Frank nailed it, the scales =90 miles an hour is like Van Halen, and it isn't nothing other than speed. You have to play melodies, the spaces in between are the message. Like most of Bach is in 1 note melody. He was not a fan of chords Page may have been less than sterile, but the notes AND the chord progressions were a template for rock music. I lived the progression and was lucky I did.
Zappa did not say a single word about McLaughlin. He was asked what he thought about "musicians who make a great thing of musical virtuosity" and McLaughlin was given as an example. Zappa gave his reply about musicians who make a great thing of musical virtuosity and did not mention specifically mention McLaughlin or refer to him in any way.
Anyone who is listening to McLaughlin in 73' and thinks "he just plays fast" is a goof. And I feel as if throughout his whole life, people attempted to goad Zappa into hot takes because he was genuine and insightful. You didn't get him, guy.
Frank Zappa was a mediocre guitarist himself and he used to think he was much better than he was in fact. He might not get surprised by McLaughlin and this could have to do with his lack of modesty.
FRANK ZAPPA IS A GREAT MUSCIAN... BUT VERY VERY ILLFAVORED... MUST OF BEEN ALL THAT MERCURY HE PLAYED WITH THAT HIS FARTHER BROUGHT HOME... AND DIDNT HE PASS FROM PROSTATE CANCER... MAKES U THINK...
McLaughlin certainly did more than just move his fingers fast over the fretboard. What Zappa said was actually a frequent criticism of Return to Forever guitarist Al DiMeola, and that criticism had some merit. But McLoughlin was an incredibly inventive guitarist as well as composer.
Zappa never surprised me..... he was a snob also....big idea about himself....i was into Tarrega, Joe Pass, Django Reinhardt, Villa Lobos, Albeniz, Schubert, Randy Rhoads, Uli Jon Roth, Blackmore....back in the 80s. And that idea that he was intellectual...i dont get it. At that time i was studying Philisophy and i was coping with Sopenhauer Kirkegaard Kamuis and Heraclitus....so....why bother? On the other hand John Mc laughlin was a big inspiration to me.... the birds of fire album ....He is a spiritual being....
I dont see Zappa's statement as a slight on McLaughlin- didnt he contract mahavishnu to accompany the mothers on tour at one point? He also states later that John reflecting his religion in his music is fine- Zappa apparently at one point called Al Dimeola out of the blue, and asked him to come jam onstage ( later point ) - He was an "in the moment" bandleader, into his own composing, and loved introducing surprise elements live...pretty sure he didnt mind McLaughlin
Well... there is an interview with the drummers of FZ on Drum Channel where they talk about how sharing the stage with Mahavishnu Orchestra did hit Frank quite hard. I mean if Ruth Underwood says so... There was rivalry, Zappa and McLaughlin were looking for very similar qualities in musicians, and Ponty did join Mahavishnu as Duke did Cobham later on. Zappa had reasons to be silent about the silliness of reducing McLaughlins musicality to speed here. The latter had already done Bitches Brew with Miles after all kind of work including Straight Ahead, Blues and Free Jazz at this moment. In fact there are many statements of Zappa's former musicians about Mahavishnu's influence on FZ. But it went both ways, as Hot Rats was the initial inspiration for McLaughlin to team up with a violinist... and he'd already tried to get Ponty for that.
McLaughlin is so over rated . Horrible tone and phrasing . His best stuff is with Miles .. when Miles Davis babysitted him. Miles taught him about creating space in music ,which McLaughlin to this day has problem with . Allan Holdsworth is so much more of a superior player
So blessed to have met Alice Coltrane and her son Ravi in Soho London we went out for dinner in china town with them and Reggie workman and Rashid Ali ..this was 1989 after the gig that my wife and I were involved with I will never forget that evening love supreme is a treasure in the world of music.. Patrick Francis
Zappa was hesitant to directly say anything overtly negative about McLaughlin. Frank knew John was a phenomenal guitarist, and I’m more than confident that Frank knew that John was more than just a guy who could play fast.
