Shakti with John McLaughlin

[mjzee]

What a great record. Flew under the radar when it was first released - probably low budget (recorded at a concert in a college on Long Island!) and Columbia wasn't sure how to promote it. With the vantage of time, this was a precursor of "world music" - a true synthesis of jazz, raga and (though played on acoustic instruments) rock. Listen to the intensity with which they play - they start at a high energy level and proceed from there. McLaughlin's runs are amazing; if played on electric guitar they would fill the hall, but the acoustic guitar lends them a subtlety that's very appealing. And McLaughlin's constantly pushing the band: his playing a guitar allows chording as well as single-note runs, and he uses chords almost as a line of attack. I had the pleasure of seeing them live at SUNY-Binghamton a few months after the first album was recorded, and it was a great show.

[A Lark Ascending]

Love those initial 3 records. Also like the Remembering Shakti groups of recent years - caught them a couple of times 10+ years back.

[Guy Berger]

Agreed with Bev. At first I was underwhelmed with the Remember Shakti albums (I've only heard the 2-disc and The Believer) - they are more reflective, less in-your-face than the self-titled live album - but they grew on me a lot.

[Shawn]

My Mother owned this record and played it all the time when I was a kid, I loved it then and I love it now.

[jazzbo]

I bought it when it came out It sat unplayed a long time but I've been spinning it more the last few years . . . always absorbing.

[GA Russell]

I got that Shakti album as part of the McLaughlin OAC box in the spring for Easter. I haven't opened it up yet. I guess I should!

http://www.amazon.com/Original-Album-Classics-John-Mclaughlin/dp/B000UH8BT0/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1384052692&sr=1-1&keywords=john+mclaughlin+original+album+classics

Edited November 10, 2013 by GA Russell

[.:.impossible]

This got a lot of play from a handful of friends in my college days. When they weren't listening to McLaughlin, they were unleashing endless flurries of eighth notes at each other on their PRS guitars. I honestly think they believed they were recreating compressed sections of Love, Devotion, Surrender. They were not.

[A Lark Ascending]

I know very little about Indian music but do know the names on both the original and later Shakti records are players with enormous reputations in their own classical/folk areas of focus. And from what I've read they have enormous respect for the way McLaughlin works within their traditions.

The first time I saw Remembering Shakti in Birmingham (some of the tracks on the first double CD came from that concert) the audience was half ageing prog/fusion rockers, half Asians who I suspect were there for the Indian musicians. Every now and then the Asians in the audience burst into applause at some achievement that the rest of us were clueless about. It was an interesting meeting of cultures.

Not a Shakti record by name but one I'd recommend involving some of the same musicians and definitely similar in spirit:

A perfect Sunday morning record in this house.

There's an interesting interview with McLaughlin about Shakti in the November Jazzwise. Remembering Shakti are playing the London Jazz Festival in about 10 days. It's sold out.

Edited November 10, 2013 by A Lark Ascending

[.:.impossible]

Yes, that is a beautiful record.

[sidewinder]

Love those initial 3 records. Also like the Remembering Shakti groups of recent years - caught them a couple of times 10+ years back.

Yes, I caught that tour too, when they played the Poole Lighthouse. Zakir Hussain was in the lineup, I recall (and maybe also Talvin Singh - can't remember). I see that they are 'on' at the LJF over the next week or so. Those of us in the regions don't count these days.

Edited November 10, 2013 by sidewinder

[7/4]

I wasn't interested when it came out, John wasn't playing electric guitar on it. Eventually came around and really wore out those three albums. And bought 'em on CD too, later.

From wiki: "Two concerts at the Montreux Jazz Festival (July 6, 1976 and July 8, 1977) are included among the 17 CDs of the box Montreux Concerts by John McLaughlin."

[Hot Ptah]

I saw Shakti open for Weather Report in May, 1976. It was one of Jaco Pastorious' first live performances with Weather Report. I remember that Shakti was quite memorable, and played very beautiful music (and very fast music).

[mikeweil]

I witnessed a three hour concert and always thought that Shakti's didn't really catch the brilliance of that evening. I have all three but never listen to them. The third was over-produced, IMO.