@@gitaaa7740 You can't compare McLaughlin to Holdsworth. Holdsworth plays genuine music and has something to say. McLaughlin just unloads a stream of notes full of sound and fury signifying nothing. He hasn't had a decent musical idea in scores of years.
So incredible! To be at the top of your game in your eighties?!? I think all of us who play guitar, and are trying to get better can take all the inspiration we need from this man. I'm still 20 years younger than he is... and I hope I'm still playing when I reach 81!!!
Fun Fact - The tune Stratus was originally written by the insanely talented Billy Cobham (on his first solo album Spectrum), who was John Mclaughlin's first drummer for his fusion group the Mahavishnu Orchestra in the early 70's. Cool to see JM paying tribute to Beck with a tune that one of his old bandmates wrote!
I was sooo fortunate to see John and Billy Cobham along with the rest of the Mahavishnu Orchestra back in the 70s when they opened for Pink Floyd doing their Echos albumn and a few tunes from Umma Gumma. I was absolutely blown away with the set by John and the Orchestra as it was a relatively small venue in a national guard armory building that afforded me up front floor venue visibility. What a show they both put on that night,spectacular!!!
In 2010, Jeff Beck said: "John McLaughlin has given us so many different facets of the guitar. And introduced thousands of us to world music, by blending Indian music with jazz and classical. I'd say he was the best guitarist alive."[6] Uncut magazine, March 2010. Interview with Jeff Beck.
John is a super elite player. Top 5 in the world, if not #1. Jeff would have loved to watch John play this tune. Oh, Jeff said John was best in the world, so there you go.
The ONLY guitarist capable of really paying tribute to Jeff at Jeff’s own level and then some. Beck would never have ventured into “fusion” path had he not been inspired by John’s playing - that is where Beck was paying close attention and changed his style. John is just incredible still. Jeff would have been proud of John being there.
This lineup reminds me of the old Mahavishnu Orchestra … John on guitar, Billy Cobham on drums, Rick Laird on bass with Jan Hammer on keyboards. Birds of Fire …
Джон откровенно лажАет, впервые вижу такой уровень у Маклафлина.. Видимо он плохо себя чувствовал, - возраст.. А Джефф Бэк эту композицию играл идеально..
saw him in Vancouver in the early 70's with Mahvishnu Orchestra (80 members) and of all people sharing the stage that night Kiss couldn't believed it myself
Beck was a perfectionist. He would have been pleased to see his old mates at the tribute but he would also , with the exception of his former mentor McLoughlin, had admitted that it was an awful mess of his work....but only to be expected.
The Maestro himself taking "Stratus" to another level. The tone, the execution was a stunning tribute to Jeff's legacy. Of course Mahavishnu is ,arguably, the only guitarist who could pull off this kind of sound and vision out of respect for Jeff.. I couldn't believe JM is now 81 yrs old and still playing at the highest levels. Rhonda Smith was her usual awesome self and Annika is a superior talent. McLaughlin was smiling the whole time as it was a joyous occasion despite the loss of their good friend.
Fantastic tribute from John. The female bass player and the female drummer who was doing Shelia E drum rolls were both sick. You could see the respect in Johns response. Jesus this guy is one of the most influential guitarist of all time. Total respect.
I think "incredible" is hyperbole. "decent" or "competent" is about right. I think there are thousands of bass players who could have come up with something as good.
After being scolded numerous times by Miles during the Bitches Brew Sessions, John finally asked him "Please tell me how you want me to play." Miles fired back "Play like you don't know how to play." John said it opened up a whole new musical dimension he didn't even know he was capable of.
@@majmx Are you talking only about his playing? He certainly is not as exciting to watch as JB, who knew all the rock star moves, in addition to being brilliant. JM looks like someone's grandpa, in addition to being brilliant! But I find JB's playing more engaging, too. But I assume that's because I'm a rocker so the rockin licks grab me, whereas, JM is a student of jazz, which is more cerebral. I've seen them both in concert, twice each, iirc.
@@majmx to me, hes is one of the most exciting and enthralling guitar player ever. He sounds a bit flat here but his work with Mahavishnu Orchestra is super unique and highly incredible. You have to look at his playing as a combination of both jazz and rock.
“What Jeff has done throughout his career is take chances. He has never played safe. Which is why he’s produced so much diverse music. He’s at home in any style, and every type of music is open to him. Maybe one day somebody will come along and take over from him, but for me, right now, Jeff Beck is still the best.” John McLaughlin, 2021
Wow! What a great performance this was. John has captured the spirit of Jeff Beck like no other, all the while making it his own. I had the pleasure of seeing Mahavishnu Orchestra when they opened for the Eagles before they hit it really big. It did not go well for the Eagles.
