SHAKTI -1975-1977 John McLaughlin: guitare acoustique; L. Shankar: violon Zakir Hussain: tabla T. H. "Vikku" Vinayakram: Ghatam Ramnad Raghavan: Mridangam
One afternoon in 1977 I was getting ready to go see Shakti at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. I started playing A Handful of Beauty Album by Shakti in my apartment pretty loud. After awhile my 83 year old, cantankerous apartment manager started pounding on my door. Fully expecting her to complain about the loud music, instead she stood there with an astonished look on her face. Almost breathless she proceeded to ask me what I was playing, saying it was the most beautiful music she had ever heard. That evening at the concert I was sitting two rows from the stage. In the row in front of me several guys started to light up joints. Before the first song was over one told his friends we don't need drugs anymore, saying this music is beyond anything he had ever heard. Without question Shakti was the most profound and transcendent musical experience of my life. Eventually I started an audio company dedicated to improving home audio performance and named it SHAKTI.
@@pritamlaskar In the Veda’s the universe is described as being created by the energy of God (Brahma) maintained by another energy (Vishnu) and destroyed by yet another energy (Shiva). All there is come from God - the outpouring of his energy (Shakti). 🕉️
John McLaughlin changed my musical life. Once with Miles Davis, once with The Mahavishnu Orchestra, and with Shakti. When I saw him with Shakti the first time Jeff Beck opened for him. When I saw him in N.Y.C in a small jazz club. He was no more then 5 feet from me. He was just incredible as was the rest of Shakti. Peace.
was that the Blue Note? I saw a Shakti reunion there, musta been early/mid ‘90s…unbelievable experience, seeing this brings it all back. sitting so close to them playing this was one of the most intense musical experiences of my life, and I’ve had some great ones…
i believe miles davis suggested to john to go out on his own ....let us not forget chick corea and and herbie hancock played with miles on his bitches brew lp which changed music for the better forever
@@user-tg4uz9lg1f and 10 years before that Miles Davis " Kind of Blue" changed music also . It's considered one of the most influencial album ever recorded. Yeah Miles Davis was a genius. He was the proving ground for some of the greatest if not the greatest musicians, and music of all time.
I count myself fortunate to have seen them in Paris in 1977. I remember thinking something like “There’s a guy with a clay pot - what is he going to do with that?” Then I found out!
Nothing that I have done in my life and none of my tastes suggest that I should i have been on the video. I do not know what they are playing or anything about the music, but I can tell it was magical experience..and then I saw your comment..so what took you to the concert?
Am grateful to've experienced the Indian Maestros playing live together; and was it mental; and add to this the manic energy of JM ... 🤯 #Blessed #Grateful
Same. 1976-ish in minneapolis. I'd gotten tickets with friends based on an older brothers "go see them" . They walk out, sit..... I'm thinking ... is that all ? Turned out to be utterly absorbing.
The interplay within all members of Shakti is, to me, unparalleled and unmatched by any group. They move like Starling murmurations-each possessing some innate knowledge to what his neighbor will do before it even happens and creating a musical flow unlike anything that has come before or will follow. They were an Enigma.
You can hear the influence of Ravi Shankar in John McLaughlin's playing. For someone who came from the jazz world, JM's understanding of the structure of Indian music was mind boggling, for most musicians it would take many years to play well in that idiom, McLaughlin seemed to understand it right away, as if it was second nature! The first time I saw Shakti was in 1973 on Chip Monk's short lived TV show, I wish there was a video of that show. I was fortunate to have seen Shakti live at the Calderone Theater on Long Island, in 1975. There are many tribute bands of famous groups but I've never heard of a Shakti tribute band*, it shows how difficult it is to play like that. *There is a contemporary group of Indian musicians who have formed a Shakti tribute band and they are damn good!
I don't think anybody realises the pure genius of L Shankar in this performance.....he was in full flow and a zone of his own....as close to Nirvana as one can get...
Yes, L. Shankar is pure genius. Virtuoso supreme of the violin 🎻 and music 🎶. I love him so much, ever since his beautiful record Pancha.... I've seen him three times: in Marin, S F., and Berkeley; with Zakir.........(!) I took a cassette of that record to India in 1996, and forgot it there! So he was taken to his homeland, and remains there....... Supreme gratitude 🙏 and love 🕉
My favorite jazz guitarist of all time, the sole player who got me into it. The body of work the guy has put out is mind boggling. For me he’s the most diverse jazz guitarist as well. He can do beautiful pretty stuff, acoustic, Indian, modal, avant garde, straight ahead bebop, and can shred your head off with electric jazz rock.
I always preferred John’s acoustic work. It’s simply brilliant. Flawless technique and a deep knowledge of both western and eastern music theory, harmony, rhythm and improvisation.
