The Guitar Trio: Letter From India
Track
Letter From India
Group
The Guitar Trio
CD
The Guitar Trio (Verve 314 533 215-2)
Musicians:
John McLaughlin (acoustic guitar), Paco De Lucia (acoustic guitar).
Composed by John McLaughlin
.Recorded: England, summer 1996
Rating: 94/100 (learn more)
"Letter from India" is a duet featuring John McLaughlin and Paco De Lucia, the two members of The Guitar Trio who were getting along personally at that time. The title and composer would suggest another Indian-influenced piece. But au contraire, mon frère. (Or should I write "Kayal acha hai par," which is as close as I could get to the French phrase in idiomatic Hindi?) This Spanish-tinged ballad is right in the wheelhouses of both players. A gentle melody is introduced. The two guitarists trade calls and responses, and provide chord backing for impressive but low-pressure improvisational runs. For the uninitiated, this music may sound like the most intricate guitar work ever heard. But for these masters, the tune gave them a chance for a few minutes of introspective and calming interplay. This is verified by Paco's relaxed voice at song's end: "Nice, eh?" Yeah.
Reviewer: Walter Kolosky
Tags: 1990s jazz · guitar
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