The Official Website of Author Walter Kolosky
Follow Your Heart
John McLaughlin song by song
A Listener's Guide
By Walter Kolosky
Foreword by Chick Corea
Follow Your Heart
John McLaughlin song by song
A Listener's Guide
By Walter Kolosky
Foreword by Chick Corea
"When I hear new music coming into my head, its mission is integrated into its notes. It basically tells me how it wants to be. It's clear to me from the very first, how it wants to be articulated and how it should be expressed." - John McLaughlin Legendary guitarist and composer John McLaughlin recorded historic music with Miles Davis and the revolutionary Tony Williams Lifetime. He founded the fusion super group, The Mahavishnu Orchestra and helped pave the way for World Music in Shakti. The acoustic Guitar Trio ushered in the unplugged movement. Grammy winner McLaughlin, who Jeff Beck says is the best guitarist in the world, continues to influence generations of musicians. Follow Your Heart takes you on a fascinating journey of his music - song by song. The tour guide is Walter Kolosky, author of the award winning Power, Passion and Beauty: The Story of the Legendary Mahavishnu Orchestra. He is aided by a foreword by Chick Corea, expert musicologists, exclusive insights from John McLaughlin himself and many remarkable images never before seen. FYH is an invaluable listening guide, history, reference book and source of inspiration all rolled into one. |  |
Reviews
"Reading Follow Your Heart is an unforgettable experience."
- Musicpark (Russian Music Magazine)
"Follow Your Heart reads like your favorite specialist music magazine, opinionated and exceedingly well informed. Follow Your Heart has already been included in Berklee's curriculum, which is a good indication of its worth."
- Ian Patterson, Allaboutjazz.
"Kolosky knows this music backwards and forwards, and its a joy to read these pages because so much effort and care went into the writing of them."
- Steven Rosen, Curled Up With a Good Book
"Follow Your Heart: John McLaughlin song by song is a great resource to future and current fans of McLaughlin. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to understand the music of John McLaughlin to greater depths."
- Marcos Rios, Guitar International
"Walter Kolosky has crafted a fine look at John McLaughlin. Highly recommended. An ideal book to have in the public library for library jazz patrons, and a perfect jazz biography to have in the home."
- Lee Prosser, Jazzreview
"Walter Kolosky has provided the ultimate guide to the music of John McLaughlin. This is a book every fan of the guitarist will want to own."
-Ted Gioia, music educator and author of the acclaimed The History of Jazz
"Walter Kolosky has established himself as one of the foremost authorities on John McLaughlin's work, and nowhere is that more evident than in this terrific new book. It's a fantastic tour through McLaughlin's extensive catalog of compositions, with detailed insight and unique details you'll find nowhere else. A must buy for fans of this pioneering musician."
- Anil Prasad, Innerviews.org
"Absolutely fascinating...full of really good insight."
-Will Power, Radio Host BC-FM Bristol, England
Watch the promo video.
"Reading Follow Your Heart is an unforgettable experience."
- Musicpark (Russian Music Magazine)
"Follow Your Heart reads like your favorite specialist music magazine, opinionated and exceedingly well informed. Follow Your Heart has already been included in Berklee's curriculum, which is a good indication of its worth."
- Ian Patterson, Allaboutjazz.
"Kolosky knows this music backwards and forwards, and its a joy to read these pages because so much effort and care went into the writing of them."
- Steven Rosen, Curled Up With a Good Book
"Follow Your Heart: John McLaughlin song by song is a great resource to future and current fans of McLaughlin. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to understand the music of John McLaughlin to greater depths."
- Marcos Rios, Guitar International
"Walter Kolosky has crafted a fine look at John McLaughlin. Highly recommended. An ideal book to have in the public library for library jazz patrons, and a perfect jazz biography to have in the home."
- Lee Prosser, Jazzreview
"Walter Kolosky has provided the ultimate guide to the music of John McLaughlin. This is a book every fan of the guitarist will want to own."
-Ted Gioia, music educator and author of the acclaimed The History of Jazz
"Walter Kolosky has established himself as one of the foremost authorities on John McLaughlin's work, and nowhere is that more evident than in this terrific new book. It's a fantastic tour through McLaughlin's extensive catalog of compositions, with detailed insight and unique details you'll find nowhere else. A must buy for fans of this pioneering musician."
- Anil Prasad, Innerviews.org
"Absolutely fascinating...full of really good insight."
