Description

Shadowfax – Shadowdance – Vinyl Record

Shadowfax was an instrumental band known for their unique blend of jazz, world music, and new age elements, creating a sound that was both soothing and ethereal. The band’s 1983 album Shadowdance is a prime example of their innovative approach to music.

Shadowfax was formed in Chicago in 1972 by saxophonist Chuck Greenberg, guitarist G.E. Stinson and bassist Phil Maggini. Originally a blues band, the trio soon began exploring chamber jazz and folk; even medieval music began creeping into the mix, appropriately enough for a group named in honor of a horse from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series. Adding drummer Stuart Nevin in 1974, Shadowfax issued their debut LP, Watercourse Way, two years later.

Failing to make an immediate impact, the quartet did attract a cult following which continued to grow following their subsequent signing to the Windham Hill label. 1982’s eponymously titled effort was their commerical breakthrough, reaching the upper rungs of the Billboard jazz charts; for the follow-up, 1983’s Shadowdance, Shadowfax’s ranks swelled with the additions of violinist Jamii Szmadzinski and pianist/synth player Jared Stewart. The group endured multiple personnel changes in the years to follow, with founding members Greenberg and Maggini both remaining constants well into the 1990s.

Shadowdance encapsulates the essence of Shadowfax’s style, featuring intricate melodic lines played on a variety of instruments including flutes, synthesizers, and guitars. The album is characterized by its seamless fusion of different musical traditions, creating a sound that is both contemporary and timeless. The title track, Shadowdance, exemplifies this blend, combining rhythmic patterns and harmonic textures that evoke a sense of mystery and movement, much like a dance of shadows.

The album is often celebrated for its technical proficiency and the emotional depth of its compositions. Each track builds upon the last, creating a cohesive listening experience that transports the audience to a tranquil, yet dynamic, sonic landscape. ‘Shadowdance’ is highly regarded in the new age and world music communities for its artistic depth and the band’s skillful execution of complex musical ideas.

Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic seal with jacket slit

Windham Hill Records 1983 WH-91029

Track Listing
New Electric India
Watercourse Way
Ghost Bird
Shadowdance
Brown Rice/Karmapa Chenno
Distant Voices
A Song For My Brother