Mister Magic is a jazz album by saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. Released in 1975, it was his fourth studio album and was considered a breakthrough for him. The album features a fusion of jazz, funk, and soul, and was well-received by both critics and the public. The title track, "Mister Magic," became one of Washington's signature songs and remains one of his most popular tracks to this day. It features a catchy melody and showcases his smooth and soulful saxophone playing. The song reached the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and helped propel the album to commercial success.
The increasing waves of visions begin to drag Dane down in some sort of emotional tsunami. It’s not clear how the visions are harming him, but he acts like they’re overwhelming him. As the visions pour in, Mordred either knows what Dane is seeing or he remembers because he lived through it, and he narrates the visons with his own spin.
With Dane fatally wounded, Elsa gone, and Jacks standing around ineffectually, Mordred takes all the Ebony Artifacts he needs and casts them into a forge. The final issue of the series is reminiscent of the first, with the majority of the plot interwoven with Dane s confessions to this anonymous app on his phone, but the final issue s confessions mean something.
The song reached the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and helped propel the album to commercial success. The album also includes other standout tracks such as "Black Frost" and "Earth Tones." "Black Frost" is a hauntingly beautiful instrumental that shows Washington's ability to create an emotional and atmospheric sound.
‘Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade’ manages to make the title character compelling
Even if you come in thinking Black Knight is a loser, you’ll come out convinced to buy the next volume.
November 3, 2021
I’m a huge Avengers fan — especially the ’70s and ’80s Avengers, before John Byrne took over. I have a fondness for almost every Avengers team of that era, and I hold a lot of love and feelings towards nearly every member of those Avengers teams. This is important context because the reason I said “nearly” is because of a handful of members: Dr. Druid, Starfox, and Black Knight. The first two on that list aren’t relevant here; they’re just characters that were very frustrating to read at the time and have no business being called heroes. Black Knight, on the other hand, is a more unique case.
See, for a while, Black Knight was a good idea. Dane Whitman is a guy with a magical sword that begs him to murder people, but Dane wants to be a hero and not murder anyone. If his blade sheds any blood, Dane is basically possessed by it, making his own means of being a hero his downfall. But this really cool concept never really translated to strong writing or interesting characterization. At one point, they got rid of the Ebony Blade altogether, giving him a lightsaber that made him super uncool. Let me repeat that: Black Knight managed to make a lightsaber boring. So you can understand why I’ve generally not been a fan.
Si Spurrier kicks off Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade reminding everyone that yeah, Black Knight’s a loser. But not just in the way where the audience doesn’t like him — he’s such a loser the Avengers audibly vent their frustration about having to deal with him when he’s working with them. They make it painfully clear that they only see him as someone to destroy magical enemies, and even then only when their first pick is busy. Reading this first issue of Black Knight was cathartic at first, seeing this character I found boring get dragged by the likes of Thor and Black Panther. But by the end, it was just sad. Dane Whitman was a sad man, venting to an app on his phone that refused to give him any real advice, who just wanted to be appreciated by the people he looked up to. And of course, that’s his downfall.
The plot of the book is pretty solid, even if the middle portions are a bit dull. There’s a subversion of Arthurian myth that feels very reminiscent of Kieron Gillen and Dan Mora’s Once and Future, there’s a POV character through whom we see this world of the Black Knight and his history through a new lens, and there’s an Elsa Bloodstone team-up that’s pretty fun if nothing special. Sergio D á vila’s artwork is good if a bit muddled in some of the flashback segments. But all of this is secondary to the highlight of the book: Dane Whitman’s acceptance of his history and legacy and the path he’s given to move forward.
The final issue of the series is reminiscent of the first, with the majority of the plot interwoven with Dane’s confessions to this anonymous app on his phone, but the final issue’s confessions mean something. They’re not the desperate pleas of a pathetic man desperate to have someone love him, they’re the final words of a man who’s made something he’s proud of. It’s beautiful and despite the story getting a bit muddled in the middle (as I mentioned earlier), it’s an incredibly earned moment. It makes the whole story worth it, even before the last five or so pages promise a direction for the future that’s incredibly intriguing.
Black Knight’s not a character who’ll move a lot of sales, and this run obviously exists so that Marvel has something to point to when the Eternals movie releases since he’s going to be played by Kit Harington there. And while this character is likely going to be completely different from whatever the MCU’s version is, Spurrier and D á vila have certainly managed to make him compelling in his own right, and they’ve convinced even a person who thinks Black Knight is a loser that a follow-up volume is a day one purchase.
‘Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade’ manages to make the title character compelling Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony BladeEven if you come in thinking Black Knight is a loser, you'll come out convinced to buy the next volume.
Elsa Bloodstone: Not to worry, I daresay I can find some fleshy bits to shoot off without killing him.
"Earth Tones" is an upbeat and energetic track that highlights his skill as a bandleader and arranger. Washington's collaborators on this album include well-known jazz musicians such as Bob James, Eric Gale, and Richard Tee. Their contributions add depth and richness to the overall sound of the album. Mister Magic marked a turning point in Grover Washington Jr.'s career, establishing him as a leading figure in the jazz fusion movement of the 1970s. The album's success led to further recognition and opportunities for Washington, and he continued to release successful and influential albums throughout his career. Overall, Mister Magic is a timeless and classic jazz album that showcases Grover Washington Jr.'s talents and contributions to the genre. It remains a beloved and highly regarded work in the jazz community and is a must-listen for fans of Washington or anyone interested in jazz fusion..
Reviews for "Grover Washington Jr.: A Master of Soulful Jazz"
1. John - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with "Mister Magic" by Grover Washington Jr. The album felt uninspired and lacked the passion that I was expecting. The tracks were repetitive and didn't offer anything new or exciting. Washington's saxophone playing was technically proficient, but it failed to move me emotionally. Overall, I found this album to be forgettable and would not recommend it to jazz enthusiasts looking for something fresh and innovative.
2. Sarah - 2 stars
"Mister Magic" by Grover Washington Jr. was a letdown for me. The music felt bland and uninteresting. It sounded like generic elevator music that you hear in shopping malls. The saxophone solos were predictable and lacked creativity. I was hoping for more from a jazz legend like Washington, but unfortunately, this album fell flat. I would not recommend it to anyone looking for captivating and original jazz compositions.
3. Michael - 2.5 stars
I had high expectations for "Mister Magic" by Grover Washington Jr., but I was left underwhelmed. The album felt repetitive and lacked depth. The melodies were forgettable and failed to grab my attention. While Washington's saxophone playing was technically proficient, it didn't have the emotional impact that I was hoping for. Overall, this album felt like a missed opportunity to create something truly extraordinary. I would recommend exploring other jazz artists before giving "Mister Magic" a listen.