JOE McPHEE - Black Magic Man LP

Liner notes by John Corbett.

Announcing a trio of Joe McPhee records, originally issued on Hat Hut, these three titles by the Poughkeepsie, New York-based multi-instrumentalist would be the seminal Swiss label's very first releases.

Recorded in the same sessions as 1971's classic Nation Time, Black Magic Man is smoldering, late-Coltrane-inspired modal free jazz. While The Willisau Concert features longtime collaborataor, synth player John Snyder and South African drummer Makaya Ntshoko, McPhee unleashes his first solo LP, simply named Tenor.

Together the albums represent the sound of McPhee opening up, opening out, expanding his field of operations. These first-time vinyl reissues reproduce Klaus Baumgartner's beautiful cover art.