The Artistry of Grover Washington Jr: A Deep Dive Into "Mister Magic

Grover Washington Jr. was an American jazz-funk saxophonist who gained popularity in the 1970s with his smooth and soulful sound. One of his most well-known albums is "Mister Magic," released in 1975. This album features a collection of songs that showcase Washington's virtuosity and musicality. The title track, "Mister Magic," is a standout on the album. It opens with a catchy and memorable melody, which is carried by Washington's saxophone.

It opens with a catchy and memorable melody, which is carried by Washington's saxophone. The song has a funky and energetic feel, with a driving rhythm section and lively horn arrangements. It's a true showcase of Washington's talent and ability to captivate listeners with his playing.

Thread: Billy & Teddy's Excellent Adventure: Wiccan & Hulkling Appreciation

They don't have to break up to spend time apart from each other. They can still be a couple while appearing in books without each other. I think it's necessary for their character development. I mean has Teddy appeared in any story without Billy even once? I can't think of any. I know Billy has had a story without Teddy.

Yeah I'd like to see them being on different teams and everything while still being together. Actually I wouldn't mind if they broke up for a while, but the thing is that in Marvel, when couples break up is kinda like. Forever. They tease it all the time(like Rogue and Gambit for example) but they never actually get back together. I'm not sure I'd take the risk of Marvel destroying them forever.

If they did break up, they'd probably have to character assassinate one of them to do that.

I rather not risk it given many writers track records. Look at the lengths Quesada did to break up MJ and Peter and both still came out looking horrible.

Plus, as Wiccan mentioned, they'd probably take a really long time to get back together. So Marvel could just. you know, write a healthy couple that can function independently on different teams. It shouldn't be that hard.

I think the reason Wiccan is more popular is because his connection to Scarlet Witch is still strong while it feels like Mar-Vell is being written out of Marvel's history because Carol's origin is somehow too similar to Hal Jordan's.

I do not want them to break-up, like at all, but I'm completely fine with them being on different teams. They do need to interact with people that is not each other sometimes.

Teddy should join GoG (ideally when his sister is also on the team) and Wiccan can join the main Avengers team or UA (if it doesn't end up completely cancelled and instead gets revamped).

Oooooh I would have LOVED to see Billy on the Uncanny Avengers squad. That would have been fun.
Seeing him interact with Cable, Rogue, Deadpool, VooDoo, his "DAD" Vision and his "UNCLE" Pietro ---that would have been RAD.
Even if it was just for a brief arc to lend a hand, like say if VooDoo was down or something.

I'm still holding out hope that some ambitious scribe will scoop up Teddy's Excelsior plot and foster it further into fruition.

^Huh? Vision isn't on the Unity Squad.

He was a member of one iteration, and guest appeared during the Pymtron stuff (which was easily one of the more lovely arcs from an art standpoint)

Last edited by Fokken; 02-06-2017 at 06:03 AM .

I wouldn't want Billy and Teddy to break up either, but it would be nice if they were shown on adventures that weren't with each other in some capacity, just for the sake of indivigual story development.

Single panel cameo appearance. It depicted a future battle with Thanos, but there wasn't any direct reference to Hulkling and he wasn't really highlighted in any way. Just happened to be there. helping.

Ah, so nothing too big then. I guess it'll depend on if this was just a tease. Especially since Thanos is kinda dying in his Solo book right now.

I do think it's just your perception, because that's not what happens. Heinberg created Hulkling's history in the 3rd arc of the original Young Avengers run (and in those 12 issues, it should be noted Billy did NOT get an arc about him, only Teddy). Then we had the Civil War Runaways arc; and while both were kidnapped, we did see it from Billy's point of view (though that arc was about the team, no one person got "the arc"; and outside of one scene Wiccan doesn't do much). Next we had Secret Invasion, VERY Hulkling focused, with Billy not in it very much at all (again please note by this time Billy had STILL not had an arc about him; where as Hulkling had had got two). Then we come to Avengers: Children's Crusade. And it's Billy focused (which is fair, he hadn't had an arc); and this is where everyone's "Hulkling is only his boyfriend, he just stands there shouting "BILLY!"; Young Avengers is nothing but Wiccan!" complaints come from. I don't know if it's because it was such a big series (a lot of exposure/sales, House of M continuation, major character work for Scarlet Witch's return, Rictor gets his powers, X-men and Avengers play big roles, Doom etc) OR because the delays stretched it over almost two years? So it "felt" like Wiccan had been the focus for so long. What followed was then Gillen's Young Avengers. And while Wiccan is the "protagonist" he actually doesn't appear in a lot of it (unlike Hulkling). Hulkling gets a solo issue about him (Wiccan does not), in fact Wiccan does not actually appear in 1/3 of the run (another fact people forget). He's the catalyst, but Hulkling is actually the one who gets the focus. The break-up is from Hulkling's point of view, we see Hulkling's fallout from it, Hulkling's therapy; all this time we know nothing of how Billy is feeling. Then we have Al Ewing's run, and to be fair Hulkling got his arc, and then Billy's two parter. a) is a continuation of Hulkling's, and b) it's again really from Hulkling's point of view, Wiccan is possessed for most of it. Ewing promotes Wiccan to team leader (the first ever LGBT+ Avenger team leader) and we get one issue about it; hardly Wiccan 'central either. I feel Ewing did more for Hulkling than Wiccan.

