English guitarist and jazz fusion pioneer “Mahavishnu” John McLaughlin was born in Yorkshire on January 4, 1942. The man that has been called the “best living guitarist” by Jeff Beck, and the “world’s greatest guitarist” by Pat Metheny, was born into a family of musicians. McLaughlin took up the instrument at age 11, and by the time he was in his 20s he was giving guitar lessons to Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page.
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During the 1960s McLaughlin played with groups like Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames, the Graham Bond Organisation (with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker) and with Brian Auger. He also did studio work in London. In 1969 he moved to the United States and played with Tony Williams’ Lifetime as well as on several Miles Davis albums including "In a Silent Way" and "Bitches Brew." His debut album as a leader, “Extrapolation,” was also released in 1969.

In the U.S. McLaughlin became a first call studio musician and played with Joe Farrell, Wayne Shorter, Larry Coryell, Carla Bley, Carlos Santana, Stanley Clarke, Buddy Miles and the Rolling Stones. In 1979 he was a member of a short-lived trio with Tony Williams and Jaco Pastorius called the Trio of Doom that performed at the Havana Jazz Festival.

Perhaps John McLaughlin’s best-known project was the fusion group the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Along with McLaughlin’s guitar, the band originally included Jerry Goodman on electric violin, Jan Hammer playing keyboards, bassist Rick Laird and drummer Billy Cobham. Personality conflicts and musical differences precipitated personnel changes after their first three albums, but their performances were tremendously complex technical displays combining electronic jazz, rock and Eastern and Indian musics. In the 1970s McLaughlin also led a group called Shakti which focused on Indian classical music.

During his career, McLaughlin has collaborated with the London Symphony Orchestra, with flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia and appeared in the movie “’Round Midnight” with Dexter Gordon. He has appeared at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival and with Elvin Jones and Joey DeFrancesco.

Here is a link to John McLaughlin performing at the New York City Blue Note Jazz Club with Chick Corea, Victor Wooten and Lenny White:

"YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW"