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John McLaughlin will embark on his final tour of the United States from November–December 2017.
(Photo: Courtesy Abstract Logix)Over the course of more than five decades, guitarist John McLaughlin has become one of the most revered legends in jazz, thanks to his astounding discography, his groundbreaking work as a fusion pioneer and his numerous collaborations. He has worked alongside musicians as diverse as Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis and The Rolling Stones.
Now, McLaughlin has announced that he will put an end to one facet of that prolific career: From November to December 2017, the guitarist will embark on his final tour of the United States, calling the performances along the way among his last on American soil.
Joining McLaughlin on the tour will be fellow guitarist Jimmy Herring, a jam-band icon and veteran of such bands as Aquarium Rescue Unit, The Allman Brothers, Widespread Panic and The Grateful Dead. Dubbed “The Meeting of the Spirits” tour, the multi-city circuit will feature McLaughlin revisiting the music he introduced with his genre-defying Mahavishnu Orchestra.
McLaughlin, 74, will be backed by his current band, the 4th Dimension: Ranjit Barot (drums), Gary Husband (keyboards, drums), and Etienne M’Bappé (bass).
On “The Meeting of the Spirits” tour, separate sets by Herring and McLaughlin will be followed by a collaborative finale based on classic Mahavishnu material.
For McLaughlin, who appeared on the cover of the January 2013 issue of DownBeat, the music of the Mahavishnu Orchestra is a fitting swan song.
“[Mahavishnu] is part of my personal and musical history, and as such it is inseparable from me,” McLaughlin said. “To return to these pieces with the experience I’ve had for the past 45 years, since the majority of those pieces were played all those years ago, is very exciting.”
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