Mister Magic

Grover Washington Jr.

This is one of Grover Washington, Jr.'s best-loved recordings and considered a classic of r&bish jazz. All four songs (which includes Billy Strayhorn's "Passion Flower") are quite enjoyable but it is "Mister Magic" that really caught on as a major hit. Bob James provided the colorful if somewhat commercial arrangements, there are spots for guitarist Eric Gale, and Washington (mostly on tenor and soprano) is heard in particularly creative form. Highly recommended.

Scott Yanow -All Music guide


Tracklisting:

01. Mister Magic (MacDonald, Salter) (9:01)
02. Black Frost (James, Washington) (6:06)
03. Earth Tones (James) (12:23)
04. Passion Flower (Raskin, Strayhorn) (5:36)

Total time: 43:05 min.


Originally issued in LP as KUDU KU-20

Arranged and conducted by Bob James.

Personnel: Grover Washington Jr. (ts, as, ss), Bob James (p, el p), Eric Gale (g), Gary King, Phil Upchurch (b), Harvey Mason (d), Ralph McDonald (perc), Jon Faddis, Marvin Stamm (tp, flh), Jerry Dodgion (ts), Phil Bodner (bs), Wayne Andre (tb), Tony Studd (btb) + String section: 8 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos.

Recorded by Rudy Van Gelder in Hackensack, New Jersey, November, 1974.

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