This brand-new project from the legendary guitarist features an orchestral suite performed by I Pommeriggi Musicali di Milano as well as a number of classic standards. Thieves and Poets marks a welcome return to form by McLaughlin. It is his first new studio album in nearly six years. The new CD begins with the three-part suite "Thieves and Poets," which McLaughlin says "is in a way, a story of my musical journey through life." The cinematic piece features McLaughlin on acoustic guitar along with the orchestra, conducted by Renato Rivolta.

Also featured on the second and third part of the suite, as well as the album's four standards, is The Aighetta Quartet (Olivier Fautrat, Francois Szvnyi, Alexandre Del Fa, and Philippe Loli). This acoustic guitar group can also be heard on McLaughlin's 1993 Verve release, Time Remembered: John McLaughlin Plays Bill Evans. Helmut "Hell" Schartlmueller contributes to the same tracks on acoustic bass guitar.