Virtuoso guitarist John McLaughlin has reigned at the top of the charts for the past 40 years and continues to astound his peers. British guitarist Jeff Beck calls him “the best guitarist alive” and jazz pianist Chick Corea credits him with “setting the world on its ear.”

Now the Yorkshire native celebrates his 70th birthday on a tour of jazz festivals in this country and Canada that brings him to Washington on Sunday for the Howard DC Jazz Festival. The centerpiece of his concert is “Now Here This,” his latest studio recording.