John McLaughlin - 2021 "Liberation Time"

Liberation Time is a studio album by British jazz guitarist John McLaughlin. The album was recorded in various locations and released on 16 July 2021 via Abstract Logix. The album's personnel includes members of McLaughlin’s current ensemble named 4th Dimension: Gary Husband on drums and piano, Etienne Mbappé on bass, Ranjit Barot on drums and Konokol vocals—in addition to invited musicians.

Michael Ullman of The Arts Fuse stated, "The disc is his defiant, even occasionally joyous, response to the Covid lockdown. In his notes, the guitarist is determined to be positive." Elliot Marlow-Stevens of Jazz Journal wrote, "Drawn from inspiration found during the isolation of the coronavirus pandemic, McLaughlin’s latest album demonstrates his enduring skill as one of fusion’s most important figures." James Hale of DownBeat commented, "A sub-40-minute John McLaughlin recording that includes two solo piano tracks by the leader is bound to be frustrating. Add a pair of band recordings that echo vintage Mahavishnu Orchestra rave-ups, one of which includes a guitar solo filled with ridiculous technique, and you have a recipe for considering what might have been."

As the world reels from the social, emotional, and spiritual toll of the ongoing viral-induced global lockdown, McLaughlin reflects on both the perils and potential of this challenging moment with “Liberation Time” — his newest album, available July 16th on Abstract Logix/Mediastarz. In the fall of 2020, as the reality of pandemic limitations set in, McLaughlin commenced work on “Liberation Time” as a “direct response” (his words) to the mandated restrictions imposed by the spread of Covid-19. Characterized by both joy and reflection, “Liberation Time” finds McLaughlin harnessing his frustrations and redirecting that energy. “The result,” he explains in a candid liner note, “was an explosion of music in my mind.”

McLaughlin reached out to collaborators around the world, utilizing five studios to patch together the same number of groupings. Adding some consistency, three include McLaughlin’s long-time keyboardist Gary Husband, who doubles on drums on the rollicking “Liberation Time” (which features the aforementioned guitar solo). Even after more than 50 years of hearing McLaughlin tear up the fretboard with solos that move effortlessly through key changes and shifting time signatures, with melodic ideas that leap forward and circle back on themselves, his “Liberation Time” solo sounds astonishing.

“Lockdown Blues,” with the exceptional bassist Etienne MBappé, Husband and drummer Ranjit Barot, is another guitar-driven romp that surges joyously and culminates in Barot’s spirited duet between his drums and his konkol vocal percussion.

The quartet with Husband, bassist Sam Burgess and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta sounds only slightly more constrained on the opening “As The Spirit Sings,” and drummer Nicolas Viccaro shines with his quicksilver fills on the steaming “Right Here, Right Now, Right On,” a McLaughlin composition rooted in hard-bop.

“Singing Our Secrets,” with Jean-Michel “Kiki” Aublette on bass and drums, and Roger Rossignol on piano, shifts from ballad to medium-tempo swing and serves up dollops of McLaughlin’s rich, chunky amp tone.

Track listing:

1. "As the Spirit Sings" Sam Burgess, Vinnie Colaiuta, Gary Husband, John McLaughlin 5:22

2. "Singing our Secrets" Jean Michel Aublette, John McLaughlin, Roger Rossignol 5:13

3. "Lockdown Blues" Ranjit Barot, Gary Husband, Etienne Mbappé, John McLaughlin 7:19

4. "Mila Repa" John McLaughlin 2:29

5. "Right Here, Right Now, Right On" Osam Ezzeldin, John McLaughlin, Jérôme Regard, Julian Siegal, Nicolas Viccaro 7:26

6. "Shade of Blue" John McLaughlin 1:33

7. "Liberation Time" Sam Burgess, Gary Husband, John McLaughlin 7:49

Total length: 36:55

Personnel:

John McLaughlin – guitar

Etienne Mbappe – bass

Jérôme Regard – bass

Sam Burgess – bass

Gary Husband – drums, keyboards

Nicolas Viccaro – drums

Vinnie Colaiuta – drums

Jean-Michel Aublette – drums, bass

Ranjit Barot – drums, vocals

Oz Ezzeldin – piano

Roger Rossignol – piano

Julian Siegel – tenor saxophone