by Scott YanowJohn McLaughlin shoots out in many different directions during this very diverse release. He trades off with fellow guitarist Jeff Beck on Django, jams his own Thelonius Melodius in a trio with organist Joey DeFrancesco and drummer Dennis Chambers, has a duet with DeFrancesco (who switches to trumpet) on No Return, stretches out with tenor great Michael Brecker on the 14-and-a-half-minute Jazz Jungle, collaborates on acoustic guitar with Paco de Lucía and Al DiMeola, plays Indian music with Zakir Hussain and Trilok Gurtu, and interacts with altoist David Sanborn -- among others. A good introduction to latter-day John McLaughlin, this colorful set has plenty of surprises.