Is That So?

John McLaughlin sparked a paradigm shift in the East-West fusion genre with his 1970s group Shakti. He is seeking another revolution on this record. Tabla maestro and Shakti original member Zakir Hussain is on hand to help, but his primary creative foil is Mumbai-based vocalist Shankar Mahadevan.

McLaughlin and Mahadevan began experimenting with re-harmonising ragas during downtime on tour. A composition-by-correspondence followed, where Mahadevan would send performances of traditional songs that McLaughlin would orchestrate using Western harmony. On the record the experimental ante is upped by McLaughlin's choice to route his guitar through a spacey sound module. The tone provides an appropriate base from which Mahadevan's silken voice can soar, but is an acquired taste. Hussain's supportive rhythmic presence anchors the adventure. His solo on ‘Sakhi’ represents a highlight. McLaughlin's mentor Miles Davis never lost his instinct to innovate, and it is heartening to see the same spirit in McLaughlin even as he nears his 80th birthday. On this record he succeeds in challenging us to ask of our concept of what East-West fusion is: Is That So?