996: I form ‘The Heart of Things’. Dennis Chambers is back on drums, and I invite tenor sax man Gary Thomas, Matthew Garrison (bass) and Jim Beard (keyboard). They are really something. We record the CD ‘The Heart of Things’, and hit the road. A great, great Band!!!

1997: Keyboardist Jim Beard quits the ‘The Heart of Things’ to join Wayne Shorter, and is replaced by Otmaro Ruiz. He is phenomenal…

1997: Autumn. We record ‘Live in Paris’. A really great recording!!!

Free Spirits

1994: I’m getting itchy feet again and since Trilok is going more and more away from the Trio, I form another trio, ‘The Free Spirits’ with drummer Dennis Chambers and Hammond organist Joey DeFrancesco. I love these two people, and can they play!!!

1994/96 We tour the world again and record ‘Live In Tokyo’. What a band!

After so many years I get the chance to record with drummer Elvin Jones. With us is Joey DeFrancesco. What a joy ! Afterwards, we get to play a number of concerts together in Europe.

John McLaughlin Trio

1987: I begin playing some tours in duo with Bassist Jonas Hellborg.

1988: I hear percussionist Trilok Gurtu at a Festival in Germany. I believe we can make some great music together. I invite him to join a permanent group. Jonas has been drifting musically for some time and I have to find another bassist. Jeff Berlin joins Trilok and me. This is a very good trio with lots of room to grow.

1989: Jeff decides to go his own way and is replaced by Kai ‘Kiki’ Eckhart. We record our first CD. ‘Live at the Royal Festival Hall.’ By this time I have incorporated guitar synthesizer with the acoustic guitar. The ‘Photon’ Unit that employs Piezzo Technology. This is great. It’s the antique world of the acoustic guitar with the modern world of FM Synthesis!

1989/93: After two more years I replace ‘Kiki’ with Bassist Dominique diPiazza. We tour pretty much everywhere, and record another CD, ‘Que Alegria.’

By this time I am becoming more and more interested in the various ‘underground’ musical movements in both the USA and the U.K. There is also some very interesting music beginning to come out of the ‘Asian’ underground.

Guitar Trio

One day I hear Paco De Lucia on the Radio. This guy can play: Ole!!!

I find him and call him to try to meet him and speak about the possibility of working together. We meet in Paris and play together. Amazing… We invite Larry Coryell to join us for a European Tour of Only 3 Acoustic Guitars. The tour is such a success that we stay on tour and do another round of Europe.

1980: Paco calls me about forming another guitar trio with Al di Meola replacing Larry Coryell. I understand because Larry was going through some changes during our tours together.

1981: Finally we all get together and hit the road. The success was truly amazing. I love Paco and his music, and we record the platinum album ‘Friday Night in San Francisco.’

1982: For the second World Tour we invite guitarist Steve Morse (a great player) to join us, making us the 4 Guitars. It’s a great success, but at the end of the tour, we all go our separate ways.