is this the best guitar ever

I saw this group twice in the early/mid 80s. The first was an amazing display of guitar pyrotechnics that was strangely uninvolving. The second time John McLaughlin was replaced by Steve Morse of Dixie Dregs fame. He was clearly the technical equal of his compatriots but he communicated such joy in his playing that he made the others appear like cardboard cutouts (albeit ones that could play at the speed of light). That was one my first lessons on the distinction between mere technical mastery and complete musicianship.

Siliab
I was not moved by the SACD and gave it to a friend.

I love that recording and saw them live in the mid 90's in Santiago, Chile.

Passion,Grace&Fire is just as good though different. It is a digital studio recording.Try to find Japanese LP of the " Friday Night..." and Japanese Direct Stream Digital red label Master Sound CD of the " Passion...". There is also DSD CD of the " Friday Night...". On Ebay you can usually find entire concerts on VHS tape or even DVD. The concert in Germany is unbelievable, especially the last hour of it. Of course, don't expect very good quality of video and audio. John McLaughlin and Paco De Lucia are the most accomplished guitarists this f. world has ever seen and heard. Al Di Meola is great too, that's why they invited him.

Hey guys, if you liked Friday nigth in Sn Francisco I bet you'll like "Live in America", with Paco de Lucia and his sextet, a great album as well:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000015TM/qid=1079125755/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/104-7149949-1317523?v=glance&s=music

This cd shows what an amazing virtuoso guitarrist De Lucia is. Highly recommended!

Happy listening.