Words matter. These are the best John McLaughlin Quotes, and they’re great for sharing with your friends.
The first LP, ‘Inner Mounting Flame,’ is, of course, one of my favorites, and also ‘Visions of the Emerald Beyond.’ But the others are also very dear to me.
When Mahavishnu came out in ’71, the unbelievable reaction to the band was a real shock to me. It was a shock to everybody.
As far as favorite tunes, ‘You Know You Know’ is one, and why it is important is difficult to say. The rhythmic cycle is very interesting and challenging to play, since it can be considered three bars of 4/4 or four bars of 3/4. ‘The Dance of Maya’ is another, and I have to mention ‘Sanctuary.’
I discovered flamenco when I was 14, before I even got involved with jazz music. I was so crazy about flamenco music. I wanted to be a flamenco guitar player.
The mathematics of rhythm are universal. They don’t belong to any particular culture.
I have a profound affection for Buddhism, and Zen Buddhism’s particular ways of meditating.
Frankly speaking, if I care what people write, whether it is positive or negative, I believe, personally, I’m on the wrong path.
If I had to live on record sales, I’d be pushing up the daisies.
The Mahavishnu Orchestra – when it came out, it was an explosion, completely unexpected as far as I was concerned. I was just forming a band.
You can have the greatest player in terms of mastering an instrument and you could be yawning your head off when you hear them. So, it’s not what you do, but the way you’re doing it and in the end that’s all that we have.
Interplay and interaction are the integral parts of music – they’re as important as the notes.
Music is closer to poetry than anything.
I’ve been studying the cultures of Asia for many years, and I’m very attracted to the culture of Japan, in particular to the impact Zen has had on the Japanese mind and spirit.
Only in spontaneity can we be who we truly are.
I’ve been more or less vegetarian for about 40 years. Health diet really helps. I do meditation every day, and either yoga or sport several times a week.
I have a great affection for Indian culture and music.
The Beatles, they brought a whole new dimension to pop music. Of course, the psychedelic period is much more interesting to me, starting with ‘Rubber Soul’ and on to the ‘White Album.’ Great, great records. I was such a Beatles fan. I was very sad when they broke up.
When I was five, I heard the end of Beethoven’s ‘Ninth Symphony’ with my mother, and I got goosebumps all over my body.
You realize as you get older that tomorrow is not guaranteed for anybody.
The moment you start to talk about playing music, you destroy music. It cannot be talked about. It can only be played, enjoyed and listened to.
Every day, I discover something utterly unbelievable when I play.
To pay attention to flattery or criticism is a waste of time for artists.
I don’t have any particular goals in making a recording. In a way the recording is itself the goal. The music comes into my mind, and from there the main job is to give form to it.
I’m not the sort of chap who can sit down and write music. When it comes, I’m happy.
I find Indian music very funky. I mean it’s very soulful, with their own kind of blues. But it’s the only other school on the planet that develops improvisation to the high degree that you find in jazz music. So we have a lot of common ground.
I was 11 years old, and I had been playing classical piano for three years, and suddenly the guitar came and landed in my arms. I fell in love with that instrument, and I still love it today. I love it so much.
The guitar l learned on was probably worth $4 or something, but it was priceless to me. It meant so much.
At the risk of sounding hopelessly romantic, love is the key element. I really love to play with different musicians who come from different cultural backgrounds.
Miles Davis himself, I discovered him when I was 15, and he rocked my world.
I don’t have any message in the music. Music will be fine as long as you take care of yourself.
