Not really an authentic best-of release, Compact Jazz is more a curious collection of Polygram's John McLaughlin music. That means there's nothing by the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Skakti, his trio with Paco de Lucia and Al DiMeola, or anything from his classic solo albums Devotion and My Goals Beyond, nor his late-'70s and early-'80s albums on Columbia and Warner Brothers. With some of his most important work unavailable, Polygram/Verve mixes and matches tracks from his brilliant classic 1969 Extrapolation, his solo albums from ...
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Not really an authentic best-of release, Compact Jazz is more a curious collection of Polygram's John McLaughlin music. That means there's nothing by the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Skakti, his trio with Paco de Lucia and Al DiMeola, or anything from his classic solo albums Devotion and My Goals Beyond, nor his late-'70s and early-'80s albums on Columbia and Warner Brothers. With some of his most important work unavailable, Polygram/Verve mixes and matches tracks from his brilliant classic 1969 Extrapolation, his solo albums from the late '80s and early '90s, his work with Tony Williams Lifetime, Jack Bruce and Paco de Lucia. While omitting some of McLaughlin's most brilliant work Compact Jazz gives some insight into the virtuoso's versatility. The two songs from Extrapolation are "Peace Piece" -- a relaxed, but enjoyable acoustic guitar performance with some Indian touches -- and "It's Funny," a song McLaughlin first recorded with Duffy Power that is almost psychedelic with McLaughlin's deceptive edge and John Surman's twisting sax. From McLaughlin's days with Tony Williams Lifetime are "Emergency" and "Allah Be Praised" which, though a bit dated, are intense, raw and still exciting. "Sam Enchanted Dick" off Jack Bruce's 1968 Things We Like is notable from an historical perspective and shows how far McLaughlin's playing would come in just a few years. Jumping to the late '80s and early '90s are "Pasha's Love," "Reincarnation" and "Que Alegria" which feature his underrated work with percussionist Trilok Gurtu. All have the classic McLaughlin speed and the group's interplay is fantastic. "Palenque" from Paco de Lucia's 1981 album Castro Marin, which also features Larry Coryell is the only recording of the first guitar trio and it is everything expected: fast and tight with stunning solos. This is one of McLaughlin's best moments on record. It would take several CDs to give a complete overview of the many musical directions of John McLaughlin. Compact Jazz is an unusual introduction, but enjoyable nonetheless. ~ Paul MacArthur, Rovi
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