Virtuoso guitarist John McLaughlin doesn’t visit Australia regularly, so when people found out he was out here for the Melbourne festival they jumped at the chance to see him. So much so that a second show at the Melb recital centre was announced just days after the first.
Alternating between songs from the new album and classics, he kept the audience in rapt attention throughout. His style of electric jazz fusion is as amazing as ever. Even being in his seventies hasn’t slowed his fingers down at all.
Accompanied by an amazing band with powerhouse Indian drummer Ranjit Barot, who McLaughlin mentioned was the only drummer he knows who has successfully integrated traditional indian drumming with modern kit, Cameroon-born/Paris-resident bassist Etienne M’Bappe & highly respected keyboardist/drummer Gary Husband. Each band member is given an equal chance to shine in this ensemble, with Husband occasioanlly assuming duties on the kit, leading to some interesting double drum solos.
The Melbourne Recital Centre was the perfect setting for this performance. The sound was crystal clear. The lighting was odd in parts, leaving the players in darkness for periods of time.
A highlight was a song originally written to be a collaboration with Paco Lucia. He unfortunately passed away before it was able to be recorded, so it became a tribute instead. It was titled “El Hombre Que Sabia“, meaning “The Man Who Knew”.
It was an incredible night. The audience left satisfied that they’d seen a once in a lifetime event.
