John McLaughlin: From Miles and Mahavishnu to The 4th Dimension

In the hierarchy of British jazz musicians, the super-virtuoso guitarist, composer, and bandleader John McLaughlin holds an unassailable position at the very top. Across dozens of official studio and live albums that encompass solo acts, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Shakti, and co-headlining group projects, GRAMMY-Award winner John McLaughlin has consistently enthralled and surprised with boundary-pushing, genre-defying music. He was Miles Davis's guitarist of choice on epochal albums In A Silent Way, Jack Johnson, Bitches Brew, and Live Evil. Drawing on hundreds of sources and interviews with key collaborators, Matt Phillips takes us on an exciting journey through McLaughlin's entire career: his early years; his flirtations with the European avant-garde; groundbreaking work with Miles Davis and Tony Williams; the electrifying fusion groups The Mahavishnu Orchestra and Shakti; special projects with the likes of Chick Corea, Sting, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Carlos Santana, and Jeff Beck; hugely popular acoustic collaborations with Paco De Lucia, Larry Coryell, and Al Di Meola; and his 4th Dimension band. His highly virtuoso style brought about a revolution in guitar playing, carving out one of the most critic-proof and prolific careers in modern times. This is the first major book about McLaughlin to illuminate his entire output from 1980-2020. Including never-before-seen photographs, it's a thrilling ride through the life of a master musician.