The Magic of Ju-Ju
| The Magic of Ju-Ju | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 1968[1] | |||
| Recorded | April 26, 1967 | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 35:18 | |||
| Label | Impulse! | |||
| Producer | Bob Thiele | |||
| Archie Shepp chronology | ||||
| ||||
The Magic of Ju-Ju is an album by Archie Shepp released on Impulse! Records in May 1968.
Background
The album contains tracks recorded by Shepp, trumpeter Martin Banks, trombonist Mike Zwerin, bassist Reggie Workman and percussionists Norman Connors, Frank Charles, Dennis Charles, Ed Blackwell and Beaver Harris in April 1967.
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | [2] |
| DownBeat | [3] |
| Austin Krentz | 7.5/10[4] |
| Pablo's Reviews | 8/10[5] |
| Rate Your Music Best Albums of 1968 | 55/1000[6] |
| Rate Your Music Best Albums of All Time | 3775/5000[6] |
| The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide | [7] |
The AllMusic review by Al Campbell states of the title track "Shepp's emotional and fiery tenor takes off immediately, gradually morphing with the five percussionists 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".[2]
Track listing
All music is composed by Archie Shepp.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Magic of Ju-Ju" | 18:37 |
| Total length: | 18:37 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "You're What This Day Is All About" | 1:51 |
| 2. | "Shazam!" | 4:43 |
| 3. | "Sorry 'Bout That" | 10:07 |
| Total length: | 16:41 | |
Personnel
Adapted from the vinyl pressing[8]
- Archie Shepp – tenor saxophone
- Martin Banks – trumpet, flugelhorn
- Mike Zwerin – bass trombone, trombone
- Reggie Workman – bass
- Norman Connors – drums
- Beaver Harris – drums
- Frank Charles – talking drum
- Dennis Charles – percussion
- Ed Blackwell – rhythm logs
References
- ^ "Billboard". June 1, 1968.
- ^ a b Campbell, Al, The Magic of Ju-Ju - Archie Shepp, AllMusic, retrieved April 7, 2009
- ^ Down Beat: August 17, 1968 vol. 35, no. 17.
- ^ Krentz, Austin (2006). "Archie Shepp". Retrieved May 19, 2025.
- ^ Pałasz, Paweł (June 27, 2020). "[Recenzja] Archie Shepp - "The Magic of Ju-Ju" (1967)". Pablo's Reviews (in Polish). Retrieved May 19, 2025.
- ^ a b "The Magic of Ju-Ju - Archie Shepp". Rate Your Music. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
- ^ Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 179. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
- ^ Shepp, Archie (1967). The Magic of Ju-Ju (Vinyl). AS-9154.