John Williams: The Magic Box

John Williams (Composer), Francis Bebey (Composer), Timothy Walker (Composer), Paul-Bert Rahasimanana (Composer), Jean Mwenda (Composer), Vasco Martins (Performer), Ralanto (Performer), Enoch Sontonga (Performer), African Traditional (Performer), Christopher Laurence (Performer), John Etheridge (Performer), Richard Harvey (Performer), Paul Clarvis (Artist), Paul Kegg (Artist), Martin Loveday (Artist), Anthony Pleeth (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Vasco Martins, Ralanto, Enoch Sontonga, African Traditional, Christopher Laurence, et al.
• Composer: John Williams, Francis Bebey, Timothy Walker, Paul-Bert Rahasimanana, Jean Mwenda
• Audio CD (April 16, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000065APV
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #136,412 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. O Bia, for guitar, tiny kit & double bass

2. Township Kwela, for 2 guitars, double bass, percussion, bamboo pipe, wh

3. Maki, for strings & percussion

4. Engome, for thumb piano (sanza) & guitar

5. Malinke Guitars, duet

6. Masanga

7. Musha musiki, for 2 guitars, double bass & percussion

8. Mitopa

9. Triangular Situations

10. Guitar Makossa

11. The Magic Box

12. Omby

13. Nkosi Sikelel'i Afrika

14. Djandjon

15. Sangara

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Expanding the Horizon, July 18, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: John Williams: The Magic Box (Audio CD)

In pursuing his goal of expanding guitar music beyond the traditional Spanish repertoire, Williams and friends have produced a very enjoyable collection of African style music. The blend of percussion, bass, and wind instruments gives it even more flavor. Particularly delightful is track 3, "Maki," with Williams playing beautiful tremolo and strumming on a bright sounding requinto. Several other pieces give off a similar tropical, mellow, and happy feeling. I'm eagerly anticipating Williams' next project and where he will take us.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pushing the limits, May 7, 2002

By 

R. Webb "rbw2001" (Brooksville, Fl. United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: John Williams: The Magic Box (Audio CD)

Once again John Williams pushes the classical guitar 'limits' to new horizons. Introducing new genre's of music to the guitar is nothing new for this guitarist. Accompanied by voice, double bass, accordian, zarb, harmonium, flute, whistles, percussion and steel string guitar among other insturments makes this a cd that has gone far outside the 'classical' category. This cd however is not specifically a John Williams showcase. It is a panoramic view of Africian music in general. Reflecting the different cultural tastes of the continent. I would like to add that I think Mr. Williams is long overdue for a Grammy Award. Maybe this cd will do it.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for a quiet, cloudy Sunday Morning, November 15, 2003

By 

Dr. Eric M. Jones (Wodonga, Victoria, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: John Williams: The Magic Box (Audio CD)

I have Magic Box playing and a small water sculpture flowing as I type this and the combination is just about perfect. I wouldn't call myself a sophisticated listener, even though I bought my first Segovia recording as a teenager in the early 1960s and, over the years, have accumulated quite a few recording by Segovia, Isbin, Williams, Parkening, and others. I never tire of listening to these superb guitarists playing Rodrigo and Bach and the other standards but, every once in a while, it is a pleasure to hear something a little out of the ordinary. It takes a special talent for a classically trained musician to handle pop or folk material with any success - as it does for pop/folk musicians to go the other way. Williams does it with ease.