This is a compilation of all the tracks that Garry and I have played together in 2017. These tracks are completely improvised on the spot - no prior arrangement. I usually ask "are you ready?" then hit record. One or two of the tracks have added MIDI instruments (e.g. "2017 The Year of Beer"). I usually do this on a whim to see what an enhanced band would sound like.

Garry Brown & John McLaughlin 2017

This is the first improvisation of 2017 with Garry Brown on bass and me on guitar. Starting the year as we intend to continue, this one is dedicated to that most wondrous of beverages - beer, or more specifically, ale. Recorded on Thursday (12-Jan-17), I have added a smattering of MIDI to embellish the piece.

2017 The Year Of Beer

The second track recorded by Garry Brown on bass and me on guitar on Thursday (12-Jan-17). Again, this one has been enhanced with some MIDI tweakings. The title refers to the end of the track where it nearly goes disco, but is saved by the stern use of eyebrows. Disco dancing is what killed the dinosaurs.

Disco Is Not Dead, It Just Smells Like Shite

The first of two tracks recorded yesterday (26-Jan-17) with Garry Brown on bass and me on guitar. This features a virtuosic performance by Garry who is in fine form. At 17:29, this is the shorter of the two pieces recorded.
Garry Brown - https://soundcloud.com/zzzz4zzzz

A Night On The Tiles

The second track recorded yesterday (26-Jan-17) by Garry Brown on bass and me on guitar. This one was rudely interrupted when Mrs. M burst into the room, but I think we got away with it! This features another fine performance by Garry on bass. Both of these recordings are live, untouched recordings, apart from editing out a few over-peak crackles on my guitar.
Garry Brown - https://soundcloud.com/zzzz4zzzz

Hashtag Hatchet Hag

Those of you who may find seventeen minutes a bit on the long side for a track, I have uploaded the end section of the recently uploaded track A Night on the Tiles so that you can hear some wonderful bass-playing.
Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce you to the amazing Mr. Garry Brown!

A Night On The Tiles - Resolution

This is the first of two improvised pieces by Garry Brown on bass and me on guitar recorded today (9-Feb-17). Imagine, if you will, that Pablo Picasso was your plastic surgeon - this may well be the result! This is a long piece, so, sit back, breathe deeply and wait for the anaesthetic to kick in... and whatever you do - don't look in the mirror!

Cosmetic Surgery By Picasso

The second of two tracks recorded today (9-Feb-17) with Garry Brown on bass and me on guitar. This one is a good deal shorter than the first track (Cosmetic Surgery by Picasso), but at nearly 12 minutes, you will still need to get comfortable before hitting play. This track could be seen as a result of the first!

A Poke In The Eye With A Sharp Stick

This is the first of two improvised pieces by Garry Brown on bass and me on guitar recorded yesterday (16-Feb-17). As I had broken a string on my Harrison Custom Merlin, I brought out the Homer Simpson guitar for the occasion. This is also a hand-made guitar with Seymour Duncan pickups (see picture here - https://soundcloud.com/john-mclaughlin/the-homer-simpson-guitar-theme)

Putin The Boot In

The second track from Garry Brown on bass and me on guitar recorded on 16-Feb-17. This once more features the "Homer Simpson Guitar" (pictured). During the recording of this, we suffered an uncharacteristic dropout, giving the track it's title. Rather than edit this out, I have left it in all its sudden glory.
I have just realised that this is no. 800 of my public tracks (I have another 118 private tracks). SoundCloud on the PC is a little tardy at recording this, but checking my smartphone confirmed 800.

Cut Off In Our Prime

Honk is back! Having developed his "Silent, But Deadly" (TM) technique, he thought he would do some marketing among shoppers - be careful: he may catch you off-guard. This little three-part ditty is an exposition of the aforementioned technique - I do hope that you find it palatable.

The Honk Flatulence Silent, But Deadly Technique

The first of two tracks recorded yesterday (28-Feb-17) with Garry Brown on bass and me on guitar. As always, this is a first take improvisation with no overdubs.

Banging On The Door

The second of two tracks recorded yesterday (28-Feb-17) by Garry Brown on bass and me on guitar. The picture is of my fence suffering from the effects of Storm Doris last Friday. The weight of the ivy means it is too heavy to lift up, so I am in the process of cutting it off - slowly. I have already snapped a pair of long-handled pruning shears. The house insurance does not cover this, so sod you, Doris!

Doris Buggered My Fence

This is the first of two tracks recorded today (28-Mar-17) with Garry Brown on bass and me on guitar. The title has nothing to do with Watermelon in Easter Hay - honest! Garry suggested that we might try a video recording, so we did - check out the next upload.

A Cucumber In A Bed Of Salad

Well, it's been a long time coming, but finally Garry and I have made a video of the two of us doing what we do. Recorded at the North-East Noodle Factory, you will be able to witness the intense communication between us as we dance around each other; see the ideas resonating off each other and being reinterpreted with the utmost alacrity. To the uninitiated, it may just look like two old farts noodling about and generally ignoring each other, but I am sure that you will know better.
See for yourelf: https://youtu.be/8PVDfIYQ77M

Garry And John - The Video

Recorded live at the North-East Noodle Factory on 4th April 2017, Garry Brown on bass and John McLaughlin on guitar. Also available on YouTube (https://youtu.be/eU1u0MSs2TE) in extended format for your mirth and merriment.

Garry And John Take One...

Despite what you may think from the picture, Garry is not tiny - he's just far away! The second recording session at the North East Noodle Factory on 4th April 2017. Once more there is a lovely video to go with this in which Garry, as they say in Scotland, "gies it laldy"! This can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/74quFNXsoVE

Garry And John Take Two...

The first of two improvisations recorded today (27-Apr-17) with Garry Brown on bass and me on guitar. The title came about as the bass track's wave pattern increased considerably at the end. When I had the levels right for the start, the VU meter went into the red at the end. I ended up duplicating the bass track and cutting both at the point where the levels increased, deleting one part of each so that the first section could be played louder than the second. I think I played a peaky blinder.

Feeling A Bit Peaky

The second improvisation recorded today (27-Apr-17) with Garry Brown on bass and me on guitar. There is a section in the middle that sounds a bit like a madrigal, which led to the title.

Mad Wriggles

This is the first of 3 tracks improvised and recorded by Garry and me on Tuesday 2-May-17. Garry played his fretless bass and I played my Ibanez.
Acid-Drop Spangles may sound like some kind of hippy day out, but they were sweets (candy) of my childhood. The acid-drops burnt your tongue if you ate too many. I am not sure if it was sulphuric or hydrochloric, but they were tasty, if a tad dangerous!

Acid-Drop Spangles

The second of three improvisations with Garry on bass and me on guitar recorded on Tuesday 2nd May 2017. Garry had been telling me about a software package called MIDI Guitar 2 that converts a normal guitar signal to MIDI output, allowing you to play a whole array of synth sounds. Garry bought the iPad version and plays it here through his iPad somehow! I stuck to regular guitar (Ibanez again).

Garry Goes A Bit MIDI

3-Dec-23
Ex-guitarist, now a dodgy keyboard player.
With the exception of a handful of covers, everything is unplanned, first-take improvisation: switch on; record; post.
Make of it what you will.