-Will Power, Radio Host BC-FM Bristol, England
Watch the promo video.
Girls Don’t Like Real Jazz- The Updated Ebook
is now
available! This is the updated Ebook version of my book published in 2003. An awful lot has happened since then, most of it bad. Girls Don't Like Real Jazz will make you laugh out loud whether you are a jazz fan or not!
To celebrate the new release, my other current Ebook, Follow Your Heart - John McLaughlin song by song, is now available for less than $5!
Available in all Ebook formats for only $3.99!
***
Latest News...
My daughter Anna and saxophonist/vocalist Grace Kelly after Grace's fantastic concert at TCAN. They both own cute little dogs!
I have a new article at the Guitar Channel about the 40th Anniversary of the rise of the Mahavishnu Orchestra! Go to http://tinyurl.com/7no3aja
My daughter Anna and saxophonist/vocalist Grace Kelly after Grace's fantastic concert at TCAN. They both own cute little dogs!
I have a new article at the Guitar Channel about the 40th Anniversary of the rise of the Mahavishnu Orchestra! Go to http://tinyurl.com/7no3aja
With the only vocalist to sing for both The Mahavishnu Orchestra and Return To Forever, Gayle Moran.
With David Sanborn after last night's show at TCAN. David was awfully sick, as you may be able to tell from this photo, but he still played his heart out and graciously met his fans after the show.
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with drummer Carmine Appice after a fantastic performance with Vanilla Fudge at TCAN. What a nice guy! He told me his two all-time favorite bands were The Police and The Mahavishnu Orchestra.
With Chick Corea after a Return To Forever concert. I am so honored and grateful he wrote the foreword for Follow Your Heart.
With another legend! This is violinist Jean Luc-Ponty
I very much enjoyed seeing Terry Bozzio's Outro at the Regattabar in Cambridge, MA. It also gave me the opportunity to get together with Outro member and friend, the extraordinary guitarist Alex Machacek.
Here I am with my wife Hatty at the Chestnut Hill, MA Peter Max traveling gallery. It was good to see Peter again. His description of the music of The Mahavishnu Orchestra are the first words that appear in my book Power, Passion and Beauty. (Photo Joe DeRenzo.)
I want to refer you to one of the most exciting guitarists now roaming the planet. The exceedingly gifted Raul Mannola has a new album out and is touring. His new album, Inner Visions of Flamenco, features both acoustic and electric guitars to produce a unique flamenco amalgam. Read about Raul, his new album and tour here. You will not regret it!
It was a real pleasure to be interviewed by Ian Patterson of allaboutjazz. The results are found in this in-depth interview.
Hanging out with the 19 year-old Australian guitarist Joe Robinson the day after his spectacular performance at TCAN in Natick, MA. I have heard and written about a lot of guitarists. At 19, Joe is already easily among the finest I have ever heard. Not only is he a master of guitar manipulation; he also has exquisite taste. Head over to his website now! Oh, and he is a huge John McLaughlin fan!
I acted as guest blogger at Jazzstage.net. Read the blog here.
I had the pleasure of hearing the great bass player Tony Grey and his band at the Regattabar in Cambridge. You must listen to Tony. He has a very unique voice. Read more about him and his new album at his website.
Yet another fantastic review! I am so touched. This time out, the legendary rock critic and author Steven Rosen takes a turn. Read here.
Ian Patterson of allaboutjazz.com loves the book! Read here.
A rave review from Guitar International! Read here.
I was on Tom Gagliardi's Philadelphia radio and Internet show. As usual it was a pleasure. The interview is now archived here!
I am quite sad to hear of the passing of the wonderful artist Chris Poisson who designed several album covers for the Mahavishnu Orchestra and also created the cover for my book Power, Passion and Beauty.
There are plans for German, Spanish, and several other, translations of Follow Your Heart.
I highly recommend Anil Prasad's new book Innerviews. Learn More.
I also highly recommend Gary Husband's CD Dirty and Beautiful featuring guest stars John McLaughlin, Jan Hammer, Jerry Goodman and many more!
I emceed the New Universe Music Festival in Raleigh, NC. A CD and a DVD of this wonderful event has been released!
Below, with the iconic artist Peter Max and John McLaughlin in Peter Max's studio in New York City.
Giving a lecture about John McLaughlin's music at the Cordoba Guitar Festival in Cordoba, Spain.
There are more pictures on the Bio Page!