Since many many years I am so impressed by John’s musical background and his ability to play jazz with Miles, Indian music with Shakti, flamenco with Paco and Al and his own music with Mahavishnu and more, backed by his humility and love for music, on top still so fit at this age, I have no other words but Wow!!! By far the best tribute to JB in this event!
To see John McLaughlin at a Jeff Beck tribute is to know that you are as close to Guitar Valhalla as you're ever going to get. A true legend playing tribute to another. Astonishingly vital. A brilliant tribute.
Yeah, back in '75, I saw both play Freeway Jam at the end of the concert. Jeff Beck actually threw up his hands and stopped playing because McLaughlin went into his zone and Beck simply couldn't keep up.
@@roscoegarbonzo9966 I don't know about that. He has practiced his ass off. I met Abe Wechter back in 2003 at NAMM. Abe made several acoustic guitars for John over the years. He told me that he met John at his hotel room one time to bring him a new guitar he finished, and John was practicing. He said John practices 8 hours a day, every day, even when on tour. That's aside from performing and he's been doing that since he was a teenager. He's usually in his hotel room practicing when on tour. I don't know anyone that practices their instrument 8 hours a day, even when touring. That's just unheard of. Someone told me that he practices EVERY scale, he starts out playing each scale at a VERY slow tempo and progressively increases speed. That's why he's as good as he is. Plus, he has studied many different music forms. And he meditates for several hours a day.
HE SAVED THE ENTIRE SHOW WITH THIS THANK YOU JOHN. AMAZING THIS MAN HAS BLAZED TRAILS HIS ENTIRE LIFE YOU CAN HEAR JEFF IN HIM AND VICE VERSA. EXCELLENT.
Really?????-it was certainly a musical highpoint but the rest was just a great tribute-Derek Trucks /Gary Clarke-brilliant-and Eric for once out of his comfort zone on material played better than I've heard for many a year.Listening to Ronnie & Rod doing Rock My Plimsol/Ain't Superstitious was a bucket list moment -and what about People Get Ready.Loved thewhole show-Jeff would be proud.
Ladies and Gentlemen a GOAT composer, performer and guitar player,SirJohn McLaughlin. Have been listening to MVO and other projects and am glad grew up in John's time!!!❤
The most evident thing about that tribute is that NO ONE played guitar like Jeff Beck!!...a big thank you to McLaughlin for that heart felt "hommage"!!...
That was the best I have seen of these two concerts. I think Jeff would have especially loved seeing these three play. Intense, sophisticated musicians.
Saw Cobham with the Brecker Brothers doing the Total Eclipse concerts. The Powerhouse extended Jams would stay in your head for Months !! This is the stuff that out of this world is made of. !! McLaughlin does the lead proper, As Beck did. This drummer is like a combination of Cobham and Ginger Baker !!! Smokin. !
Awesome to hear this...what a great rhythm section...not only a great tribute to Jeff Beck but it's really nice that the great John McLaughlin is acknowledging his old Mahavishnu orchestra bandmate ...the great Billy Cobham ....fantastic music !!!!
My word he did this song justice..at 81 years he kicked back and played as the same intensity as Tommy Bolin...great..what a surprise to see him do this Great !
Agree! However, it's even more impressive that, according to Leland Sklar, legendary bassist on the original studio recording back in 1973, Tommy's guitar work on Stratus was "raw, brutal energy," and his solo work on Stratus was all LIVE, off the top of his head and all tracks on the Spectrum album were 1st or 2nd takes.
@@BillyJoeJimBob8 Tommy lights STratus up - Mclaughlin does a lovely job but it's subdued and less biting in comparison. Great - but not quite up to Tommy's underrated playing on that album - probably my favourite track ever recorded -played to death since I was 11 years old.
This song brought me to fusion music and jazz in the 70s. In 1976 I saw John with Shakti at the Hamburg Musikhalle and that changed my life. Great version
my personal favorite. I did not think the general volume of the drums was adequate especially in the solo but man great playing and McGlaughlin was the only guy that I heard that could play like Beck anytime and as much as would be a tribute. genius, beautiful
Many thanks for posting this gem! Interesting to hear McLaughlin play a song that was written by his former bandmate, Billy Cobham, and covered frequently by Jeff Beck (among others). The band includes Rhonda Smith on bass and Anika Nilles on drums.
I was privileged to see JMcL and his Fourth Dimension band in the City of Melbourne some years back. They sounded exactly like this and have released several recordings. Check them out as they are quite something.
