John McLaughlin - Meeting of the Minds DVD

John McLaughlin DVD - Meeting of the Minds – The Making of “Floating Point”.

This DVD is an intimate record of how John McLaughlin’s latest CD release, “Floating Point” (see recent review), was made. It is a fascinating study of the great man’s approach to his music, and how he imparts his vision to his fellow musicians.

The camera wanders freely through the studio, capturing some great close-ups, and allowing the viewer wonderful access to John and his band of virtuoso musician friends, as they create their mesmerising brand of “world jazz fusion”. Interviews with John and the other players, interspersed with footage of rehearsals, recording sessions and inter-musician discussions all add to provide a great insight into the modern recording process.

This DVD is an ideal accompaniment to the recently-released “Floating Point” CD but will prove equally satisfying as a stand-alone purchase. A must for all fans of John McLaughlin and jazz fusion, this DVD will also satisfy anyone interested in seeing how musical heavyweights communicate and interact through the construction of a new recording – and a damn fine one at that! Meeting of the Minds – The Making of “Floating Point” is released in April 2008 under the auspices of Mediastarz (Europe) and AbstractLogix (USA).

Review by Steve Thorne (www.rocklens.com)