John McLaughlin might just be one of the most undersung guitar heroes ever. McLaughlin began playing session work in the early 1960s, formed a group with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker for a bit, and gave guitar lessons to Jimmy Paige. By 1969, he had recorded a debut album, Extrapolation, filled with post-bop jazz material - what I have heard of that album has been pretty good, by the way. In 1969, he moved to America - it was around this point where a guy named Miles Davis found him. McLaughlin's work on In a Silent Way and especially Bitches Brew contributes to the peaceful, mysterious atmosphere of the former and the chaotic nature of the latter. The Mahavishnu Orchestra was McLaughlin's chance to have a full artistic outlet, and when finally given his own group he soars. The Inner Mounting Flame is bold, punching jazz rock through and through.
If I were to single out virtuosity to John McLaughlin, it would be a little disingenuous considering the technical talent of the other four musicians here. Billy Cobham is a powder-keg of a drummer, tight and never missing a beat while harboring an explosive energy throughout the entire album, and when he erupts it's a hell of a time. Jan Hammer is a great piano player, and very often fills in the instrumental gaps between McLaughlin's frenzied and eclectic playing. Rick Laird's thumping bass work is the perfect companion to the rich, filling nature of Hammer's piano playing, and when the two pair up it can drive the song - see "The Noonward Race" where Hammer lets loose on a piano solo so wild that it'd put Richard Wright to shame. Did I mention this group had a violin player? Jerry Goodman's violin playing does wonders when either building a gentle mood ("A Lotus on Irish Streams") or creating added intensity or tension for a song ("Meeting of the Spirits").
McLaughlin doesn't stumble once on this album - he goes from heavy, to gentle, to back again in the span of 46 minutes, and so much of the music is to be heard to be believed - like Yes on crack. "Meeting of the Spirits" jumps right in with one of the most furious, blazing guitar moments I think I've ever heard, all coupled with smashing drums and an intense violin riff that's echoed on bass. "A Lotus on Irish Streams" is a beautiful reprieve from the chaotic nature of the first three songs, containing some acoustic playing from McLaughlin, as well as a brilliant piano solo from Jan Hammer. "The Dance of Maya" breaks out into a demented blues jam in what is one of the album's finest moments. "Awakening" is a furious, wild closer that wraps up every idea that John McLaughlin has into a neat bubble - it's the wild improvisation of jazz beautifully melded with the explosive passion of rock.
What a group! What an album! Take this and Bitches Brew and you have all the proof you need that McLaughlin is seriously undersung. He's unbelievably good at what he does, and he can lead a band just as well. The Inner Mounting Flame is a crazed, noisy, and incredibly captivating look at what jazz can be from McLaughlin, containing exceptional musicality throughout and some of the grittiest rock moments that have been laid to tape. No wonder Jimmy Paige went to the guy for lessons - McLaughlin is probably better than him anyways.
RATING: ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯
Listen to The Inner Mounting Flame.
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