Mister Magic cover

Mister Magic

Released

Excellent 1974 jazz funk set from GWJ, who at this point was probably at peak funkiness in a career where his music would become progressively softer and smoother as time went on. “Earth Tone” is a huge sprawling expansive odyssey of a track, part supercharged funk instrumental, part contemplative and brooding soul jazz  that goes through a few different changes over its twelve minutes, including moments of discordance and near musical chaos that wouldn’t really feature in his work going forward. “Passion Flower” is a gentle, drifty, sentimental palette cleanser before side two unleashes its two funk monsters, the epic “Mr Magic,” nine minutes of premier jazz funk vamping and Washington improvisation and the equally big “Black Frost,” which essentially follows a similar path at a slower tempo and with a moodier feel.

Harold Heath

Suggestions
Hand Jive cover

Hand Jive

John Scofield
Say It Loud! cover

Say It Loud!

Lou Donaldson
A Blow For Me, A Toot To You cover

A Blow For Me, A Toot To You

Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley & the Horny Horns
Invitation cover

Invitation

Norman Connors
7 cover

7

Sault
Breezin’ cover

Breezin’

George Benson
Electric Guitarist cover

Electric Guitarist

John McLaughlin
If Summer Had Its Ghosts cover

If Summer Had Its Ghosts

Bill Bruford, Ralph Towner, Eddie Gomez
Return cover

Return

Bill O'Connell, Bill Connors, Lincoln Goines, Kim Plainfield
Magic In Threes cover

Magic In Threes

Magic In Threes