John McLaughlin: The Montreux Years 1978-2016 for HD mastered LP and CD release

Montreux Jazz Festival and BMG have announced the next instalment in The Montreux Years series with the release of John McLaughlin: The Montreux Years on 4 March 2022. Curated and compiled by John McLaughlin, the album is a collection of his finest performances at the Montreux Jazz Festival between 1978 and 2016, which have been beautifully restored and remastered at Metropolis, the recordings will be available in multi-format configurations, including superior audiophile heavy weight triple-vinyl (for the first time), as well as double and single CDs, and via streaming services in HD audio. All but one of these tracks has been previously released on the 17-CD Warner Bros 2003 box set, The John McLaughlin Montreux Concerts, but are now available in a far more digestible package.  

A true living legend and one of the most influential and virtuosic guitarists in jazz, John McLaughlin has been a long-time friend of the Montreux Jazz Festival, having played at the iconic Swiss festival many times. The performances in this new collection are curated from six shows between 1978 to 2016 and feature many of the guitarist’s ensembles over the years including The Mahavishnu Orchestra, The Heart Of Things band, The Free Spirits, The 4th Dimension as well as a spellbinding duo with his fellow virtuoso and close friend Paco de Lucia. Encapsulating his time at the festival, John McLaughlin: The Montreux Years opens with the 1984 track ‘Radio Activity’ by the Mahavishnu Orchestra, which McLaughlin reformed in the 1980s for the release of the album Mahavishnu.

Fans of the jazz fusion pioneer can immerse themselves in the superb and classic material that defined McLaughlin’s career, which includes the track ‘Acid Jazz’ from the album The Heart of Things. Further exploring McLaughlin’s impressive repertoire, John McLaughlin: The Montreux Years includes the tracks ‘Sing Me Softly Of The Blues’ from 1994’s After the Rain and ‘El Hombre Que Sabia’ from McLaughlin’s studio album Black Light.

Mastering has been performed by Tony Cousins at London’s iconic Metropolis Studios, incorporating MQA to capture the original sound of the special live performances, while this set will be also accompanied by exclusive liner notes by McLaughlin himself and previously unseen photography.

John McLaughlin: "To speak about The Montreux Jazz Festival brings back so many wonderful memories. But since my association goes back to 1971, we are looking at 50 years of history! Whether it’s the different incarnations of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Shakti, The One Truth Band, The Free Spirits, The Heart of Things, Carlos Santana or with the late great Paco de Lucia, the list goes on and on. Not only all my musical performances at Montreux, but all my other visits to see my dear friend Claude Nobs the founder, my friends of the festival, join jam sessions, go hiking in the fabulous countryside around that lovely town. Montreux is a big part of my life’s musical and personal history and to share this selection of my performances on this recording makes me truly happy.”

McLaughlin embarks on a European tour in March with his 4th Dimension Band who then play in Ireland and UK at the NCH, Dublin (26 May); Barbican, London (28 May); Bridgewater Hall, Manchester (30 May) and Usher Hall, Edinburgh (31 May).

For more info and to pre-order the album visit themontreuxyears.tmstor.es

LP Track-listing: 

 Side A

1. ‘Radio Activity’ (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1984) 1980s edition of Mahavishnu Orch with Bill Evans, Mitchell Foreman, Jonas Hellborg and Danny Gottlieb
2. ‘Friendship’ (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1978) One Truth band with Stu Goldberg (keys), L. Shankar (violin), Tom Stevens (bass) and Sonship Theus (drums)

Side B

1. ‘Nostalgia’ (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1984) 1980s Mahavishnu
2. ‘Acid Jazz’ (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1998)Heart of Things band with Gary Thomas, Jim beard, Matt Garrison and Dennis Chambers

Side C

1. ‘David’ (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1987) with Paco De Lucia
2. ‘Florianapolis’ (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1987) with Paco e Lucia

Side D

1. ‘Sing Me Softly of the Blues’ (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1995) Free Spirits with Joey De Francesco and Dennis Chambers
2. ‘El Hombre’ Que Sabià (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 2016) 4th Dimension Band