The Promise offers a addition of all the places John McLaughlin has been inward his career, in addition to points straight toward his future. Featuring a broad gain of musicians including appearances past times the Free Spirits, the Guitar Trio, in addition to an electrical version of Shakti, the Promise is easily the most wide-ranging in addition to various offering of McLaughlin's long career. Its contents embrace everything from straight post-bop in addition to swinging soul-jazz to fusion to modern takes on East Indian music every bit it meets the West.
As if this weren't enough, at that topographic point are fifty-fifty moments amongst spoken give-and-take laced throughout, such every bit a poesy of Dante read past times Stefania Bombi toward the halt of his scorching, funky, soul-jazz seat out "Thelonius Melodius" amongst B-3 organist Joey DeFrancesco in addition to drummer Dennis Chambers.
The laid upwards kicks off amongst ane of its finest moments, a guitar-to-guitar reading of John Lewis' "Django" amongst Jeff Beck (bassist Pino Palladino, drummer Mark Mondesir, in addition to drummer Tony Hymas circular it out). Beck's solo is first; it is expansive every bit it moves from a gorgeous restating of the tune through slinky harmonic extrapolations. McLaughlin's respond is ambitious in addition to intuitive. They in addition to hence deed toward ane closed to other in addition to the melody, complementing each other perfectly. "El Ciego" is a complex, flamenco-tinged jazz seat out amongst McLaughlin trading knotty lines in addition to soulful solos amongst Al di Meola in addition to Paco de Lucia. "Jazz Jungle" is belatedly 20th century fusion at its blazing best amongst Michael Brecker, Chambers, Don Alias, James Genus, in addition to Jim Beard get-go nigh nebulously earlier ratcheting the tempo in addition to persuasion palettes to dizzying heights (Brecker is particularly brilliant). "The Wish," amongst Zakir Hussein, Nishat Khan, in addition to Trilok Gurtu, looks deeply into Indian classical music balanced past times a European gaze.
McLaughlin's 24-hour interval of the month amongst Khan's sitar creates nearly rapturous expression, all the spell contained within a texture that is every bit atmospheric every bit it is exotic. "Shin Jin Rui" employs the same band every bit "Jazz Jungle," amongst the exception of the saxophone, played past times David Sanborn. His playing is riskier than on his ain records, his alto juxtaposed amongst McLaughlin's guitar, a written report inward funky, electrical jazz modernism.
The laid upwards closes amongst a lovely all-acoustic reading of Jimmy Rowles' "The Peacocks" amongst guitarist Phillipe Loi in addition to bassist Yan Maresz, in addition to a poesy past times Lorca read past times Susana Beatrix every bit an halt cap. Ultimately, The Promise stands every bit ane of McLaughlin's towering achievements every bit a guitarist in addition to leader.
Some highly respected music critics criticized this 1996 endeavor every bit a hodge-podge of musical ideas amongst no key theme. However, they are mistaken. Clearly the thematic nature of this outing was the multifariousness of the music itself. The master copy tunes are compositionally strong, in addition to the playing throughout is purposeful in addition to exquisite. McLaughlin has gathered several of his friends—who come about to occupy the higher echelons of music—for The Promise 's musical journeying through genres ranging from the all-out bombastic fusion of "Jazz Jungle" to the Euro-Indian strains of "The Wish". Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 vast listing of musicians bring together the festivities.
The Promise was the jazz guitar consequence of 1996. The Beck/McLaughlin reworking of John Lewis' tune "Django" is itself worth the cost of admission. Beck's playing opens the slice in addition to the album, making you lot wonder whether fifty-fifty the neat McLaughlin tin give the sack compare. He does, of course, in addition to inward such a agency every bit to brand whatever comparisons an practise of nonsense. Their interplay is gratuitous in addition to utterly brilliant. They should tape a whole album together.
"Jazz Jungle" is a truthful fusion number. Its release energy is greater than that of a jumbo jet during take-off (which is every bit good a proficient description of Dennis Chambers' drumming on this tune). John McLaughlin, at 54, tin give the sack even hence wail amongst role ameliorate than whatever immature pretender to the throne. Amazing. Guest participant Michael Brecker makes his grade on this slice every bit maybe the finest fusion saxophonist on the scene.
"Shin Jin Rui" features a reunion of sorts amongst jazz-pop sax homo David Sanborn. Sanborn doesn't seem to create got chances similar this on his ain albums. He is sympatico amongst McLaughlin. (Check out Sanborn's appearances on 2 other McLaughlin albums, Electric Guitarist in addition to Electric Dreams. )
The Promise every bit good features the brief returns of The Free Spirits, The Guitar Trio, in addition to an electrical version of Shakti. It is a potpourri of musical styles in addition to performers. Yet, despite its disparate compositions in addition to styles, the tape manages to travel a cohesive function of art. Spoken passages Pb the way, in addition to fifty-fifty a brusk ane in addition to a one-half infinitesimal jam amongst Sting makes feel inward context. Bravo!
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Track listing:
All tracks composed past times John McLaughlin; except where indicated
01 "Django" (John Lewis) – 7:24
02 "Thelonius Melodius" – 5:22
03 "Amy in addition to Joseph" – 2:28
04 "No Return" – 7:20
05 "El Ciego" – 9:10
06 "Jazz Jungle" – 14:45
07 "The Wish" – 8:39
08 "English Jam" (Vinnie Colaiuta, John McLaughlin, Sting) – 1:12
09 "Tokyo Decadence" – 0:39
10 "Shin Jin Rui" – 10:47
xi "The Peacocks" (Jimmy Rowles) – 5:53
Personnel:
John McLaughlin – acoustic guitar, electrical guitar, keyboards, MIDI guitar
Don Alias – percussion
Jim Beard – keyboards
Dennis Chambers – drums
Vinnie Colaiuta – drums
James Genus – bass guitar
Zakir Hussain – tabla
Nishat Khan – sitar, vocals
Yan Maresz – arranger, acoustic bass guitar, bass guitar
Mark Mondesir – drums
Pino Palladino – bass
Mariko Takahashi – vocals
Guest Artists:
Jeff Beck – electrical guitar
Michael Brecker – tenor sax
Joey DeFrancesco – Hammond organ, trumpet
Al Di Meola – acoustic guitar
Trilok Gurtu – percussion
Tony Hymas – keyboards
Paco de LucÃa – acoustic guitar
David Sanborn – alto sax
Sting – bass
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