Exquisite renditions of John McLaughlin favourites from two fantastically talented musicians with a genius rapport. Somewhat of an unheard legend amongst John McLaughlin enthusiasts, this recording is worth every ounce of effort in obtaining a copy. Beg, borrow, steal. The fluidity of their playing put Bournet and Alberti leagues ahead of any other John McLaughlin-dominated tribute. Sorry Groningen Guitar Duo (see review), but it's the goddamn truth.

The track listing is as follows:

Sunlit Path (J. McLaughlin)
Peace Piece (J. McLaughlin)
Marbles (McLaughlin/Bournet)
Lila's Dance (J. McLaughlin)
Two sisters (J. McLaughlin)
Open Country Joy (J. McLaughlin)
Guardian Angel (McLaughlin/Bournet)
Lotus Feet (J. McLaughlin)
Mumuki (Astor Piazolla)
Bordei 1900 (Astor Piazolla)
Milonga del Angel (Astor Piazolla)

I tell you this because I want you to know the full spectrum of what is available, while only focussing on a few pieces within this review, although the standard is consistent across the board, and by being selective it is hard to do justice to the internal dialogue between these two players.

Firstly, Peace Piece. What a welcome inclusion of the Extrapolation afterthought, what must have been only a sketch by John McLaughlin, based on his Graham Bond-inspired eastern leanings at the time. But, here we have a copious reworking, in a Shakti vein, repleat with top-end Shankaresque violin. Sublimity.

Alberti's work on Marbles is less amazing; stilted in fact, despite clearly good playing, but no worry for here is the introduction to Lila's Dance, which could raise the hairs on the back of an annelid, and so gets no special mention here, other than this is a supreme acoustic event.

Open Country Joy. Hmmm. What a joy! Frivolous folk, knee slapping jerky. Let's gather round, drink us some moonshine and get nekked.

This is Mahavishnu Orchestra music pared down to the minimum. It couldn't have been guitar and anything else, although "You're The One" does validate guitar and drum duets in one fell swoop. Keyboards were just a foil, and bass was the popular decoration. No, violin and guitar were the essence, the kernel. No wonder then that the Mahavishnu Orchestra mark II was a true orchestra.

Bournet has great versaility but Alberti is more comfortable in his Shakti pretense, and so most happy on arriving at Lotus Feet. We've all heard this piece done to death. New life is breathed into it here. Glorious.

Seek Piazzolla for baroque refinement; cultured understatement. This duo clearly know this music, and their playing on the closing three pieces is faultless. Alberti's strained "4 Seasons" Summer-like agony has you reaching for the morphine on Mumuki, before wheeling askance, sliding hitherto the limit of stringed expression on Bordel 1900; then finally another peaceful piece, a crawling Tango in Milonga del Angel, to end the happy day.