by Douglas Payne
Consciously more percussive -- and more commercial -- Szabo's newly formed sextet was clearly up to the challenges of combining rock with jazz. More an instrumental-pop confection, Magical Connection doesn't quite live up to its promise. But even as Szabo covers pop hits by Lulu, Crosby, Stills & Nash and John Sebastian, he often plays with great wit and solos with energetic dexterity. Not available on CD.