Originally released on the Hobo label in 1979, ‘Magician’ is by far the hippest, funkiest, jazziest album made by British arranger-composer Stan Butcher. It’s a superb example of the sophisticated jazz-fusion style prevalent at the end of the 1970s, expertly blending elements of jazz, funk and rock into one coherent and exhilarating whole. Recorded at London’s famous Morgan Studios in January 1978, the album features a stellar line-up of British jazz/session musicians including Barry Morgan (drums), Fiachra Trench (Fender Rhodes), Barbara Thompson (saxes/reeds), Les Hurdle and Mo Foster (bass guitar) and Ray Russell (guitar). In fact, ‘Magician’ is intrinsically linked to Morgan Studios because the Hobo label was owned and run by Morgan’s co-owner Monty Babson (who also produced ‘Magician’), while Monty’s business partners Leon Calvert (trumpet) and Barry Morgan were in the band heard on the album. The music ranges from the laidback, streetwise grooves of House of the Purple Mist and Musk to the joyous up-tempo funk of Playground and Morass, all of which are ignited by Barry Morgan’s superlative drumming. Each track features Barbara Thompson’s lithe, virtuosic tenor sax and/or flute solos, while the 5/4 groove of Bazaar is a showcase for her suitably exotic ‘throat flute’ extemporisations. First time on CD and remastered from the original analogue stereo tapes.

Magician
ORIGINAL LP HO501 (1979) STEREO
Recorded: Morgan Studio no.1, Willesden, London, January 1978

House of the Purple Mist (Stan Butcher)
Drowned Village (Stan Butcher)
Playground (Stan Butcher)
Bazaar (Stan Butcher)
Musk (Stan Butcher)
Morass (Stan Butcher)

Personnel:
Stan Reynolds, Leon Calvert (trumpets)
Roger Williams (trombone)
Barbara Thompson (tenor & soprano saxes, flute, clarinet)
Fiachra Trench (keyboards)
Ray Russell, John Girvan (guitars)
Les Hurdle, Mo Foster (bass guitar)
Barry Morgan (drums, percussion)

CDSML 8447

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