Just before "new age' music even really existed, ECM records, unknowingly, helped to create what was referred to at the time as "chamber Jazz". Most of the ECM musicians came from some type of jazz backround, but usually also mixed into their musical stew much classical music and European influences, as well as ethnic and folk musics (nowadays referred to as World music). This is one of many 5-star ECM discs. Sadly it seems for most folks ECM music is just too hard to comprehend it seems-too many people can't relate to it because it doesn't sound like any of the music they grew up with. Too bad, and their loss. Thankfully, this one goes down a bit easier, so it makes a great introduction to ECM as well as to all 3 of these musicians. As usual with ECM the recorded sound is excellent-which really matters when one is dealing with this type of music, or any music this intimate and quiet (and acoustic-based). No other recordings from any Jazz or creative music label from the 70's sound anywhere near as good as ECM recordings. I have this one on vinyl-since I purchased it shortly after it originally came out-but the CD is better just for the fact that it's wonderful to hear this quiet, spacious music, without any surface noise or tape hiss. I think Egberto Gismonti may have at least one other masterpiece that I must list here-titled "Solo" and recorded for ECM at around the same time. If you happen to love "Magico" then I would say Gismonti's "Solo" as well as the very good follow-up to this album-"Folk Songs" by the same 3 musicians, would be the 2 most important CD's to get.. Haden's music on his own spans mostly different types of Jazz -especially Ornette Coleman-style work, and most of Garbarek's music has more electronic instrumentation as well as a busier instrumental pallette (through the use of lots of additional musicians, especially percussionists, and extensive overdubbing), as well as having a very different instrumental line up, so not many of Garbarek's other recordings exist in this world... This is one to put on, sit back, and "get lost in", which is the highest compliment I can pay to any recording. I have hundreds of lp's and about 2 or 3 thousand CD's, so just the fact that I would take the time to write a review for this one should speak for itself... - by Phasedin, Amazon.com
Perhaps it was the presence of bassist Charlie Haden, but this trio set has more energy than one normally associates with the other members of the group (Jan Garbarek on tenor and soprano and Egberto Gismonti doubling on guitar and piano). The trio performs group originals and an obscurity during the picturesque and continually interesting release; this combination works well. - by Scott Yanow, AMG
Artist: Charlie Haden, Jan Garbarek, Egberto Gismonti
Album: Magico
Year: 1979
Label: ECM (1980)
Runtime: 43:51
Tracks:
1. Bailarina (Geraldo Carneiro/Piry Reis) 14:32
2. Magico (Egberto Gismonti) 7:45
3. Silence (Charlie Haden)10:19
4. Spor (Jan Garbarek) 6:13
5. Palhaço (Egberto Gismonti) 5:00
Personnel:
Charlie Haden (Double Bass)
Jan Garbarek (Saxohones)
Egberto Gismonti (Guitar and Piano)