John McLaughlin (Guitar); Jimmy Herring (Guitar); Wayne Krantz (Guitar); Alex Machacek (Guitar); Tom Guarna (Guitar); Matthew Garrison (Bass); Anthony Jackson (Bass); Etienne Mbappe (Bass); Neal Fountain (Bass); Richie Goods (Bass); Gary Husband (Keys); Scott Kinsey (Keys); Matt Slocum (Keys); Vince Evans (Keys); Jeff Sipe (Drums); Mark Mondesir (Drums); Gary Husband (Drums); Lenny White (Drums); Ranjit Barot (Drums); Cliff Almond (Drums); Arto Tuncboyacin (Percussion, Voice); Zakir Hussain (Tabla); Bala Bhaskar (Violin)
On November 20 and 21, 2010, maverick record label Abstract Logix hosted a series of spectacular performances, featuring an array of artists who handily defy genre categorization in favor of unbridled expression. The first New Universe Festival was a die-hard music lover's dream, defined by artists who seamlessly mingle compositional ingenuity and improvisational grace and fervor. Among the featured musicians were pioneering guitarist John McLaughlin and his current band the 4th Dimension with special guest, world music legend tabla maestro Zakir Hussain; Widespread Panic guitar hero Jimmy Herring with his electric band; Return to Forever Drummer Lenny White; the all-star quartet Human Element (keyboardist Scott Kinsey, bassist Matt Garrison, percussionist Arto Tunçboyaciyan; fearless guitarist and improviser Wayne Krantz appearing with the amazing Anthony Jackson on bass; visionary Indian composer and drummer Ranjit Barot; and emerging guitar visionary Alex Machacek.
A 2 DVD Compilation featuring the music on the CD, along with excerpts of the grand finale Jam tribute to John McLaughlin featuring all the artists of the festival along with behind the scenes footage and extensive interviews will be released on September 20, 2011. The total time featuring the grand finale jam and interviews is over 60 minutes. The final guitarist on the album is the Mahavishnu himself, John McLaughlin. His band, the Fourth Dimension, is a tight and nimble unit that can change directions at will as if all the members are a single organism. It will take most listeners some time to work through both discs, but the chance to hear the evolution of jazz/rock guitar in a live setting is well worth the investment. - -Jason Shadrick, Premier Guitar
DVD 1 1. Alex Machacek/Neal Fountain/Jeff Sipe: Strafe 2. Alex Machacek/Neal Fountain/Jeff Sipe: Very Sad 3. Ranjit Barot/Bala Bhaskar: Vignesh Kirtanam 4. Ranjit Barot/Wayne Krantz/Scott Kinsey/Matt Garrison/Arto Tuncboyaciyan: Origin 5. Scott Kinsey/Matt Garrison/Arto Tuncboyaciyan/Ranjit Barot: Essaouira 6. Scott Kinsey/Matt Garrison/Arto Tuncboyaciyan/Ranjit Barot: Sometimes I 7. Jimmy Herring/Neal Fountain/Matt Slocum/Jeff Sipe: Rainbow 8. Jimmy Herring/Neal Fountain/Matt Slocum/Jeff Sipe: Gray Day 9. Jimmy Herring/Neal Fountain/Matt Slocum/Jeff Sipe: Within You Without You 10. Wayne Krantz/Anthony Jackson/Cliff Almond: Why (LISTEN TO AUDIO) 11. Lenny White/Jimmy Herring/Tom Guarna/Richie Goods/Vince Evans: Door #3 12. Lenny White/Jimmy Herring/Tom Guarna/Richie Goods/Vince Evans: Gazelle 13. John McLaughlin/Etienne Mbappe/Gary Husband/Mark Mondesir: Recovery (LISTEN TO AUDIO) 14. John McLaughlin/Etienne Mbappe/Gary Husband/Mark Mondesir/Zakir Hussain: Mother Tongues
DVD 2 INCLUDES THE GRAND FINALE JAM FOOTAGE. AN ALL STAR TRIBUTE TO JOHN MCLAUGHLIN
Musical Director: Gary Husband Over 54 Minutes to Interviews with John McLaughlin, Wayne Krantz, Jimmy Herring, Jeff Sipe, Matthew Garrison, Lenny White, Tom Guarna, Neal Fountain and others; An Exceptional Film on GODIN GUITAR's PASSION SERIES GUITAR BY FOUNDER ROBERT GODIN. TOTAL RUN TIME 193 MINTUES; NTSC, ALL REGION DVD