August 19, 1969
Miles Davis – trumpet
Wayne Shorter – soprano saxophone
Bennie Maupin – bass clarinet
Joe Zawinul – electric piano – Left
Chick Corea – electric piano – Right
John McLaughlin – electric guitar
Dave Holland – bass
Harvey Brooks – electric bass
Lenny White – drum set – Left
Jack DeJohnette – drum set – Right
Don Alias – congas
Juma Santos (credited as "Jim Riley") – shaker, congas
Miles said John was his favorite/preferred guitarist.. and that means a lot coming from Miles considering he's a white dude! Miles is the one that set up John with the Sony execs which resulted in the creation of Mahavishu Orchestra in the first place you know? The story goes that miles came to John one day and told him that he ready to go his own way, to form his own band. Without Mile's support John's massively successful and recognized commercial career would not have been possible. Key word commercial. Sure, it's possible some big record company would have found him eventually, but history is history, man. As a bandleader or solo artist, John only had small time deals until Miles hooked him up with Sony. Miles liked John so much he even went to see him play live sometimes. Miles was in the audience for John's very first performance of his grand concerto for guitar and orchestra, called "Mediterranean" I believe and conducted by the absolutely epic Michael Tilson Thomas. What an honor.
Great track, but you have to hear the whole album right through. the interweaving polyrythms are just sumptious and spellbinding, i, obviously don't have the vocabulary to cope with such a landmark piece of musical skills. i'm allways hearing something new every time i listen to this, love it !!
No, not a bit. I love play Sabbath as much I love playing Charlie Parker. Weird as that my sound, my Parker SOUNDS like Sabbath is playing it. I call it Heavy Metal Bebop (until someone starts talking about the Brecker Brothers)
Miles did indeed run the voodoo down with this music! And guitarist McLaughlin (and affiliation with Bill Evans?), were a big part of it. And Joe Zawinul's influence helped along the way to discovering this musical genre, I think? Loved this music as a young man, still do as an older man, and still promoting it to my family as great 20th Century music. Thanks Miles Davis and everyone who contributed to these sounds.
"John McLaughlin" was my favorite cut on this LP because, in my opinion, all the fusion elements could be heard. This album received mixed reviews and a lot of negative griticism, but Miles was a master at his craft, and he knew what the future would eventually sound like.
I was 9 yrs old when this album was released & of course I was into my Barbie dolls back then...had NOOO knowledge of this song...this WHOLE album, not until verrrry recent. Listening to this song for my 1st time....simply BLOWN AWAY!!!♫♪:hearts::hearts::hearts: MILES DAVIS WAS A MUSICAL GENIUS..... Respect John Mclaughlin
Back again. I see its been two months. When I was 12 (1972), my uncle bought me Bitched Brew. I was 12 for Christ's sake. All I had figured out was the Partrige Famlly and the Jackson 5. I just started learning Black Sabbath.You can pretty much play Sabbath on one string. And I did! Then they stuck this in my ear. John McLaughin. Holy shit man, I was only 12! Twisted, man. Cat is twisted! Well, I was already smoking weed so I guess it was time. Blew my mind. Still does.
