Record Reviews

JOHN MCLAUGHLIN ~ MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL 2022 EAR MUSIC 4029759204398 (Barcode: 4029759204398) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2025 This is a live album by British guitar virtuoso / composer / bandleader John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist and his band 4th DimensionFind albums by this artist, which includes Cameroonian bassist Etienne M`BappeFind albums by this artist, British keyboardist / drummer Gary HusbandFind albums by this artist, Cuban pianist Jany McPhersonFind albums by this artist and French drummer Nicolas ViccaroFind albums by this artist. The 2CD album presents twelve tracks, ten of which are original compositions by McLaughlin, one is by Pharoah SandersFind albums by this artist and finally one is by Italian cinematic composer Piero PiccioniFind albums by this artist (Both the composer’s name and the tune’s title are misquoted – what a shame). The music was recorded shortly after the release of McLaughlin’s last studio album “Liberation TimeFind albums with this title”, but includes only one track from that album. The BD disk includes the same material except for a short introduction and an outro. The music is as brilliant as one might expect from McLaughlin, who in his long career never lowered his standards of aspirations, and for lifetime followers of his music, it is a true blessing. It includes the usual amalgam of Jazz, Fusion and World Music elements, brilliantly executed by these wonderful musicians. In some respect, the music is perhaps a tad mellower and melody oriented that McLaughlin earlier explorations, but that does not mean anything as far as the excellence, which pours from the speakers continuously. McLaughlin’s skills are still perfectly in place, but the fiery solos are much more concise and the music features more vocal parts than any earlier recording. M`Bappe is, as always, precise and pulsating, both drummers carry the rhythms with power and vigor, and both keyboardist provide the melodic lines with taste and eloquence. There is simply nothing to criticize, except perhaps the lack of innovation or risk-taking, but McLaughlin has more than enough in his career of pioneering music making, so he does not need to prove anything anymore. Overall, this is a great live album, full of superb performances by all the participants, who are given plenty of space by the leader to spread their wings. These are some of the nicest and most rewarding ninety music for any music true lover the world over, including young people, who have no idea who McLaughlin is. I’ve had had the immense pleasure of listening to him for almost sixty years now, and he has never offered me anything but outmost bliss!

Updated: 08/12/2025Posted: 08/12/2025

2CD+BD 3 Digipak Recommend To A Friend