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.
Add a buy button to your tracks and playlists by clicking the pencil icon below the waveform. In the edit page, go to the 'Metadata' tab and add your Juno artist, label or release page for listeners to purchase your release / releases.
If you are a Pro user, you can also customise the text used for the 'Buy button' on the edit page in the 'Buy link title' section, to read 'Buy at Juno'.
More infoAdd a link to your release at the top of the description section to maximise visibility and sales.
We've found a clear 'Buy at Juno: [insert URL]' works best.
More infoCreate a chart to increase sales of your releases and to boost your profile.
Create chartIf you decide an product is not suitable within 14 days of delivery, you can return it to us for a replacement or refund. Returns must be unused and in their original, undamaged packaging.
Some items are excluded from our money back guarantee:
- Computer software that has been unsealed or registered
- Any item that comes directly into contact with the nose, ears or mouth
To arrange a return, just contact our customer service department on 020 7424 2800 or via our customer support form.