Another one of those albums whose beauties grow apparent with repeated playing. McLaughlin is of course the young British guitarist who has recently been working with Miles Davis and the new Tony Williams group. His association with these men seems to have been anticipated by the music on this album, which in mood and construction continually recalls the latterday Davis albums from ESP onwards.
Tony Oxley’s interpretation of Tony Williams also adds to this feeling, and I must add mine to the many voices which have praised the recent improvement in Oxley’s playing. Surman needs no recommendation; he plays baritone on most tracks, and the blend of this instrument with the guitar is very satisfying. Certainly his form here confirms his world status.
McLaughlin is what one must, to differentiate from the Kessel lot, describe as a new wave guitarist, the style pioneered by Gabor Szabo, though McLaughlin sounds more like Jerry Hahn. He utilises rapid note-clusters inspired by the more modern trumpeters, and Szabo-like oriental effects. He relies very little on blues licks, and uses no feedback. He has been cited as yet another example of the links between pop and jazz, but only because he has worked in pop circles, which means nothing of course.
There are no signs of contemporary rock here; it’s jazz, very modern, very good. It would not have been half the album without Surman or even Oxley, but that hardly matters. What is important is the excellence of the group concept.
David Illingworth
Discography
Extrapolation; It’s Funny; Argen’s Bag; Pete The Poet; This Is For Us To Share (20 min) – Spectrum; Binky’s Beam; Really You Know; Two For Two; Peace Piece (20 min)
John McLaughlin (gtr); John Surman (bari/sop): Brian Odges (bs); Tony Oxley (dm).
Marmalade 608 007 37s 6d