Shakti means creative energy, and ecstatic, blissful energy. John on his extraordinary guitar 🎸. L. Shankar on supreme violin 🎻 Zakir on marvelous tabla Vinayakram on incredible clay pot These concerts are a force of nature. A world 🌎 treasure ✨ 💖. Pure blissfulness and joy. Intelligence, emotional, spiritual fulfillment and transcendence. 🕉 🙏
Few days ago I was watching a movie called Monkey Man. which is based in India, and was surprised when i heard the word 'shakti' a few times. Later on Zakir Hussain made a cameo appearance playing tabla. It was wonderful to see him after so many years. Shakti was one of the best bands of all time
John...just keeping up with Shankar gives you legendary guitar status let alone inventing Jazz Rock ...Notice how he takes traditional Indian motifs and uses blues licks...what a legend
I learned about this band from a recent Tiny Desk concert. I only learned about Zakir Hussain last year from a recent concert that was on RU-vid for awhile. I'm 50. I was three when they performed this, and JM and Zakir look exactly the same...play exactly the same. Incredible 🙏🕉️
At the end of July 1976, Shakti played The Hammersmith Odeon three nights running - with Weather Report and The George Duke/Billy Cobham band...what an evening line up! My friend and I were such big fans we had front row seats for all three nights... Never forgot it and now I’m nearly 70!
Saw him with McLaughlin/Shakti in Central Park NYC on a hot summer night. A giant butterfly hovered right above Zakir Hussein’s head...he played a percussive flourish to it and it flew off. Coolest musical moment of my lifetime.
This is the highest level of musicianship you'll ever be able to witness knowone has come anywhere near it you can see why it's called Joy to it would be utter bliss to play at this level.
I agree with Pat Metheny and he should know. I was fortunate enough to grow up in Hawaii where every great musician made stops on their way to Asia. I have always loved Jeff Beck's music and he stopped and did a concert along the way with artists that were in between his blow by blow and wired album and it was very incredible and revealing and as I was walk ing down Waikiki Beach the next morning sitting under the banyan at the moana hotel by himself or so it seemed was Mr Beck and being an 18 yr old street urchin I sidled up and sat down at his table and ended up having an hour conversation with him about what music was and where it could take us and I eventually asked him who he listened to when he listened to other folks music and sitting right there with the lid off that box off he straight out told me mahavishnu John McLaughlin. I told him I had listened to some of the things he had done with Caldwell and Goodman and Hammer and Ponty and he told me to listen further and to listen to shakti. in a year I had the opportunity to go work building and repairing aircraft in long Beach CA and while I was there at the Santa Monica civic I saw a concert advertised as John McLaughlin and shakti. I had no idea what to expect but what I saw changed the world around me. I'm 64 now and fucked up and dying from skin cancer after sailing around and living on boats for years so if I remember correctly it was just what appeared to be 5 dudes that were rather unkempt as much as me sitting on the floor of the stage with normal lighting and missing any amplification or wiring and for 2 hrs I had a very hard time trying to figure out where all the sound could be coming from I looked allover all over for hidden wiring and amplification and the sound seemed to be only coming from these old indian gentleman that looked to be 100 years old each. now Mr. McLaughlin himself who is mellow and charming and subdued and res- pectful. seemed even himself to be in awe of these musicians. I certainly was and to this day I wish I could be sitting their trying to figure where all that sound was coming from and I would graciously like to thank Mr. Jeff Beck for pointing the way on my lifes trek and showing me how to feel and be good with myself with just some tunes that for no other reason cann make you listen and relax and make you walk away just feeling damn good inexplicably except the tones smacked you in the head and knocked the rubbish out of it like a hot shower could clean the outside of a filthy body. it took your brain and shampooed it. thank you Mr. John McLaughlin thank you Mr. Jeff Beck aloha
@@JonesyTheCat He had some sort of a fallout, I believe, and doesn't play with them anymore...the band is coming together for their 50th anniversary this year - while Selvaganesh (vikku's son) will be there on all the concerts, Vikku is expected to join John and Zakir in couple of them....but sadly, no Shankar. He has now dyed his hair golden and performs solo...and is still magnificent.
I think the question is why isn't music like this appreciated now? Do musicians want to play it? Do people want to hear it? Do they know it even exists? Are we less spiritual as a race now?
Greg Maffei . Alas we are less spiritual , more than we’ve ever been I think . Someday the light will shine so brightly that , hopefully , all will see .
The worlds best and most distinctive guitarist. Modern shredders seem to use the same scales which makes them indistinguishable from each other but you can immediately recognize john when he starts to play. He and 10cc's eric stewart (1st four albums) influenced me as a guitarist and are the only two that really "spoke" to me!
Everyrhing is an event of course, and as all events occur within the known world all events are therefore cosmic. I know what you mean though. Kind of.
I'm a classical music composer, but used to be a touring and studio guitarist and keyboardist. john McLaughlin was always a great musician that every good guitarist aspired to learn from. his ideas, talent, and picking technique is simply amazing and flawless. Only the best players can perform like this on an acoustic guitar. I'm also a sound engineer, and it's amazing that the good microphones being used here are all still industry standards almost 50 years later....Peace!
