It appears that your cart is currently empty
Order online or call us 01672 5111 06
John McLaughlin - Liberation Time
Released 16th July 2021.
Vinyl release delayed.
For more than five decades, John McLaughlin has deployed his peerless guitar technique, compositional gifts, and imagination in service of a deeply personal higher calling, forging a vast legacy unmatched in improvised music. Now as the world reels from the toll of the ongoing viral-induced global lockdown, McLaughlin reflects on both the perils and potential of this challenging moment with 'Liberation Time'.
Characterised by both joy and reflection, 'Liberation Time' finds McLaughlin harnessing his frustrations and redirecting that energy. "The result," he explains in a candid liner note, "was an explosion of music in my mind.".
Unusual for McLaughlin's recent projects, 'Liberation Time' is not the work of one fixed ensemble. With physical proximity no longer a prerequisite, McLaughlin drew upon decades of experience as a bandleader to select musicians best suited to each composition. "That is a choice that can only be made correctly if you know how the musicians play," he explains. "Not just how well they play technically, but how they play intuitively. Only then can you make the right decisions."
"As the Spirit Sings" introduces the album by contrasting churning rhythmic tension (stoked by drummer Vinnie Colaiuta and bassist Sam Burgess) with McLaughlin's soaring guitar figure - all underpinned by Gary Husband's subtle, expansive piano. Knotty post-bop figures form the basis of "Right Here, Right Now, Right On," one of the most jazz-inflected performances McLaughlin has laid down in some time, featuring Nicolas Viccaro (drums), Jerome Regard (bass), Julian Siegel (tenor saxophone), and Oz Ezzeldin (piano).
It is impossible to ignore the profound brotherhood that exists between the members of 4th Dimension - McLaughlin's current ensemble, which includes Husband along with Etienne Mbappe (bass) and Ranjit Barot (drums). They are featured on the soulful "Lockdown Blues," a playful refraction examination of blues tropes first released last summer to benefit the Jazz Foundation of America.
Our shipping costs are calculated by weight at the checkout in line with Royal Mail guidelines and include the cost of both postage and packing.
UK
CD Standard - £2.00 (typically arrives in 2-4 business days)
CD Signed For - £3.00 (typically arrives in 2-4 business days)
Vinyl Standard - £3.99 (typically arrives in 2-4 business days)
Vinyl Signed For - £4.99 (typically arrives in 2-4 business days)
Medium Parcel - £9.00 (typically arrives in 2-4 business days)
Click and Collect - FREE (collection from the shop, please wait for us to confirm your order is available to collect)
We are currently only accepting orders from the UK, if you'd like to place an order from another territory please email us at sales@sound-knowledge.co.uk and we can come back to you with a shipping quote.
You Might Also Like
Mulatu Astatke - Mulatu Plays Mulatu
Expected Release 26th September 2025 Mulatu Plays Mulatu marks Mulatu Astatke’s first major studi...
Expected Release 26th September 2025 Mulatu Plays Mulatu marks Mulatu Astatke’s first major studio album in over a decade, reinventing his classic compositions in his pioneered Ethio-jazz style. Blending Western jazz with traditional Ethiopian instruments (krar, masenqo, washint, kebero, begena), reflecting Mulatu’s long-term vision for Ethio-jazz. Recorded in London and Addis Ababa, the album features Mulatu’s UK ensemble, Addis-based cultural musicians, and contemporary artists Carlos Niño ...
£11.99 – £26.99
Barbra Streisand - The Secret of Life: Partners...
Expected Release 27th June 2025 Tracklisting:1. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (with Hozier)...
Expected Release 27th June 2025 Tracklisting:1. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (with Hozier)2. My Valentine (with Paul McCartney)3. To Lose You Again (with Sam Smith)4. The Very Thought Of You (with Bob Dylan)5. Letter To My 13 Year Old Self (with Laufey)6. One Heart, One Voice (with Mariah Carey & Ariana Grande)7. I Love Us (with Tim McGraw)8. Secret O’ Life (with James Taylor)9. Fragile (with Sting)10. Where Do I Go From You? (with Josh Groban)11. Love Will Survive (with Seal)
£11.99 – £26.00
Kokoroko - Tuff Times Never Last
Expected Release 11th July 2025 ‘Tuff Times Never Last’ is a spirited and vibrant collection of s...
Expected Release 11th July 2025 ‘Tuff Times Never Last’ is a spirited and vibrant collection of songs serving as an optimistic reminder to tightly hold and embrace the many dualities that occur in life. Over the course of the 11-song suite, the album explores togetherness, community, sensuality, childhood, loss and above all perseverance. Initially drawing inspiration from a viral social media meme, co-bandleader Onome Edgeworth said of the title’s origins and meaning: “It’s true! Although w...
£11.99 – £25.99
Released 25th April 2025 Emma-Jean Thackray, the visionary producer, composer, and multi-instrume...
Released 25th April 2025 Emma-Jean Thackray, the visionary producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, releases her highly anticipated second album, “Weirdo” on April 25th via Gilles Peterson’s celebrated label, Brownswood Recordings / Parlophone Records. Known for defying musical boundaries, Thackray's latest work is a deeply personal and utterly original exploration of selfhood, grief, and gratitude. Drawing on an eclectic mix of influences—grunge, pop, soul, p-funk, and jazz— “Weirdo” i...
£9.99 – £35.00