John McLaughlin is a Jazz fusion guitarist and composer who contributed strongly
to Jazz for the last five decades. He played a virtuosic and complex style of music
that fused eclectic Jazz and rock with Eastern and Indian influences.
His guitar playing includes a range of styles and genres, including Jazz, Indian classical music,
fusion, and Western Classical music, and has influenced many other guitarists.
He has also incorporated Flamenco music in some of his acoustic recordings.
The Indian Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain has called John McLaughlin "one of the greatest
and most important musicians of our times". In 2003, McLaughlin was ranked in the
"100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".

Read the interview:

 

Would you tell us how did you become attached to Jazz and the guitar instrument ?

My mother was a violinist. I began with piano at 8 years, and I discovered the guitar at 11 years. I have been
in love with the guitar ever since. Until then I only knew western classical music, but at the same time I also
discovered the Blues music from the USA. It was a great revelation for me and changed me for my whole life.
I listened to all the great blues players, and at 13 years I discovered Flamenco music and Indian music.
They had also a very powerful effect on me. At 15 years old I discovered Miles Davis and John Coltrane.
At this point I knew that I would be a musician and that the music of Miles and Coltrane was ‘my’ music, my school.

Who are your main influences and what is their effect on you?

You can see in my 1st answer who really influenced me in my early years. It was only from the age of 25 or 26
when I had begun to study the philosophy of the East and India, that I discovered the music of India. From that
point I studied North and South Indian music theory seriously. There are so many marvelous musicians in India.

What is the influence of the “Mahavishnu” on your music career?

The word “Mahavishnu” comes from my band the Mahavishnu Orchestra, which became prominent in the early 1970’s.
With this group I was able to develop some new forms and styles of playing. These concepts are still part of
me and my music. The word “Mahavishnu” means great Vishnu. Vishnu is the name of one of the gods in the
Hindu pantheon. There are three: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Even though I practice meditation, I am not a Hindu.

How would you define “Jazz”?

Jazz is the music of the 20th century. It is also urban music in the sense that it was born in the cities. What is wonderful
about jazz is the fundamental aspect of improvisation. To be able to improvise means you need to know who you
are and through this awareness you can create a new style. Of course, it also requires that you master your instrument.
The element of improvisation in jazz or Indian music is necessarily spontaneous. As a consequence I believe this
spontaneity to be the most true and honest form of music.

You are the “Passion”… how do you reflect this emotion on your music and your daily life?

This is very personal... Without a certain passion, music becomes somewhat boring to me. One’s passions reflect one’s life.
Every time we play we tell the story of our life and our passions.

How do you evaluate a Jazz guitarist?

The same way I evaluate any musician. Does his or her music speak to me deeply…

Would you like to perform in an Arabic ensemble project? What are your requirements for such cooperation?

There are quite a number of things I would like to do, but we have only 24 hours a day. I have many things to do in
my life as a father and husband as well as being a musician. For example I have to turn down many propositions of
interesting musical projects simply because I don’t have enough time to do everything. I am very fond of Arabic music.
Of course I learned many years ago that the Flamenco music of Spain is grounded in Arabic roots.

Do you follow up on the Jazz scene in the Middle East?

Not really since I don’t follow up on any jazz scene. I am in communication with my many musician friends either
here in Europe or in India or the USA, so basically I know what is going on. There are some very fine young musicians
coming out of the young generations both in the East and the West.

What would you say to your fans and the musicians in the Middle East?

First: thank you for your support and for listening to my music. Regrettably, my concerts in the Middle East are limited
to Turkey and Dubai. I am trying to organize a free concert in Palestine either with Shakti group or only with Zakir Hussain
and myself, but it is very, very difficult to organize. Politics…

What is your advice for Jazz beginners?

Listen. Learn. Listen. Learn. Listen and Learn. Learn who you are.
Eventually you will need to forget everything when you play…

My thanks to you my dear Omar.

John McLaughlin

 

This interview was taken by Omar Faqir to bring closer all the Jazz musicians all around the world
to exchange their experiences, music and thoughts