I think ultimately Wiccan is more popular, and it is THAT that makes it feel like it's always Wiccan lead, because in the writing it's perfectly balanced.

I be honest, I don't quite appreciate the bluntness of your response here, as it comes off too much as "I am wrong", and I'm not the only one who feels that Teddy tends to take a backseat to Billy in one facet or another more often than the other way around or then them coming off as being equal. Even in some of your examples, like when the point of view is on Billy when both were kidnapped, in spite of their otherwise small roles at that point, leans toward a focus on Billy. Otherwise, we'd have had both of them take turns narrating their scenes, etc.

Honestly, I kinda think that the Young Avengers run with Marvel Boy and Prodigy has a lot to do with this Billy-preferenced perception.

One thing I will say is that regardless of your post here, I wouldn't agree that the two are perfectly balanced throughout their written existence.

Also: Billy concept art for Avengers Academy:

They said he and Teddy are both coming on a Young Avengers event! https://news.marvel.com/games/59095/. -concept-hero/

Even though I don't play it, I love looking at the character progression art of each of the game's characters. I really love Billy's here, how he goes from regular unassuming teen into the Heroic and powerful figure we know him to now be. Plus it (the farthest right outfit) just looks cool.

He was a member of one iteration, and guest appeared during the Pymtron stuff (which was easily one of the more lovely arcs from an art standpoint)

Another notable song on the album is "Black Frost." This track has a more melancholic and introspective feel, with Washington's saxophone delivering a haunting melody. The song's slow tempo and moody atmosphere make it a standout on the album, and it showcases Washington's ability to convey emotion through his playing. "Earth Tones" is another standout track on "Mister Magic." This song has a more upbeat and cheerful feel, with a groovy bassline and catchy horn hooks. Washington's saxophone weaves in and out of the melodies, creating a sense of joy and positivity in the music. Overall, "Mister Magic" is a masterful album that combines elements of jazz, funk, and soul into a cohesive and enjoyable listening experience. Grover Washington Jr.'s skill and talent as a saxophonist shine through on each track, leaving a lasting impression on listeners. Whether it's the energetic and infectious title track, the introspective "Black Frost," or the joyful "Earth Tones," this album is a testament to Washington's ability to create beautiful and captivating music..

Reviews for "The Enduring Appeal of Grover Washington Jr's "Mister Magic"

1. John - 1 star

I really didn't enjoy "Grover Washington Jr. - Mister Magic Songs". The songs lacked any kind of originality and were very repetitive. Every track seemed to blend into the next, making it difficult to distinguish one song from another. I was expecting more variety and creativity from an artist like Grover Washington Jr., but unfortunately, this album left me feeling disappointed.

2. Sarah - 2 stars

I found "Grover Washington Jr. - Mister Magic Songs" to be quite dull and monotonous. The saxophone playing was impressive, but the overall sound was just not my cup of tea. The songs lacked depth and failed to evoke any emotion or connection with the listener. I was hoping for something more exciting and engaging, but this album fell short of my expectations.

3. Mike - 1 star

I have to say that "Grover Washington Jr. - Mister Magic Songs" was a big disappointment for me. The songs all seemed to follow the same formula, with no real standout tracks. The arrangements were unoriginal and didn't offer anything new or refreshing. Overall, I found the album to be forgettable and not worth the hype.

4. Lisa - 2 stars

I listened to "Grover Washington Jr. - Mister Magic Songs" and was left underwhelmed. The songs had a lackluster quality to them, with no real substance. It felt like Washington was playing it safe and sticking to a tried and tested formula, rather than pushing boundaries and experimenting. While the saxophone playing was technically sound, the overall composition and production of the songs left much to be desired.

The Influence and Evolution of "Mister Magic" in Grover Washington Jr's Career