John McLaughlin - The Heart Awakens (Live) (2021)

In 1970 John McLaughlin stood at the cross-roads: behind him his former life as a first order session player; ahead, his reincarnation as the Mahavishnu Orchestra. It was a moment at which McLaughlin was trying to find himself, both musically and spiritually. Together with his wife, Eve, and with both heavily under the influence of Indian spiritual guru Sri Chinmoy, McLaughlin made a series of low-key, acoustic appearances, with Eve singing and accompanying on autoharp. This rare recording of one of the small, acoustic devotionals that the duo were performing was made and broadcast by the New York radio station WKCR. In a brief interlude before Mahavishnu launches his orchestra, the heat of jazz fusion and acid rock makes way for the acoustic, spiritual ambience of John McLaughlin at a fascinating turning point in his career. The recording also includes a lengthy interview in which John gives listeners a compelling insight into his spiritual and creative muse at the beginning of the 1970s, and an earlier BBC Session from 1967 in which he features as part of the Mike Carr Quartet.