Meeting of the Spirits
Mahavishnu Orchestra, 1971, from The Inner Mounting Flame. Solo by John McLaughlin.
The Inner Mounting Flame opener; McLaughlin's rapid-fire picking over odd meters set the template for jazz-rock guitar.
Meeting of the Spirits opens The Inner Mounting Flame, and it set the template for jazz-rock guitar almost at once. John McLaughlin, playing his Gibson EDS-1275 double-neck, launches into rapid-fire alternate picking over odd meters, his lines dense and fierce but never shapeless. The band matches him with violin and keyboard solos, so the track feels like a series of intense conversations rather than a single showcase. Its blend of rock volume, jazz harmony and Indian-influenced scales pointed countless guitarists toward fusion. Listen for how McLaughlin's phrases rise in intensity, then resolve suddenly onto the song's heavy unison figure.
Meeting of the Spirits by Mahavishnu Orchestra is featured in our Fusion (#2) list. The solo is played by John McLaughlin and the song was released in 1971.
In our lists
- Beyond the Canon — #7
- The 25 Greatest Fusion Guitar Solos — #2
- The Best Mahavishnu Orchestra Guitar Solos — #3
- The Best John McLaughlin Guitar Solos — #2
Sources
Who played the guitar solo on Meeting of the Spirits?
John McLaughlin played the solo on Mahavishnu Orchestra's Meeting of the Spirits (1971).
What guitar was used on the Meeting of the Spirits solo?
A gibson eds-1275, according to widely reported accounts.