Beyond Games

The Tony Williams Lifetime: John McLaughlin (acoustic and electric guitars), Larry Young (organ) and Tony Williams (drums, vocals). From the album Emergency! (1969).

Thanks to Emergency!, John McLaughlin, English guitarist, became known in the United States and was discovered by Miles Davis, who hired him for his next works, and although Williams and Young were more veterans, the album owes its integrity to the interaction of its three components. It’s loud, innovative, original, vibrant and without fear of taking risks. While Williams uses the same hard touch as in Davis’s quintet, Young chooses a percussive approach and the use of guitar and synthesizers effects, and McLaughlin’s performance is one of the best of his career.

In short, unbeatable percussion with endless organ melodies, riffs and whirlpools, all united by McLaughlin’s dynamic creativity. Williams intertwines polyrhythms on top of each other, taking the music away from its center of gravity and then putting it back in the right place to create incredible dynamics. Young’s subtle style is perfect to accompany the virtuoso guitar and drums tours. McLaughlin’s solos are dense and noisy, but still have their origin in jazz.

The melody of the theme, exposed by McLaughlin, is simple and repeated four times. Williams then starts talking over the music for a long time while McLaughlin improvises underneath. When Williams finishes, McLaughlin plays another melody that gradually degenerates into a strong and forceful solo. Next he comes back to the theme and Williams starts talking again accompanied by McLaughlin, who concludes re-exposing the theme and ending abruptly.