Tom Browne - Magic

Title: Magic Artist: Tom Browne Release Date: 1981 Re-Released On: 2/19/2002 Label: Arista Records, BMG Album Type(s): Instrumental, lyrics/libretto UPCs: 4988017607589, 766488438628 Genre: Jazz Styles: Jazz-Funk, Crossover Jazz Moods: Lively, Dreamy, Sentimental Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 1 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. Let's Dance
2. Magic
3. I Know
4. Midnight Interlude
5. God Bless the Child
6. Night Wind
7. Thighs High (Grip Your Hips and Move)
8. Making Plans

Year Type Label Catalog # 2002 CD Arista Records BVCM-37284 2002 CD BMG 37284

No other editions were found for this album.

Like Roy Ayers, Patrice Rushen, George Benson, and George Duke, Tom Browne is a perfect example of a jazz musician who switched to R&B and was lambasted by jazz snobs for it. As jazz's hardcore saw it, the trumpeter was a sellout -- a gifted Clifford Brown disciple who was shamelessly wasting his chops playing commercial music. But commercial music isn't necessarily inferior to jazz, and the fact is that much of Browne's soul/funk output was excellent. While jazz snobs dismissed Browne's third album, Magic, because it contains very little jazz, the Dave Grusin/Larry Rosen-produced LP has a lot going for it from a soul/funk standpoint. The only cuts on Magic that have anything to do with jazz are the sensuous quiet storm instrumental "Night Wind" and a lush Grusin arrangement of Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child." This is an R&B album first and foremost, and those who admired Browne for his 1980 hit "Funkin' for Jamaica" also admired such Magic cuts as the funky "Let's Dance," the Earth, Wind & Fire-ish "I Know," and the addictive funk hit "Thighs High (Grip Your Hips and Move)," all of which feature vocalist Toni Smith -- a passionate, Chaka Khan-influenced belter who had been featured on "Funkin' for Jamaica." While jazz snobs would be better off passing on Magic, R&B fans will find a lot to admire about Browne's third album. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Brown Strings Babi Floyd Vocals (Background) Barry Finclair Strings Bernard Wright Fender Rhodes, Piano Bobby Broom Guitar (Electric), Handclapping Buddy Williams Drums, Handclapping Charles Libove Strings Charles McCracken Strings Claudette Washington Vocals (Background) Clifford Branch, Jr. Vocals, Clavinet, Fender Rhodes, Arranger, Vocals (Background), Handclapping, Piano Crusher Bennett Percussion Dave Grusin Fender Rhodes, Clavinet, Producer, Synthesizer, Liner Notes, Arranger, Mixing, Handclapping, Tympani [Timpani], Piano David Nadien Concert Master Dennis Bell Fender Rhodes, Arranger, Arp Strings Donn Davenport Art Direction Dorothy Terrell Vocals (Background) Frank Floyd Vocals (Background) Frank Laico String Engineer Gerald Tarack Strings Greg Barrett Drums Howard Grate Drums Jan Mullen Strings Jeff Mironov Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric) John Ford Photography Jonathan Abramowitz Strings Joseph Rabushka Strings Lamar Alsop Strings Larry Rosen Liner Notes, Percussion, Engineer, Mixing, Producer Lewis Eley Strings Marcus Miller Bass (Electric) Marvin Morgenstern Strings Matthew Raimondi Strings Max Ellen Strings Neal Pozner Design Ollie Cotton Mixing, Assistant Engineer, Engineer Patty Evans Make-Up Peter Lopez Production Coordination Regis Iandiorio Strings Richard Sortomme Strings Sekou Bunch Arranger, Vocals (Background), Bass (Electric), Handclapping Sonia Santos Hair Stylist Ted Jensen Mastering Terry Burris Piano, Handclapping Tom Browne Handclapping, Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Vocals, Arranger, Horn Toni Smith Handclapping, Vocals (Background), Vocals