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BELO HORIZONTE

John McLaughlin

Jazz Rock/Fusion


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John McLaughlin Belo Horizonte album cover
3.84 | 38 ratings | 2 reviews | 21% 5 stars

Excellent addition to any
prog rock music collection

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Studio Album, released in 1981

Songs / Tracks Listing


1. Belo Horizonte - (4:26)
2. La Baleine - (5:54)
3. Very Early (Homage to Bill Evans) - (1:10)
4. One Melody - (6:25)
5. Stardust on Your Sleeve - (5:59)
6. Waltz for Katia - (4:26)
7. Zamfir - (5:43)
8. Manitas D'Oro (for Paco DeLucia) - (4:11)

Total Time 36:54

Line-up / Musicians


- John McLaughlin / acoustic & electric guitars
- Francois Jeanneau / soprano & tenor saxes
- Augustin Dumay / violin
- Katia LaBeque / Steinway piano, synthesizers
- Francois Couturier / Fender Rhodes, synthesizers
- Jean Paul Celea / acouatic bass
- Tommy Campell / drums
- Jean Pierre Drouet / percussion
- Steve Sheman / percussion
- Paco DeLucia / acoustic guitar on track 8

Releases information

Recorded at Ramses Studio, June & July 1981 in Paris, France.
Produced by John McLaughlin.
Remaster released on Jun 18, 2002 by Wounded Bird Records

Thanks to Petrus for the addition
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Buy JOHN MCLAUGHLIN Belo Horizonte Music



JOHN MCLAUGHLIN Belo Horizonte ratings distribution


3.84
(38 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(21%)
21%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(34%)
34%
Good, but non-essential (37%)
37%
Collectors/fans only (8%)
8%
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
0%

JOHN MCLAUGHLIN Belo Horizonte reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Gatot
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
3 stars "Belo Horizonte" is John's seventh studio album outside The Mahavishnu Orchestra which took its glory days in the seventies. This album represents his exploration of technical as well as conceptual skills in a stream of music. In doing so, he combines guitar virtuosity into his compositions in this album. Every single song in this album contains all his technical skills to the fullest, I believe. He uses more acoustic guitar in a very high speed notes and chords movement. The title track "Bellow Horizonte" proves it that way. It's also the case with other tracks like "Zamfir". This album gives a way to learn how musician expresses their life experiences into piece of music by crafting notes, scales and chords into what so called "harmony". That's the hardest part for me because I barely find excellent harmony in this album - or probably I have been so wrong in defining what harmony is all about. To me, most of segments in this album is just like a jam session music. This is not true statement indeed because there are some song-orientated compositions as well - say like "Stardust On Your Sleeve".

John also crafts a composition intended for his colleague guitar player Paco de Lucia - the master of flamenco guitar "Manitas D'Oro" where Paco also joins him in acoustic guitar duets. This is what I like about musicians - they produce their solo album but at the same time pays tribute to their colleague players. On the other category of music you might find Eric Clapton plays together with BB Kings in a collaborative effort "Riding With The King" - a blues album, for example.

I quite enjoy this album especially when my jazz / contemporary music mood is "on". During this stage I usually try to understand how the musician communicates his emotions, feeling through a stream of music - even though there is obviously no lyrical parts at all. This album is good for those who want to explore the musical journey into jazz-rock / contemporary music style. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

Review by BrufordFreak
COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
5 stars A very eclectic yet surprisingly lush and atmospheric contribution to the jazz lexicon from this ephemeral yet often-fiery musician, the fact that it comes during his courtship (and collaboration) with soon-to-be wife, Katia Labèque as well as to the beginning of his now life-long commitment to living life in Monaco is tinted slightly by the very recent death of jazz icon and one of John's heroes, jazz pianist Bill Evans (to which he dedicates a brief rendition of an Evans tune, "Very Early"--and to which he will dedicate an entire album of solo acoustic guitar covers of Evans tunes on 1993's Time Remembered). Other than outstanding drummer Tommy Campbell and one song duet with Paco de Lucia, the cast of collaborating musicians is entirely French. One of the things that sucked me into this album from the start is John's commitment to acoustic guitar playing (I've always loved his acoustic guitar playing more than his electric). The 70s/80s jazz synthesizer keyboard support I also find tasteful and not overdone. It's an album of beautiful melodies, beautifully supportive chords and harmonics, to some very peaceful, meditative music--smooth jazz despite the virtuosity on the guitar. While all of the songs flow very pleasantly from start to finish, with a variety of rhythms and structures--like samba, waltz, and swing!, from Flamenco to sophisticated Weather Report jazz, the high point for me is the incredible SHAKTI-like "Zamfir"--which is, I'm guessing, a tribute to the great (and much maligned) Romanian pan flute player. The gorgeous textures created by Katia and François Couturier's keys along with Tommy's brilliant cymbal play and restrained drumming allow bassist Jean-Paul Celea and John's delicate guitar play to shine out front, despite their laid back volumes. "One Melody" is another high point for its constantly shifting textures and soloists--and its astounding drumming. "Stardust on Your Sleeve" also carries a very Zawinal/Weather Report feel to it: so smooth and downright "cool"! For years I though of this as a "jazz lite" album because of its sleepy pastiche, but now, years later, I see--and appreciate--the stupendous performers who were collaborating with John here--the artists who gave these soundscapes such smooth perfection. This has always been, and remains to this day, one of my favorite albums that John McLaughlin--a real guitar hero of mine--ever contributed to much less composed and led. Definitely a five star masterpiece of jazz-rock fusion.

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