Mister Magic

Excellent 1974 jazz funk set from GWJ, who at this point was probably at peak funkiness in a career where his music would become progressively softer and smoother as time went on. “Earth Tones” is a huge sprawling expansive odyssey of a track, part supercharged funk instrumental, part contemplative and brooding soul jazz  that goes through a few different changes over its twelve minutes, including moments of discordance and near musical chaos that wouldn’t really feature in his work going forward. “Passion Flower” is a gentle, drifty, sentimental palette cleanser before side two unleashes its two funk monsters, the epic “Mister Magic,” nine minutes of premier jazz funk vamping and Washington improvisation and the equally big “Black Frost,” which essentially follows a similar path at a slower tempo and with a moodier feel.