Guitarist John McLaughlin has shared a video of his performance of Thelonious Monk’s “Straight No Chaser” as a means to raise awareness and funds for COVID relief in India. Prior to the video, McLaughlin shared a message urging fans to donate to Project Hope.

“Hello friends. My name’s John McLaughlin and I’m here to speak to you about India. India’s in dire straights, absolutely dire straights,” the guitarist began. “The world is in dire straights, but India it’s catastrophic… So I got together my musician friends here in Monaco and we recorded this video thinking of them. And it’s our gift to you in the hope that you will make a small gift to [Project Hope]. Please think of them, enjoy the music. Thank you and hope to see you soon.”

McLaughlin was joined by Roger Rossignol on piano, Jean Michel ‘Kiki’ Aublette (bass) and Nicolas Viccaro (drums).

“John McLaughlin has made no secret of the musical and spiritual debt that he owes to the people and nation of India,” read a description of the video. “Whether explicit (the unprecedented east/west hybrid of his beloved Shakti ensemble) or implicit (the daring rhythmic structures he transmitted via the Mahavishnu Orchestra), India has exerted a gravitational pull on McLaughlin’s life and music, and his gratitude is boundless.”

Watch the video below, and donate at www.projecthope.org.