egroj world: Archie Shepp • The Magic Of Ju-Ju

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Archie Shepp • The Magic Of Ju-Ju

Review
by Al Campbell
On this 1967 Impulse release, tenor saxophonist Archie Shepp unleashed his 18-minute tour de force "The Magic of Ju-Ju," combining free jazz tenor with steady frenetic African drumming. Shepp's emotional and fiery tenor takes off immediately, gradually morphing with the five percussionists -- Beaver Harris, Norman Connor, Ed Blackwell, Frank Charles, and Dennis Charles -- who perform on instruments including rhythm logs and talking drums. Shepp never loses the initial energy, moving forward like a man possessed as the drumming simultaneously builds into a fury. Upon the final three minutes, the trumpets of Martin Banks and Michael Zwerin make an abrupt brief appearance, apparently to ground the piece to a halt. This is one of Shepp's most chaotic yet rhythmically hypnotic pieces. The three remaining tracks, somewhat overshadowed by the title piece, are quick flourishes of free bop on "Shazam," "Sorry Bout That," and the slower, waltz-paced "You're What This Day Is All About."
https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-magic-of-ju-ju-mw0000744563

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Reseña
por Al Campbell
En este lanzamiento de Impulse de 1967, el saxofonista tenor Archie Shepp dio rienda suelta a su tour de force de 18 minutos, "The Magic of Ju-Ju", que combina el tenor del free jazz con una percusión africana constante y frenética. El emotivo y ardiente tenor de Shepp despega de inmediato, transformándose gradualmente con los cinco percusionistas -Beaver Harris, Norman Connor, Ed Blackwell, Frank Charles y Dennis Charles- que actúan con instrumentos que incluyen troncos rítmicos y tambores parlantes. Shepp nunca pierde la energía inicial, avanzando como un hombre poseído mientras la percusión se convierte simultáneamente en una furia. A los tres minutos finales, las trompetas de Martin Banks y Michael Zwerin hacen una breve y abrupta aparición, aparentemente para detener la pieza. Se trata de una de las piezas más caóticas y rítmicamente hipnóticas de Shepp. Los tres temas restantes, algo eclipsados por la pieza que da título al disco, son rápidas florituras de bop libre en "Shazam", "Sorry Bout That" y la más lenta, a ritmo de vals, "You're What This Day Is All About".
https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-magic-of-ju-ju-mw0000744563

Colaborador / Contributor: Pierre

Tracks:
1 - The Magic Of Ju-Ju - 18:27
2 - You're What This Day Is All About - 1:47
3 - Shazam - 4:39
4 - Sorry 'Bout That - 10:05

Credits:
    Artwork [Painted Skull] – Alan Winston
    Bass – Reggie Workman
    Composed By – Archie Shepp
    Design – Robert & Barbara Flynn
    Design [Liner Design] – Joe Lebow
    Drums – Beaver Harris, Norman Connor
    Engineer – Bob Simpson
    Liner Notes – Ralph J. Gleason
    Percussion – Dennis Charles
    Percussion [Rhythm Logs] – Eddie Blackwell
    Percussion [Talking Drums] – Frank Charles
    Photography By – William A. Levy*, Frank Kofsky
    Photography By [Liner Photos] – Marty Topp
    Producer – Bob Thiele
    Tenor Saxophone – Archie Shepp
    Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Martin Banks
    Trumpet, Trombone – Michael Zwerin

Recorded April 26, 1967.

Label:    Impulse! – AS-9154, Impulse! – A-9154, Impulse! – AS/9154, ABC Records – AS-9154, ABC Records – A-9154
Released:    1967
Genre:    Jazz
Style:    Post Bop, Free Improvisation, Avant-garde Jazz, Free Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/release/1184708-Archie-Shepp-The-Magic-Of-Ju-Ju