Jan 21, 2025 7:54 PM
Southern California Fires Hit the Jazz Community
Roy McCurdy and his wife had just finished eating dinner and were relaxing over coffee in their Altadena home, when he…
Guitarist John McLauglin posted “Lockdown Blues” to YouTube on Wednesday in an effort to raise funds for the Jazz Foundation of America.
(Photo: Ina Behrend)Guitarist John McLaughlin posted “Lockdown Blues” to YouTube on Wednesday in an effort to raise funds for the Jazz Foundation of America’s COVID-19 Musicians’ Emergency Fund.
“The pandemic has thrown hundreds of thousands of musicians out of work—and nobody knows for how long,” the guitarist, who came to prominence in Miles Davis’ electric band and subsequently spent decades exploring various strains of international music, jazz and fusion. “So, if you donate something—even something really small—thank you. If not, enjoy the music.”
Accompanied by the 4th Dimension—keyboardist Gary Husband, bassist Etienne Mbappe and drummer Ranjit Barot—McLaughlin turns in a relatively sedate fusion expedition, but one that still crackles with the sounds listeners have come to expect from the guitarist. “Lockdown Blues” also counts as the first piece of new music issued by the band in about five years, according to a press release.
To make a donation to JFA, visit the nonprofit’s website.
Gerald and John Clayton at the family home in Altadena during a photo shoot for the June 2022 cover of DownBeat. The house was lost during the Los Angeles fires.
Jan 21, 2025 7:54 PM
Roy McCurdy and his wife had just finished eating dinner and were relaxing over coffee in their Altadena home, when he…
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