Search - Norman Connors :: Dance of Magic

Music Of Magic

Andre S. Grindle | Brewer Maine | 10/13/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Anyone with any curiousity about Norman Connors jazz backround should take the time out to search for this album. With people like Herbie Hancock,Stanley Clarke,Cecil McBee,Gary Bartz and Eddie Henderson onboard to help out you know your in for something wonderful. In the early 70's when this came out the music of Pharoh Sanders and the late John Coltrane were the standard influence for anyone looking for a creative style in jazz. The 20+ title song of this album alone sets the bar incredibly high with a deep,profound song reflecting the music spirtuality of those two master musicians. Everyone involved in the cut in terms of the soloing,music conceptualizations and everything will quickly penetrate your emotional thought process. It also points to an early example of Connors' ability to bring together a group of enormously talented musicians to achieve musical excellence. That compositional standard doesn't ebb through "Morning Change",which exhibits a funkier side of Connors' nature at this earlier stage of his development,as well as on "Blue" and the grand finale "Give The Drummer Some" which showcases Connors' talents as a drummer. I read once that some are of the opinion that Norman Connors didn't possess the chops of other jazz and fusion drummers of his day. At the same time this tune and his work throughout the album tends to work against that assumption as he delivers a sound that really draws the listener into what he's playing. From a fairly traditional jazz standpoint this is one of Connors strongest musical statements in that area and is strongly recommended."