This is a tribute to guitarist Tommy Bolin, who also did amazing work with two of the greatest drummers, Alphonse Mouzon and Narada Michael Walden. All these musicians from the 70’s captured the thrilling vibe of the time, that then was later squashed and silenced by the over commodification of everything, which emerged from the increasingly knife’s edge existence of our current society.
A very tricky song to play right, but the band knew where the breaks were. John is the funkiest player out there, and Jeff once said John is the fastest in the west. @@mainsblanches8793
THANK YOU John. We all know you can play ! What a wonderful tribute. Thank you too, the Jeff Beck Band. The world lost one of the finest guitar players EVER.
john never hogs the stage he always gives it up for the other artists not meany do. seen him in edinburgh smokin was the thurd album i ever got burds of fire thank you J M.
Have always loved John McLaughlin since I first heard him play with Miles Davis. What a treat to see him ‘boogie’ with Rhonda Smith and Anika Nilles. Beck would have loved this and would have been desperate to join in. JMcL still playing superbly.
Unbelievable, McLaughlin is still kicking ass at age 81, He sill able to run rings around most anybody. RIP Mr. Beck , you were a one of kind musician, i have learned a lot from your playing;
I used to see Billy Cobham play this song in the 70s. McLaughlin carries the lead all the way. The Bass is in a complete world of it's own. This drummer has all that mighty power and is not even straining; with very BOSS runs and integrated percussion on every piece in the set.. 😀💪✅
I guess that’s why played it as he was friends with Tommy and influenced by him, hearing others play this, you realise how good Tommy was and much missed
The circle is beautiful, Jeff picking the track after Tommy's death that happened when they were touring together, John playing the tune at Jeff's memorial. Music transcends life and death.
Such a crying shame ever kind, a real friend, o’ bandmate the late legendary Jamaican bassist #PhilChen @philchendebassman isn’t alive to perform. Jeff Beck’s «Blow by Blow» 1976 Epic Records. Recorded October 1974 with Phil Chen on bass remains Beck's highest-charting album.
Fabulous work by John. I loved his early work with Miles- a Tribute to Jack Johnson and Bitches Brew. I’m glad he is on stage as the lead to show his true ability. I didn’t see Jeff Beck and John McLaughlin on stage with the Mahavishnu Orchestra but legend says Jeff blew them away.
@ David Jones I was at the Philly Spectrum stop of that 75 tour and I think you are plain wrong. It was a wonderful evening when I saw it. C'mon these guys are icons and pros who respected each other greatly, they wouldn't even try to blow the other away if one happened to have an off night. Please! I am supposed to believe music critiques by a guy named @DaveyJones!! Bot what?
Sometimes the Mahavishnu Orchestra opened for other bands, would you believe. Occasionally, after they played, most of the audience left, knowing that anything that followed would be an anti-climax!
John and Derek Trucks absolutely played stunningly. They were truly inspiring and for myself the only guitar players at this gig who were able to hit the bar Jeff set. Incredible musicianship.
Trucks on Goodbye Pork Pie Hat was quite fabulous. A worthy tribute to Jeff, in the manner Mingus made the tribute to Lester Young. I like to imagine John's grandchildren seeing him live or watching videos and saying, "Look, Grandpa is killin it again!"
I saw that same tour back then, I was in high school and just starting out with bass and guitar. After that show I sold my acoustic guitar and stuck with bass!
It should be remembered this is from Billy Cobham's first album, this one of the best road tunes of all time. This version is just about note for note, which is not bad. Just a little tip of the hat to that version which was Jan Hammer and a young, unheard of Tommy Bolin.
Jeff did a great version of this tune, but it was actually written and first performed by drummer Billy Cobham, from his first solo album, Spectrum. Tommy Bolin was the original guitarist. The drums and keys on the original version are out of this world, thanks to the playing of Jan Hammer, who also did great work with Beck..
John is a truly great guitarist and it is most fitting that he pays his respects to Jeff, his friend and also another great guitarist. Great stuff-thank you.
As Jeff regularly paid tribute to the late great Tommy Bolin, who wrote this song & inspired Jeff to take a similar direction in guitar playing: "Jeff Beck reportedly was so impressed, he went down a similar path 'Stratus' is a reqular on his current concert set list."
John Mclaughlin is still an extraordinary guitarist at 81. I saw him playing with the Mahavishnu Orchestra (and a string quartet!) back in around 1974. I saw him a few years ago with the late Chick Corea and the Five Peace Band - a great experience too. Billy Cobham's Stratus which was famously sampled by Massive Attack back in 1991. A great example of 70s Jazz Fusion - and a great version by the master.
