Mark Mondesir (John McLaughlin, Jeff Beck) Interview: Lessons from Elvin Jones & Manifesting Gigs

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We sat down with Mark Mondesir for a wide-ranging conversation about a career spent behind some of the most revered names in jazz, fusion and funk.

Mark talks us through meeting John McLaughlin, the session for The Promise that put him in a room with Jeff Beck, and the surreal week that ended with Jan Hammer on a plane to London to play with him.

We also get into his three north stars on the kit: Billy Cobham, Tony Williams and Elvin Jones, plus the one-word piece of advice Elvin handed him at a soundcheck.

If you've ever wondered how the great gigs actually find a player, Mark's answer is not what you'd expect.

00:00 The Vienna Hi-Fi Show
06:39 Meeting John McLaughlin
10:43 The Promise: Recording with Jeff Beck
13:35 Touring with the Fourth Dimension
15:06 What John Is Like as a Band Leader
18:14 The Promise and the Electric Guitarist
20:48 Why He's Never Felt He's "Made It"
25:09 No Plan, Just Play
27:42 The Jeff Beck and Jan Hammer Story
34:35 Manifestation and Advice for Drummers
39:40 Playing with Half of James Brown's Band
41:12 Influences: Cobham, Williams and Jones
49:55 Mentored by Art Blakey
51:21 Wrap Up

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