The Magic of Ju-Ju

The Magic of Ju-Ju
Studio album by Archie Shepp
Released	May 1968[1]
Recorded	April 26, 1967
Studio	Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Genre	Jazz
Label	Impulse!
Producer	Bob Thiele
Archie Shepp chronology
Mama Too Tight (1967) The Magic of Ju-Ju (1968) The Way Ahead (1968)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[3]

The Magic of Ju-Ju is an album by Archie Shepp released on Impulse! Records in May 1968. 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

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".^[4]

Track listing

1. "The Magic of Ju-Ju" - 18:37
2. "You're What This Day Is All About" - 1:51
3. "Shazam!" - 4:43
4. "Sorry 'Bout That" - 10:07

All compositions by Archie Shepp

• Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, April 26, 1967

Personnel

• 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