{{Short description|2010 studio album by John McLaughlin}} {{EngvarB|date=September 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox album | name = To the One | type = studio | artist = John McLaughlin | cover = To the One.jpg | alt = | released = {{Start date|df=yes|2010|04|20}} | recorded = November – December 2009 | venue = | studio = {{ubl|Mediastarz, Monaco|Solid Sound Studio, Nice}} | genre = Jazz | length = {{Duration|m=40|s=01}} | label = Abstract Logix | producer = John McLaughlin | prev_title = Five Peace Band Live | prev_year = 2009 | next_title = Now Here This | next_year = 2012 }} '''''To the One''''' is an album released by British jazz guitarist John McLaughlin. It is his first album with his band, the 4th Dimension. The album was released in 2010 on Abstract Logix Records and was produced by McLaughlin. It reached number 27 on the ''Billboard'' Jazz Albums Chart and was nominated for the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album.
==Overview== {{Quote box |quote = I had no intention or idea or desire to make an homage, but the music came like that and reminded me of the marvelous event when I heard ''Love Supreme'' for the first time. It changed my life. |source = —John McLaughlin<ref name="globe">{{cite news|url=http://archive.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2010/11/14/john_mclaughlins_latest_album_is_an_homage_from_one_master_to_another/|title=John McLaughlin's latest album is an homage from one master to another|last=Gilbert|first=Andrew|date=14 November 2010|work=The Boston Globe|access-date=12 March 2011|archive-date=3 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103032804/http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2010/11/14/john_mclaughlins_latest_album_is_an_homage_from_one_master_to_another/|url-status=live}}</ref> |width =35%|align =left|quoted = 1|salign =center }}''To the One'' was inspired by the 1965 John Coltrane album ''A Love Supreme''.<ref name="Greenblatt" /> The liner notes were written by McLaughlin and detail how he was influenced by ''A Love Supreme'' both musically and spiritually.<ref name="Jurek" />
The music came to McLaughlin over a five-week period in the summer of 2009.<ref name="Blum" /> McLaughlin previously honoured the memory of Coltrane on his 1973 collaboration with Carlos Santana, ''Love Devotion Surrender''.<ref name="globe" />
The album was nominated for the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album<ref name="npr">{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2011/01/02/132487200/john-mclaughlin-on-coltrane-and-spirituality-in-music?ps=cprs|title=John McLaughlin: On Coltrane and Spirituality in Music|date=2 January 2011|publisher=NPR|access-date=12 March 2011|archive-date=3 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110103221510/http://www.npr.org/2011/01/02/132487200/john-mclaughlin-on-coltrane-and-spirituality-in-music?ps=cprs|url-status=live}}</ref> but lost to the Stanley Clarke album ''The Stanley Clarke Band''.<ref name="grammy">{{cite web|url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/news/grammy-winner-stanley-clarke-reflects-on-his-win-and-two-nominations/|title=Grammy Winner Stanley Clarke Reflects on His Win And Two Nominations|last=Hadley|first=Diane|date=14 February 2011|publisher=All About Jazz|access-date=12 March 2011|archive-date=15 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215151520/http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=75968|url-status=live}}</ref> The other nominees were ''Never Can Say Goodbye'' by Joey DeFrancesco, ''Now Is the Time'' by Jeff Lorber, and ''Backatown'' by Trombone Shorty.<ref name="Grammy">{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees?year=2010&genre=16|title=Nominees And Winners|publisher=Grammy Awards |access-date=12 March 2011|archive-date=26 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426131728/http://www.grammy.com/nominees?year=2010&genre=16|url-status=live}}</ref>
