Name: Dance Of Magic
Brand: Norman Connors

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

PPANBDS5674

Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2023-07-07

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Proper

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

5060149623534

Total Cap

Black LP

Artist

Norman Connors

Genre GB

Jazz

Label GB

Pure Pleasure

Norman Connors is an American jazz drummer, composer, arranger, producer, and artist. Born on 1 March 1947 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, he developed a passion for jazz at a young age and began playing drums. Influenced by notable musicians such as Lex Humphries and Elvin Jones, Connors pursued his musical education at Temple University and Juilliard.

Connors' career took off when he recorded with Archie Shepp and Pharoah Sanders before signing to Buddah Records sublabel Cobblestone. He released his first album as a bandleader titled "Dance of Magic" in 1972. As the A&R manager for Buddah Records, he shifted his focus towards R'n'B material in the mid-1970s.

Throughout his career, Norman Connors collaborated with renowned artists including Carlos Garnett, Gary Bartz, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Herbie Hancock. His work encompassed both jazz fusion and soul genres with guest singers like Michael Henderson, Jean Carn,
Phyllis Hyman,
Al Johnson,
and The Jones Girls contributing to his albums. Notable tracks from this period include "You Are My Starship" (1974) and "Captain Connors" (1977).

Newest Listed Items

180g audiophile vinyl reissue of drummer/composer Norman Connors's 1972 LP 'Dance of Magic', featuring an all-star group that includes Herbie Hancock, Gary Bartz, Stanley Clarke, Airto Moreira and Alphonse Mouzon, with re-mastering by Cicely Baston at Alchemy/Air Mastering. "Recorded with a who's who of fusion titans Dance of Magic channels the lessons drummer Norman Connors learned in the employ of Pharoah Sanders, Sam Rivers, and Sun Ra, marshalling Latin rhythms, electronic textures, and cosmic mysticism to create nondenominational yet deeply spiritual funk-jazz. The sprawling 21-minute title cut spans the entirety of the record's first half, capturing a monumental jam session that explores the outer edges of free improvisation but never steps past the point of no return...The remaining three tracks are smaller in scale but no less epic in scope, culminating with the blistering Give the Drummer Some." - Jason Ankeny Press: "A majestic classic...As with all reissues from the PP People, exquisite re-mastering, sleeve printing and 180g pressing gives the album all the credit and respect it deserves and for this writer, the best copy he's ever owned. For us and for Norman, this was to be the start of something very special and should be welcomed into households near and far." - ***** UK Vibe "Dance of Magic's 20-minute title track, with its click-clack balaphone, whirl of poloyrhythms and cracking solos, from Herbie Hancock, among others, really sets the tone, while `Morning Change' is a svelte mid-tempo samba glowing up with Rhodes chords, and lyrical work from Eddie Henderson. The set winds up with the drums-percussion blast off `Give The Drummer Some', which is a raucous exchange between Connors and Airto, but the whole album is a hard-edged triumph of ensemble playing." - **** Jazzwise Norman Connors: drums Gary Bartz: alto saxophone, soprano saxophone Art Webb: flute Carlos Garnett: tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone Eddie Henderson: trumpet Herbie Hancock: piano, electric piano Cecil McBee, Stanley Clarke: bass Airto Moreira, Alphonse Mouzon, Billy Hart: percussion Anthony Wiles - percussion, balafon Nat Bettis - percussion, congas

Dance Of Magic

Music GB