The Magic Of Ju Ju (Verve By Request) vinyl

An uncompromising statement in the landscape of free jazz and released in 1968, the album's title track is an 18-minute tour de force. A relentless exorcism of sound driven by Shepp's feverish tenor sax and an army of percussionists, including Beaver Harris, Norman Connor, Ed Blackwell, Frank Charles and Dennis Charles. The piece never loses momentum, a hypnotic Afro-rhythmic foundation over which Shepp's saxophone howls, growls and shrieks with raw, untamed fury. The arrival of Martin Banks and Michael Zwerin's trumpets in the final minutes momentarily grounds the chaos before it collapses in exhaustion. The additional tracks take a more traditional approach, contrasting the firestorm of the title piece. Yet, Magic of Ju-Ju remains a defining moment in Shepp's career, marking his transition into deeper explorations of African heritage, gospel, blues and contemporary r&b. The album's title, drawn from Vietnam-era GI slang, hints at Shepp's engagement with the social and political turbulence of the time. Reissued as part of the Verve By Request series on 180-gram vinyl, this is a vital milestone in Shepp's radical, boundary-pushing career.