==The band== McLaughlin has been playing with this group of musicians live since 2007<ref name="Kellman">{{cite web|url=http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/review_print.php?id=36183|title=John McLaughlin and The 4th Dimension: ''To The One''|last=Kelman|first=John|date=13 April 2010|publisher=All About Jazz|access-date=12 March 2011}}{{dead link|date=April 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> but this is their first release of new material.<ref name="Blum">{{cite web|url=https://www.mainlinemedianews.com/2010/11/08/john-mclaughlin-brings-his-fourth-dimension-to-the-keswick/|title=John McLaughlin brings his Fourth Dimension to the Keswick|last=Blum|first=Jordan|date=8 November 2010|publisher=Journal Register Company|access-date=30 August 2022|archive-date=30 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220830092554/https://www.mainlinemedianews.com/2010/11/08/john-mclaughlin-brings-his-fourth-dimension-to-the-keswick/|url-status=live}}</ref> In addition to his keyboard playing throughout the album, Gary Husband also plays drums on two tracks, "Recovery" and "To the One".<ref name="Patterson" /> He also has a piano solo on the track "Special Beings".<ref name="Bush" /> Bassist Etienne Mbappé, who was born Cameroon and raised in Paris, replaced original 4th Dimension Bassist Hadrien Feraud when he broke his hand in 2009,<ref name="Braceland">{{cite web|url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/john-mclaughlin-and-the-4th-dimension-philadelpha-pa-november-12-2010-john-mclaughlin-by-linda-braceland|title=John McLaughlin & The 4th Dimension: Philadelphia, PA November 12, 2010|last=Braceland|first=Linda|date=18 November 2010|publisher=All About Jazz|access-date=12 March 2011|archive-date=20 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110120072357/http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=38127|url-status=live}}</ref> has a solo on the track "Discovery".<ref name="Bush" /> Mark Mondesir plays drums on every track except "Recovery" and "To the One".<ref name="Kellman" /> Bandleader and composer, John McLaughlin, of course, provides all of the guitar work and even plays a guitar synth on "Lost and Found" and "To the One".<ref name="Kellman" />
==Reception== {{Album ratings | subtitle =''To the One'' | rev1 =AllMusic | rev1Score ={{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Jurek">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/to-the-one-r1740052/review|title=Review: ''To the One''|last=Jurek|first=Thom|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=12 March 2011|archive-date=28 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110228050100/http://www.allmusic.com/album/to-the-one-r1740052/review|url-status=live}}</ref> | rev2 =''The Guardian'' | rev2Score ={{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Fordham">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/may/22/john-mclaughlin-4th-dimension|title=John McLaughlin and the 4th Dimension: ''To the One''|last=Fordham|first=John|date=23 April 2010|work=The Guardian|access-date=12 March 2011|archive-date=12 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312144823/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/may/22/john-mclaughlin-4th-dimension|url-status=live}}</ref> | rev3 =''The Times'' | rev3Score ={{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="Bungey">{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article7116487.ece|title=Veteran guitarist unleashes fusion heroics|last=Bungey|first=John|date=8 May 2010|work=The Times|access-date=12 March 2011}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> |rev4=''The Aquarian Weekly'' |rev4Score=(B+)<ref name="Greenblatt">{{cite news|url=http://www.theaquarian.com/2010/04/06/john-mclaughlin-to-the-one/|title=John McLaughlin: ''To the One''|last=Greenblatt|first=Mike|date=6 April 2010|work=The Aquarian Weekly|access-date=12 March 2011|archive-date=26 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110126125714/http://www.theaquarian.com/2010/04/06/john-mclaughlin-to-the-one/|url-status=live}}</ref> |rev5=''Jazzwise'' |rev5Score={{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Nicholson">{{cite web|url=http://www.jazzwisemagazine.com/reviews-mainmenu-132/11392?task=view|title=John McLaughlin & The 4th Dimension – ''To the One''|last=Nicholson|first=Stuart|date=30 April 2010|work=Jazzwise|access-date=12 March 2011|archive-date=13 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713092600/http://www.jazzwisemagazine.com/reviews-mainmenu-132/11392?task=view|url-status=live}}</ref> |rev6=''All About Jazz'' |rev6Score=(favorable)<ref name="Bush" /> |rev7 = Tom Hull |rev7score = B+<ref>{{cite web |title=Tom Hull: Grade List: John McLaughlin |url=http://tomhull.com/ocston/nm/get_gl.php?n=John+McLaughlin |publisher=Tom Hull |accessdate=7 September 2022 |archive-date=7 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907083658/http://tomhull.com/ocston/nm/get_gl.php?n=John+McLaughlin |url-status=live }}</ref> }} Mike Greenblatt called ''To the One'' "very heady, complicated, meandering, spiritual, bass-centric yet trebly and deeply satisfying" in ''The Aquarian Weekly''.