John McLaughlin - Music for Abandoned Heights
John McLaughlin - guitar, piano [click here to see more vinyl featuring John McLaughlin]
Gary Husband - drums, keyboards
Julian Siegel - tenor & soprano saxophones
Misha Mullov-Abbado - acoustic bass
Etienne Mbappé - electric bass
1 LP, standard sleeve, deluxe Booklet with Studio Photography
Original analog Master tape : NO (Digital Recording & mixing)
Heavy Press : HQ-180g Vinyl
Record color : black
Speed : 33RPM
Size : 12”
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : Record Technology Incorporated
Label : Impex Records
Original Label : Impex Records
Recorded and mixed at Eastcote Studios, London
Recorded & Mixed by George Murphy
Mastered by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering
Liner notes by John McLaughlin and Walter Kolosky
Released in November 2025 (first edition)
Tracks:
Side 1:
- The Scene
- Curaçao Dream
- Will & Elijah On the Train
- Elijah in DC
- Malcolm Fitzgerald
Side B:
- DC Basketball
- Nathaniel & Christine
- Nathaniel Drives to New Jersey
- One Step Out
- The End
Reviews:
John McLaughlin has one of the richest artistic legacies in modern music, not only due to his unmatched technique, but also his boundless curiosity. From early masterpieces Extrapolation and Love Devotion Surrender (with Carlos Santana), to the genre-bending invention of Mahavishnu Orchestra and the blistering acoustic explorations with Al Di Meola and Paco de Lucia, John has always sought for the new and transcendent. His work reaches out for a profound spiritual connection. Now, he has brought his singular vision to the world of film music with his score Music for Abandoned Heights.
Compositionally, McLaughlin poured his imagination into the film’s script to craft a rich blend of hot fusion and pensive ballads. He describes his writing process: “In my mind I would interact with the different personalities and situations and wait for my imagination to come up with themes, atmospheres and emotional ‘colors’ that echoed the drama and action.” The resulting musical explorations give the album a muscular, turbulent beauty reminiscent of McLaughlin’s electric fusion classics Inner World and To the One.
McLaughlin’s searing electric and mellifluous acoustic guitar lines are assertively supported by virtuosic performances from frequent collaborators Gary Husband (drums/keyboards), Julian Siegel (saxophone), Misha Mullov-Abbado and Etienne Mbappe (bass). These industry vets gracefully spark fire on heavier tunes like “The Scene“ and introspective delicacy on the ballad “Nathaniel and Christine.”