If you are looking for one John McLaughlin record you could play for a suspicious friend, this would be the one. Extrapolation was McLaughlin's first album release as a leader and sounds as fresh today as it did way back in 1969. From the opening strains of "Extrapolation" to the closing softness of "Peace Piece", this album presents a fine modern European jazz quartet in full charge of the sounds of their time.

Extrapolation features the great John Surman on sax, Tony Oxley on drums and Brian Odges on bass. (Odges had just replaced Dave Holland who was on his way to meet Miles in New York).

This quartet blazes through McLaughlin's JAZZ-blues-rock compositions and forms a hodge-podge of restless rhythms and irresistible hooks. Yet despite its freeness, not meant in a strict jazz sense, Extrapolation is also quite cogent and thematic as most tunes effortlessly run into each other. As always with McLaughlin, all of the players are allowed to excel and this makes for a very pleasing mix. Odges is surprisingly active and some even believe Surman steals the show. Oxley was a young star who never seemed to catch-on in the States, but is still a well-respected drummer in Europe.

Extrapolation also offers glimpses into the future. The melody which would eventually become "Follow Your Heart" is presented. We find out about "Argen's Bag" and "Pete the Poet". Don't forget about Binky. There is a bit of a beatnik sensibility to this album.

It would take the world 20 years to discover how truly timeless this album was. Extrapolation is a jazz album. The great traditional jazz guitarist Joe Pass didn't have much need for Mahavishnu John McLaughlin or fusion music. But someone played him this record. He commented that at least this guitarist, (McLaughlin), new how to play jazz. You think?

If you do not currently own this recording, you should kill to get it.

Walter Kolosky
smsi@attbi.com

Walter Kolosky is a businessman and jazz fan who lives in South Natick, MA, USA