<ref name="Greenblatt" /> Thom Jurek of AllMusic called the album an "inspired milestone for McLaughlin and a fine recorded introduction to one of the more exciting electric jazz groups in the 4th Dimension".<ref name="Jurek" /> Stuart Nicholson of ''Jazzwise'' referred to the album as "an odyssey through McLaughlin's spiritual awakening and the meaning it has had in his music".<ref name="Nicholson" /> John Fordham of ''The Guardian'' wrote that the album is a "tight 40-minute document [that] hums with a collaborative energy".<ref name="Fordham" />
John Bungey of ''The Times'' was more mixed in his review writing "a strong group performance but a few more memorable themes amid the bustle might have added to the spiritual uplift".<ref name="Bungey" /> Randy Ray wrote on Jambands.com that McLaughlin "finds a way to pull his listeners under the surface, and into that fourth dimensional point of view".<ref name="Ray">{{cite web|url=http://www.jambands.com/reviews/cds/2010/04/12/john-mclaughlin-and-the-4th-dimension-to-the-one|title=John McLaughlin and the 4th Dimension: ''To The One''|last=Ray|first=Randy|date=12 April 2010|publisher=Jambands.com|access-date=12 March 2011|archive-date=13 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713074834/http://www.jambands.com/reviews/cds/2010/04/12/john-mclaughlin-and-the-4th-dimension-to-the-one|url-status=live}}</ref>
John Kelman in All About Jazz wrote that there is "no shortage of high octane playing here" and that it is "McLaughlin's most exhilarating work and group since his Heart of Things band in the late 1990s" and closed by saying that the album is "quite simply, McLaughlin's best album in well over a decade".<ref name="Kellman" /> Ian Patterson in All About Jazz wrote that "Simply listening to his improvisations throughout the six originals leaves no doubt that he is in inspired creative form."<ref name="Patterson">{{cite web|url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/john-mclaughlin-and-the-4th-dimension-to-the-one-by-ian-patterson|title=John McLaughlin & the 4th Dimension: ''To the One''|last=Patterson|first=Ian|date=23 April 2010|publisher=All About Jazz|access-date=12 March 2011|archive-date=14 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110914060620/http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=36254|url-status=live}}</ref> Robert Bush, also in All About Jazz, called ''To the One'' the "most consistently engaging disc in years" and that "McLaughlin's chops have never been better".<ref name="Bush">{{cite web|url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/to-the-one-john-mclaughlin-abstract-logix-review-by-robert-bush|title=John McLaughlin & The 4th Dimension ''To the One''|last=Bush|first=Robert|date=26 June 2010|publisher=All About Jazz|access-date=12 March 2011|archive-date=28 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100728103724/http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=36848|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Track listing== ''All tracks written by John McLaughlin'' #"Discovery" 6:19 #"Special Beings" 8:38 #"The Fine Line" 7:43 #"Lost and Found" 4:26 #"Recovery" 6:21 #"To the One" 6:34
==Personnel== *John McLaughlin – guitar, producer *Gary Husband – drums, keyboards, percussion *Etienne Mbappé – bass *Mark Mondesir – drums, percussion *Marcus Wippersberg – engineer, mixing *Beat Pfaendler – cover design, cover photo
==Charts== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Chart ! Peak position |- | 2010 | ''Billboard'' Jazz Albums |align=center |27<ref name="charts">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/to-the-one-r1740052/charts-awards|title=Charts & Awards: ''To the One''|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=12 March 2011|archive-date=14 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101114023849/http://www.allmusic.com/album/to-the-one-r1740052/charts-awards|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{John McLaughlin}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2010 albums Category:John McLaughlin (musician) albums Category:Jazz fusion albums by English artists Category:Abstract Logix albums