Dance of Magic

Description

Re-mastering by: Cicely Baston at Alchemy/Air Mastering

Recorded with a whos who of fusion titans including trumpeter Eddie Henderson, bassist Stanley Clarke, and keyboardist Herbie Hancock, Dance of Magic channels the lessons drummer Norman Connors learned in the employ of Pharoah Sanders, Sam Rivers, and Sun Ra, marshalling Latin rhythms, electronic textures, and cosmic mysticism to create non-denominational yet deeply spiritual funk-jazz. The sprawling 21-minute title cut spans the entirety of the records first half, capturing a monumental jam session that explores the outer edges of free improvisation but never steps past the point of no return.

Connors furious drumming is like a trail of bread crumbs that leads his collaborators back home. The remaining three tracks are smaller in scale but no less epic in scope, culminating with the blistering Give the Drummer Some. by Jason Ankeny

Personnel: Gary Bartz Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone; Stanley Clarke Bass; Norman Connors Drums; Art Webb Flute; Anthony Wiles Percussion [African], Balafon [Baliphone] Nat Bettis Percussion [African], Congas; Herbie Hancock Piano, Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes]; Carlos Garnett Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone; Eddie Henderson Trumpet; Cecil McBee bass; Airto Moreira percussion; Alphonse Mouzon percussion; Billy Hart percussion; Engineer: Harry Yarmark

Producer: Dennis Wilen, Skip Drinkwater