Following last November’s first New Universe Music Festival, Abstract Logix plans to release a double-CD compilation of the festival’s transcendent music on July 19, 2011. The compilation features jazz-fusion legend John McLaughlin alongside the world-famous tabla player Zakir Hussain, with whom McLaughlin collaborated in his previous Indo-jazz fusion project Shakti. The compilation also includes performances by renowned Widespread Panic guitarist Jimmy Herring, Return to Forever drummer Lenny White, the Human Element quartet, quickly rising fusion guitarists Wayne Krantz and Alex Machacek and more.

McLaughlin said he was honored to have participated in the festival—humble words coming from the self-proclaimed Mahavishnu that are a testament to his fellow musicians’ talent. With a cast of both well-established jazz-fusion gurus and up-and-coming guitar whizzes, the New Universe Music Festival compilation will be a treasure in the hands of both avid jazz-rock fans and newcomers alike, as well as a glimpse of what’s to come in the 2012 festival.