NORMAN CONNORS — Dance Of Magic (review)

NORMAN CONNORS — Dance Of Magic album cover

Album · 1972 · Avant-Garde Jazz

3.5/5 · 2012-03-10
js

Herbie Hancock’s early 70s experimental Sextet did not get much notice or credit during its time, but over the years this group and its many similar spin-offs have picked up quite a cult following amongst fans of 70s psychedelic avant-garde jazz fusion. One of the lesser known related artists in this brief movement in jazz is Norman Connors with his 1972 debut album, “Dance of Magic”. Similar to albums that Sextet members like Eddie Henderson and Julius Priester were putting out, “Dance of Magic” features a mix of post bop, free jazz, fusion energy and psychedelic sound effects. “Magic” marks its difference from many of the others by using les compositional structure (especially compared to Hancock’s albums) and relying more on lengthy jams with plenty of free style long line solos. This album, with its mass of percussion players, also bears a lot of similarity to Pharoah Sanders’ African jazz odysseys of this same time period. The rhythms on here vary from being in the groove sometimes, to more wide open free sections during the more outside solos.

The list of musicians on here contains the usual suspects that used to show up on these sort of albums, in fact the core personal is very similar to Buddy Terry’s “Pure Dynamite”; Eddie Henderson, Stanley Clarke, Airto and Billy Hart appear on both albums, but “Magic” also has Herbie himself plus Carlos Garnett, Gary Bartz, Al Mouzon and more. The wordless vocal choir during the opening of “Dance of Magic” adds a nice exotic touch that was so much a part of this very 70s flavored movement in jazz.

If you are a fan of early 70s psychedelic jazz you probably won’t be disappointed in this one. The lack of compositional structure does not make this album one of the strongest from this era, but the soloists are top notch. Its always great to hear Herbie playing his classic Fender Rhodes through a ring modulator and echoplex, so early 70s you can smell the patchouli incense. On an interesting side note, although Connors started out as an avant-garde fusion drummer, he later changed up his career and scored big hits as a smooth RnB ballad singer.

more than 2 years ago
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js wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I believe there may be another avant-garde jazz album by Connors that we don't have listed, I can't remember the name if it does exist.

snobb wrote:

more than 2 years ago

It's interesting that three years later (1975) the album oaf the same name (just live version -"Dance Of Magic (Live At Nemu Jazz Inn -1)") was released by Connors (with Gary Bartz, Eddie Henderson,pianist Elmer Gibson and Reggie Workman on bass). Released with Gary Bartz as leader by Nippon in Japan only, this album is virtually unknown. Contains Coltrane's Naima version and two parts of Hancock's Revelation.