Danial Peter, a guitar buff with a very clear presenting style, has recently posted this fascinating breakdown of what John McLaughlin actually plays in the side-long epic ‘Right Off’, on Miles Davis’ ‘A Tribute To Jack Johnson’ (1971).
Famously, the track began as an informal jam between John and the two other musicians on bass and drums, with Miles rushing in from the control room when he heard it. (Later in the track, Herbie Hancock, who had literally wandered in to say hi, on his his way past the studio with a bag of groceries in his hands, was motioned over to an unfamiliar keyboard by Miles and ends up playing on the track there and then.)
I play a bit of guitar – no great theory expert, all bluff and instinct, really – but Daniel’s revelation that John is really only playing a Bb7 is fascinating to me. Being John McLaughlin he, of course, stretches and inverts the living daylights out of that chord, making it sound to the fairly casual listener like an armoury of chords. Clever and yet, in a way, simple stuff. The performance was all about the groove – keeping it moving, with an illusion of change throughout.
Here’s the original track:
As usual, I have no idea about all this stuff but find it fascinating all the same.
Lover that album.
It’s all Greek to me, but yes it was fascinating. Till about 12 minutes and my brain melted.
I got in there first with my criticism, he smugly says. I did a very lukewarm review of this album last year and I thought at the time John McLaughlin’s playing was a bit basic! I still fail to see the love for this album. Haven’t listened to it since writing this. https://theafterword.co.uk/miles-davis-a-tribute-to-jack-johnson
We can now conclude that when Arthur says ‘a bit basic’ he really means ‘I don’t like Bb7’.
Seriously, though, Daniel makes a good point in the vid in explaining that John is going deliberately for an R&B groove here – not a jazz-rock wig-out. Michael Henderson (on the session) was a Motown bass player, not a jazzer. You could imagine this track being by James Brown – seriously, listen with that in mind – except that James really WOULD have limited it to that one chord, and almost none of those inversions!
Many people list it as their favourite Miles album, particularly those with a preference for rock before jazz.
Did you know John McLaughlin was a day older than J.R.R. Tolkien?
Plus 50 years:
(Soz Col, I couldn’t resist, given the flurry of interest and responses around the post you remind us of.)
McLofflin?
Yes, Americans seem to have that persistent profflem with the name.
Seems odd… they love Glocks!
I have to say I found that fascinating. As a guitarist more so.
The ability to vamp on a single chord and inversions thereof is not easy, but incredibly rewarding. More importantly if a guitarist can create a groove out of a single chord, inspire his co-musicians, and grab the interest of the listener, then he deserves to be John McHavishnu.