SHAKTI WITH JOHN MCLAUGHLIN

3.5 stars. I've been wanting to check out the Indo-Prog / Raga Rock genre for a while now. I thought what better place to start then with something John McLaughlin is involved with. He's teamed up with 4 young classical vituosos from India. This was the first record they recorded together, and it's live. I must say that the enthusiasm of the crowd is at a fever pitch at times. I've listened to a lot of live albums, but the eruptions from the expectant crowd seem to be so genuine and heart felt, it's like they're on the edge of their seats. I honestly thought that this must have been recorded in India, that the crowd was cheering on their native sons and this guitar vituoso from the UK. I was wrong, this was recorded at South Hampton College, in Long Island, New York,July 5 1975. I'm impressed. The instruments used are all acoustic. Guitar, tablas, mridangam, violin and ghatam. It needs to be noted that McLaughlin's guitar is custom made, with extra strings crossing over on an angle across his main strings. The fingerboards are scalloped as well. This was also McLaughlin's first recording after leaving MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA, as he gave up his electric guitar for the acoustic one I described.

"Joy" opens with one of the band members saying "Good evening friends. Thankyou for that warm welcome". Violin, acoustic guitar, ethnic instruments and tabla hit the ground running in an uptempo 18 minute track. I will say that if your not giving this song your full attention it will probably be quite annoying. This is intricate and fast paced music that changes and evolves throughout, from frantic to almost a calm. Check out the unbelieveable guitar playing after 4 minutes ! A loud cheer can be heard when the violin returns after 5 minutes. Another roar 2 minutes later when he stops. McLaughlin then takes the spotlight for a while. The crowd is so into this ! Violins are back after 9 minutes, as the violin and guitar continue to trade solos. The reward and joy is in really listening to this complexity. "Lotus Feet" is the shortest song at under 5 minutes. Acoustic guitar is gently and beautifully played. Violin takes over 2 1/2 minutes in with tablas coming in late.

"What Need Have I For This-What Need Have I For That-I Am Dancing At The Feet Of My Lord-All Is Bliss-All Is Bliss" is almost 30 minutes long ! Almost as long as the song title. McLaughlin leads the way tastefully as ethnic instruments are played in the background. Violin 3 1/2 minutes in takes over as it is all still very much restrained. The pace picks up after 7 minutes. Percussion dominates with guitar after 9 minutes. A long cheer after 10 minutes. The guitar / violin interplay to follow is amazing. I love the guitar melody 14 minutes in, and the melodic violin 2 minutes later. The guitar 17 1/2 minutes in is fantastic ! Percussion takes over from about 19 minutes in to 27 minutes when violin returns with guitar to follow to end it. Check out the prolonged roar from the crowd 23 minutes in.

This is not for everyone obviously, but if you love to really listen to complex, intricate, acoustic instrumental music, then this is a must have.