一聽音樂網

在爵士樂大師Miles Davis周圍，曾經有許多的音樂精英與之合作并受其影響，Fusion吉他大師John McLaughlin就是其中之一，他可以算是一位將Fusion樂發揚光大的音樂者。很多音樂人都愛用Fusion這個詞來標榜自己，但John McLaughlin卻從不喜歡這樣。"我是一個Fusion音樂人，這只是因為找不到一個更好的詞來形容我自己。"他曾經說過，"我敬慕爵士樂，我所作的就是將我喜歡的其它音樂形式與之結合。Fusion從何而來，又去向何處？誰是正宗的，誰又不是？其實全是胡說八道。"

McLaughlin從11歲時開始學習吉他，最初他從一些布魯斯和Swing吉他手那獲得了不少啟發。60年代，他曾與Alexis Korner, Graham Bond, Ginger Baker（奶油樂隊的鼓手）和其他樂手合作過，與Gunter Hampel一起玩了半年的自由爵士。1969年，McLaughlin移居紐約，結識了Miles Davis，參與錄制了Miles的經典專集"Bitches Brew"和"In A Silent Way"。1971年，他組建了Mahavishnu大樂隊，音樂風格偏于搖滾，尤其融入了當時英國流行的以貝司和鼓為主調的Jungle風格，卻帶有大量非常成熟的爵士即興，成為最具爆炸性的爵士搖滾樂隊。為在發行了三張很有影響力的專輯之后（"The Inner Mounting Flame"，"Birds of Fire"和"Between Nothingness and Eternity"），樂隊于1973年解散。1975年，McLaughlin又組建了一只以印度音樂為核心的樂隊-Shakti，開始彈奏原聲吉他，他在音樂風格上的這種出人意料的迅速轉變讓音樂界感到驚訝。Shakti樂隊維持了三年，那時，世界音樂這個概念還剛處于幼年階段，Shakti的音樂就已經在這個領域造成了有力的沖擊。從那時起，McLaughlin便徘徊在電吉他和原聲吉他的演奏風格之間，他組建了另一只樂隊One Truth Band，又與另兩位原聲吉他大師Al DiMeola和Paco De Lucia組成三重奏，演奏西班牙風格的音樂。80年代中期，又參與了Miles Davis的專輯的錄制，并與著名的薩克斯演奏者Bill Evans重新組合了Mahavishnu大樂隊。McLaughlin始終保持著Miles Davis的激情，在爵士樂風格和音色的調色板上不斷調和出新的色彩。

對于未來的發展，McLaughlin保持著很開放的態度，就象30年前的Miles Davis一樣。"Miles并不知道他將去往何處，我對自己也同樣不清楚，我只是向前走。"他說，"當人憑著本能和想象向前走時，會不可避免的和其他人交織到一起。難道人的道路不是這樣的嗎？我不知道還有其他的路可走。"

John McLaughlin (vocals, guitar, fretless guitar, programming, drum programming); Shankar Mahadevan (vocals); Eric Johnson (guitar); Ada Rovatti, Bill Evans (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Gary Husband (keyboards, drums); Otmaro Ruiz (synthesizer); Hadrien Faraud, Tony Gray, Matthew Garrison (bass guitar); Mark Mondasir, Dennis Chambers, Vinnie Colaiuta (drums); Zakir Hussain (tabla); Marcus Wippersberg (drum programming). Recording information: Metropolis Studios, London, England. Widely recognized as one of the most innovative and influential guitar players since the 1960s, John McLaughlin has forged a musical path that has seen him flirt with everything from hard rock to world music. A fusion player in the true sense of the word, McLaughlin continued his progressive stylistic synthesis on 2006's INDUSTRIAL ZEN. While the guitarist is also known for his meditative work (especially his experiments with Indian music), INDUSTRIAL ZEN is something of a return to the jazz fusion that marked McLaughlin's work with Miles Davis and his own group the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Drummer Dennis Chambers, saxophonist Bill Evans, and guitar virtuoso Eric Johnson, among others, are on hand to lend sparks to the icon's six-string wizardry.
Since the 1970's John McLaughlin's long career has always taken mysical turns, from the Mahavishnu Orchestra to Shakti. Here on "Industrial Zen", McLaughlin turns his well honed skills to Jazz fusion. He is joined by many names that brought power-house jazz fusion to the frontline during the '90's, including Bill Evans, Gary Husband, Mark Mondesir, Vinnie Colauta and Dennis Chambers as well as Texas guitar legend Eric Johnson.