1976 : Shakti was released 1976 : I was born 2022 : i am still listening Creation itself is a "Big Musical Bang" . Playing it in a loop strips my ego, my ambitions, my jealousy, my anger, frustrations ...a long list of vices . I feel so humbled ....so light weight. May we all live in peace and with love in our hearts .
saw them in cincinnati in the late 70's. they were late and i stood out in the freezing cold for 45 minutes. while waiting, i promised myself that i would never go to another concert in my life. i made the same promise to myself on the way out, but for a different reason. how can ya top that?
No tricks or auto tone on THIS. Just pure talent and love of music. The bond between Zakir and JM is soooo apparent here. No coincidence that this song is called "Joy". I smile every time I hear it.
It's called autotune, and nobody's singing on this. The autotune comment is getting as old as a guy yelling Freebird. Ugh. I share your love of Shakti though, they are total "Joy" for me too!
@@richbailey8174 the latest one I ran into argues there has been no good music of any kind in 30 years. I gently suggested there are many great bands now too, and that younger musicians today are much more technically advanced then they were back then. He bit my head off. Sigh...
I saw Shakti in Chicago in 1977. An unforgettable Event. ***My 1st date - I received red roses (I left them on the stage - as an offering for John and the other band members) I’m a trumpeter, but great music - is just that.....It touched my soul....I listen to this day - and have shared this joy with my musical children. 🙏💐🙏
So extremely beautiful. Met John once after a concert in Stockholm and gave him my homemade picks, which he examined and truly thanked me for. A truly humble gentleman and a genious with the strings. Love.
Am hearing altered states in their music from listening. Each instrument is played to perfection and their sense of ensemble is pure and aligned. Entering altered realms listening to them. With nothing but clear head and open ears and heart. No added ingredients necessary.
I briefly met McLauglin in Paris a few years back. He gave a brief free concert in the Parc Floral, just as brilliant as usual. I told him that I appreciated both Mahavishnu and Shakti days, having seen him live back then decades ago. Giving me a big smile he said ‘your kidding’ ! Modest genius.
I saw them twice: once in Indianapolis with Larry Coryell as the opening act. The second time was in Chicago with Weather Report--Jaco on bass. Words can't do justice to those experiences.
This is music at its best. I used to have their vrecords, all of tjem, they weren't many, back in the 70's in Stockholm and then In Brasil. Someone stole them from me. That was a great loss. What musicianship! Outstanding!!
Wow my mind is significantly blown...never heard of these two until today and I don't know why...this is so impressive...I wish people knew just how impressive this is...
Happy memories for me because I saw this band at a Sheffield University union gig back in '75 -awesome! I was already familiar with McLaughlin's music and had bought my first Shakti album but seeing them live was something else. The empathy between these musicians was evident which enhances the whole musical experience.
the love for pure music shows in the faces and bodies of these legends..kudos to John to explore Indian classical music from such closeness and passion..he is a legend
Yngwie, eat your heart out. Scalloped fretboard acoustic with drone strings, scales from the edge of Uttar Pradesh (someone doubtless knows which), rhythms like razors. Acute, keen, sharp, involved players. This was 1975! And now we have boy bands. What happened? Anyone?
Awesome playing no doubt but I wish John used more exotic scales actually. He sticks to mostly pentatonic scales here and Shawn did the same for the most part when he played with Indian musicians. I don't get it, both are supreme incredible musicians and guitarists that have a huge knowledge of scales melody and harmony and a technique which allows them to play anything their heart desires and can hear but they both stick to mostly the common over played pentatonic scales??? Shawn did play more exotic scales when he played keys though and the slides he did emulating Indian classical music were amazing as well as the bends John is doing here, amazing! I just think players of such a high caliber could have done more with it, gone even further with the Indian classical thing. But to each his. Still it's totally awesome what they did, very innovative and beautiful music they created. I love the interaction between them, feeding their improvisations, there isn't enough of that in music today, there could always be more, more listening and responding like a conversation. It's incredible to watch.
I can’t imagine playing an acoustic guitar, violin, and percussion with such intensity for this long. That’s just incredible. The music, musicianship, and timing here are all just so good. It’s really amazing.
Magic! A delight to watch four masters interact. I am glad that this performance was recorded for future generations to enjoy and think about what music was.
I see many people say "aaah it's not played anymore". There are still TONS of bands playing complex and spiritual music. Not necessarily in this precise style but that exists. They just are not supported by major record companies anymore so you have to google , look on websites like bandcamp you'll find tons of stuff available whether, it's prog, zeuhl, free-jazz, experimental stuff etc it's still around! Same regarding electronic music, you have heaps of interesting records around being released non-stop.
John is an all time great. Name me another player who can play this then rock then blues then jazz then flamenco. He literally can do it all. He can jump in on a jam session anywhere anytime and elevate it. People don’t understand that
"So, I'm bringing my custom guitar for this gig" "Oh hell yeah, I'll be there with my tabla drums, world class artisinal manufacture and shit" "Totally dude, and I'll bring along my extremely expensive custom violin" and then "Okay, well, I'm bringing my favorite flower vase and god help you if you can't keep up."
The performance started with teevra and ended with teevra. I have heard such a thing after so long! Zakir Hussain and Vikku Vinayakram: this duo goes a long way back, it seems