MCLAUGHLIN / DELUCIA / CORYELL - MEETING OF THE SPIRITS

A year before Friday Night In San Francisco, McLaughlin and De Lucia teamed up with Larry Coryell taking the seat that Al Dimeola would later. Larry Coryell actually did a guitar trio album recorded before this in 1978 and 1979 with John Scofield and Joe Beck.

These three went on a tour of Europe in 1979 and 1980. This show was recorded at the Royal Albert Hall on St. Valentine's day in 1979, which I believe was a Wednesday night.

Coryell and De Lucia kick things off with Entres Dos Aguas, which is identical Di Meola's Mediterranean Sundance. I first heard Mediterranean Sundance on Di Meola's 1977 release, Elegant Gypsy. I'm a little confused as to what's up with that and the Internets weren't able to help me sort it out.

McLaughlin and De Lucia pair off for a nice rendition of McLaughlin's Lotus Feet taking a little break from the furious arpeggios.

Next all three join together for the rest of the show starting with Morning of the Carnival aka "Manhã de Carnaval", written by Luiz Bonfá, from a film called Black Orpheus. I didn't actually know that, I had to look it up once I could make out what John was saying before the song. I haven't heard the original, but in their interpretation they sure try to play a slow song fast. Again with the arpeggios.

Then they do Mahavishu Orchestra's Meeting of the Spirits. Mahavishnu Overload, clocking in at 23 minutes and 49 seconds! Some might find it excessive, but they really use it as a vehicle for improvisation and the audience goes wild at the end. No they don't go crazy and trash the venue throwing crap at the stage, though I do wonder how many took the opportunity for a restroom break at various points during the song.

The disc wraps up with Guardian Angels aka Guardian Angel on Friday Night. It's a basic no frills video with no video extras. You do get a section of extras with biographies and discographies if you'd like to get to the guys a little better. They were written more recently. The camera work and sound quality of the concert are decent for 1979. Let's hear it for two steels vs. a nylon!