Search - :: John Mclaughlin Suites

Illuminating

K. Kirkland | Millburn, NJ | 09/26/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Not many musicians cover JM's compositions- I suspect
because they are typically difficult in time signature
and because the bar is raised so high by the master himself.
Here, these guys really do John Mclaughlin's compositions justice. They have created suites of from a couple of eras- Mahavishnu,Belo Horizonte/Music Spoken Here/Radioland, and Que Alegria. Their arrangements are thoughtful and They are more than competent in their technique. They have included much of the original improvisational flights as "formatted" material within the composition. It doesn't sound pale or timid though.
It actually brings to the surface how GOOD a composer Mclaughlin
really is. Some of the material seems like it was composed expressly for classical guitar- like, 1000 Island Park, Belo Horizonte, Dance of Maya and Hope/Faith. This is his material
stripped down to the essential- it is a must for any JM fan."