Jazz for aficionados

No problem on the link, Frogman.  Hmmm...the same feeling for almost 4 years now?  How about 8 years with unhappy prospects for a further 8 years to come (well 4 more, anyway).  Ultimately, however, "There is no political solution to our troubled evolution."  You can't build a brick house when all you have is wood.  Necessary changes to society (in simplest terms: how people treat one another) can't be imposed from the outside.  They'll  only happen when the individuals making up that society undergo fundamental internal changes to their basic motivations.  But as a society we're too sophisticated, intelligent and advanced to entertain the possible need for repentance and reconciliation with God.  And then people keep wondering how come things ain't getting any better.  Oh wait!  Sure they're getting better...starting round about when Time Magazine asked "Is God Dead?".  Yup, no mass shootings in schools, no drugs, less violence, improved living conditions in inner cities - safer, happier all around.  Our progress is unmistakeable.  God help us all given either major party outcome this November.  That's it for me.  So ends the sermon.  Hoping the Landlord returns soon.

On a happier note, thanks for the link, Inna. I watched that McLaughlin Hellborg performance.  There is no doubt JM has amazing technical skills but, for me, as with Bill Frisell, I don't connect with the performance on an emotional level.  I went back and gave another listen to Inner Mounting Flame (think I used to have this along with Birds of Fire).  Had forgotten some of the names that were in M. Orch...McLaughlin of course but also Jan Hammer and Billy Cobham.  Funny, I found Cobham's drumming along with Jerry Goodman's violin the things I liked best (and in that order).  Hammer's keyboards next.  McLauglin's guitar work last.  Again, amazing technical virtuosity but where's the beauty? Not that I want shallow lyricism all the time but for me, JM err's too much to the other extreme.  Please don't get me wrong.  I am NOT trying to argue your enjoyment or appreciation of him is misguided or in any way wrong!  OR that I am "right" and holding a "superior" position.  Just trying to verbalize what's not working for me.  Glad you enjoy his music so much.  

Well, gave you a bunch of things I've been listening to.  Not all at the same repeat frequency - but these are definitely things I find interesting and enjoyable to varying degrees.  Hoping at least one or two of them will click for you and provide something of what you heard with Mahavishnu.

Ghosthouse, thanks for your thoughtful comments.  I agree with your sentiments completely.  And you are a better man than I for missing (overlooking?) the sarcasm in my comment that, while completely relevant to the subject of your sentiments, was directed at something else.  Best that I leave my explanation at that.  Regards.

Ghosthouse, it seems everyone is turning to you, including me. I'm glad the musical conversation is continuing without me. My thoughts are consumed with the realities of the middle class.

Southerners think and vote with the rich, even when they're poor. Rok, talks about people on food stamps like their less than dirt, and how poor people are misusing his tax dollars, when that much is wasted everyday in Washington on defense somewhere. He doesn't even know about the "Black Budget"; "That's some kind of a conspiracy".

When people who are in my economic class think like that, we are doomed forever.



Enjoy the music.

Ghosthouse, I understand. Connecting on emotional level is very subjective, and we all know it very well.
McLaughlin's music, whatever he plays, if you listen carefully, is very unusual and complex, as is his personality. He is not easily accessible. Nor is Miles Davis.

Not for the novice- Sun Ra.