My Goals Beyond
Could this be the granddaddy of both new age and the world music movement?  Fresh from his sojourn with Miles Davis's groundbreaking electric fusion band, guitarist John McLaughlin continued to explore that style with his own explosive electric group, the Mahavishnu Orchestra. However, he also recognized an affinity between jazz and Indian music, and began that investigation--which would later come to encompass his band, Shakti--with this acoustic date.My Goals Beyondis essentially two records: the first half a group session featuring Miles Davis bandmates Airto, Billy Cobham, Badal Roy, and Dave Liebman, as well as sitarist Mahalakshmi, violinist Jerry Goodman and bassist Charlie Haden; the second a solo guitar collection that combines originals with the modern jazz standards "Goodbye Pork-Pie Hat" and "Blue in Green." In its melding of international styles, and reliance on acoustic performances,My Goals Beyondis both a trendsetter and a harbinger of musical movements to come. Despite the passage of time, few of the albums it spawned live up to the performances it contains.--Fred Goodman