In the early '70s
John McLaughlin was one-third of the supergroup
Lifetime with drummer
Tony Williams and organist
Larry Young. This particular CD from 1994 matches him with drummer
Elvin Jones and organist
Joey DeFrancesco, but the music has little in common with
Lifetime. Instead many of the tunes can be considered to be tributes to
John Coltrane;
Jones's participation certainly reinforces that connection.
McLaughlin, back on electric guitar after several years sticking almost exclusively to acoustic, is in top form on such numbers as "Take the Coltrane," "My Favorite Things," "Crescent," and "Afro Blue." The improvising is advanced and colorful with
DeFrancesco keeping the proceedings swinging, and even if the results are not quite classic, the collaboration is somewhat unique. ~ Scott Yanow