EXTRAPOLATION

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3.5 stars really!!

As this album predates McLaughlin's collaborations with miles Davis, do not expect that much of a jazz-rock album. Even if there are many promises in such an album such as John's collaboration with his long-time friend and saxman Surman, and there are a few hints of his future powerhouse of guitar playing both in harshness, virtuoso and lightning speed, this album is actually reserved for real McLaughlin fans only unless a confirmed jazzman.

Although John was "toying" around with rock musicians for a couple years, John's first real solo album (to my knowledge was a definitely and resolutely jazz album. While some tracks (the title track, the Coltrane-like Really You Know) are standard jazz, others (It's Funny, the torrid pre-fusion Binky's Dream, Two for Two) are more interesting in terms of progressiveness, other being almost interesting if it was not for major flaws (the useless drum solo in Pete The Poet)

One thing for sure is that the two John are really set out on experimenting and Surman's forays in free jazz are just around the bend. Not that essential to understand McLaughlin's role in the spectrum of the site, Extrapolation is nevertheless an important piece of Jazz's puzzle.

This was my second jazz album purchase, (the prog-influential, Dave Brubeck Quartet's 'Carnegie Hall Live Volume 2' being the first), and the more adventurous. The reviews found in Melody Maker at the time, suggested something innovative in British jazz and being played by "free jazz players" - a phrase to intimidate the more timid rock fan then. Being released on the Marmalade Records label also added to this album being different.

Mike Westbrook big band e.g. the two disc 'Marching Songs' (with John Surman also guesting) was my first exposure to new British jazz, but alas something I wasn't ready for. Instead 'Extrapolation' absorbed me and provided a welcomed new breadth to my music, indeed making me ready for jazz rock in the form of Lifetime's 'Turn It Over ' heard for the first time a few months later. 'Extrapolation' is now played on CD 40 years later and sounds as fresh and exciting as it did when I first put that pristine vinyl LP on my record deck.

It is worth remembering in the late 60's a lot of experiment in jazz was happening, not least in the UK. For instance Soft Machine coming from the direction of rock, whilst many progressive musicians (e.g. Keith Emerson) regularly dropped in jazz solos into otherwise rock songs. In the meanwhile those young musicians who had done their jazz apprenticeships in the 60's now decided to incorporate amplification and rock rhythms, e.g. Ian Carr in developing Nucleus. 'Johnny' McLaughlin had first got exposure by appearing on Gordon Beck's 'Experiments With Pop'. Jack Bruce's 'Things We Like' with John McLaughlin, was recorded in 1968, sometime before its release. And a worse example of delayed release was John Surman's 1969 very jazz rock recording 'Way Back When' , sounding quite some distance from the free jazz saxophonist who played with Westbrook and Mike Gibbs. Play 'Extrapolation', 'Way Back When', 'Things We Like', 'Experiments With Pop' and Machine's 'Volume 2' and realise that considerable messing about with jazz was happening in very varied ways at this time.

'Extrapolation' played by a seemingly conventional line-up of electric guitar, sax, double bass and drums, was not musically conventional. You are hit by McLaughlin all stops out, very fast impeccable runs, the slow builders, memorable melodies, exquisite duets by McLaughlin and Surman, backed by an inspiring rhythm section which to my ear were more outward-going than the small handful jazz rhythm sections heard previously. Then the titles got me because they sounded cool: such as 'Argen's Bag', 'Binky's Beam' and by goodness, musically those tunes were cool - 'Extrapolation' was the in-word to drop into conversation too! With the tunes segueing into each other, it was easy to be swept along, only to discover side one of the LP had finished far too quickly.

To summarise: here is sub-40 minutes of entertaining that sounds as new and fresh as it did when 'Extrapolation' was first released.

5 star for a jazz fan, an album worth seeking out for those prog fans who want to sample good jazz for the first time.

I really feel that this debut album from John McLaughlin is a "must have" for all of his fans out there. As John was getting ready to record this "Extrapolation" album his roommate Dave Holland got a call from Miles Davis and suddenly John's intended bass player was flying to the U.S.A.. McLaughlin still had two bright young Jazz stars on board in drummer Tony Oxley and sax player John Surman, he eventually added Brian Odges to fill in on bass. I didn't think much of this the first time I heard it. I guess I was looking for something more like his "Devotion" album and this isn't nearly as dynamic or as fiery as that one. For me this is pretty much straight up Jazz but i'm sure Jazz purists would say it's in the middle between Jazz and Rock. It only took one careful listen though to reveal how intricate this record is. Especially the guitar and drumming. It really got me excited after that.

"Extrapolation" opens with cymbals and drums before everyone joins in. It's not very full sounding, more intricate with all these sounds weaving in and out, especially the guitar. The sax leads 2 minutes in before the guitar returns after 3 minutes. "It's Funny" is laid back with sax leading. It's McLaughlin's turn 2 1/2 minutes in. Sax is back before 4 minutes. "Arjen's Bag" is one of my favourites. I really enjoy the sax here as the guitar picks away. Gorgeous track. "Pete The Poet" opens with the focus on the bass then the guitar and sax join in. Love the drumming 4 minutes in.

"This Is For Us To Share" opens with intricate guitar. Actually John uses both acoustic and electric guitar on this tune. Sax is followed by drums and bass as it builds in intensity. Nice. "Spectrum" has some excellent guitar / sax interplay and the drumming is killer. The bass eventually becomes prominant. "Binkey's Dream" is the longest track at 7 minutes. It opens with some good guitar and bass. Sax a minute in while drums continue to impress. This is so impressive. "Really You Know" is very laid back while "Two For Two" is uptempo with the guitar eventually taking the lead with some jagged melodies. Everyone joins in after 2 minutes. "Peace Piece" is a short tune with acoustic guitar melodies throughout.

I do enjoy "Devotion" more but I love how intricate this is.

John McLaughlin solo debut is excellent jazz album. With great sax player John Surman on the front, this album sounds as great now as some decades ago when it was recorded.

Still not fusion, but more electro-acoustic post-bop, but on the edge of the new era. McLaughlin's guitar is fast and technical, but still not a soloing instrument on this album. You will enjoy jazzy atmosphere more than electric guitar attacks of his later albums.

Compositions all are well balanced and melodic, musicians participated are high class jazz artists. One of the top albums on the end of post-bop era, it's still too much an jazz album for real fusion fan. And it's only weak point of this great release.

Must have for true jazz lovers and McLaughlin fans though. No doubt - 4,5!