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
Do It Fluid cover

Do It Fluid

Various Artists
No Mystery cover

No Mystery

Return to Forever, Chick Corea
Houston Express cover

Houston Express

Houston Person
School Days cover

School Days

Stanley Clarke
Doin’ Their Own Thing cover

Doin’ Their Own Thing

Maceo & All the King's Men
Feathers cover

Feathers

Greg Foat, Eero Koivistoinen
Dolphin cover

Dolphin

Gigi Masin, Greg Foat
All ‘N All cover

All ‘N All

Earth, Wind & Fire
Head Hunters cover

Head Hunters

Herbie Hancock
Barefoot Boy cover

Barefoot Boy

Larry Coryell
Feels So Good cover

Feels So Good

Grover Washington Jr.
Dig This! cover

Dig This!

Bobbi Humphrey