John McLaughlin “ Trilogy “ & ” Thelonious Melodious “ with Jonas Hellborg / John McLaughlin & 'Tonight Show' Big Band - Cherokee

John McLaughlin & Jonas Hellborg “ Trilogy “ & ” Thelonious Melodious “

Curiously (well for me) I don’t care for McLaughlin’s level of virtuosity

It doesn’t move me, doesn’t speak to me, no feeling at all, but more speed at the expense of feeling and expression and bursts of trill and jazz equivalent of thrash add ostinato 1, 2, 3,  galloping or legato, closer to shredding.  . . . . 

Here however on acoustic it seems clearer and more enjoyable (to me) but the repeat spread, run, build is repetitive and boring and it is not a sitar raga but western version of same or attempt at, which is unmoving and mere virtuosity for virtuosity’s sake it seems to me! The bursts of speed became almost laughable; slow, slow, quick, quick, QUICKER! Yawn!

Maybe THIS is why I don’t care for his playing!

John McLaughlin & 'Tonight Show' Big Band - Cherokee 🎸

John being interviewed on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, November 19, 1985.

Cherokee?! Really?!

Ghastly! Truly dreadful!