MAHAGON - MAHAGON / SLUNECNICE PRO VINCENTA VAN GOGHA - 1978 / 1980

Mahagon started life as a folk duo in the early 70s, founded by Petr Klapka and Jan Hala. Soon enough their musical direction changed towards funk-rock similar to Chicago and the line-up expanded to include brass and woodwind instruments. In 1976, Klapka's wife, Zdena Adamova (ex-C&K Vocal) joined them, at which point the band started flirting with pop, as evidenced on their singles at the time. However their self-titled debut LP from 1978 was vintage fusion, with some funky leanings as well. The compositions themselves suggest early Return to Forever, an influence amplified by similar instrumentation that is dominated by rhodes, flute and female vocals. A second album entitled "Slunecnice pro Vincenta van Gogha" (Sunflowers for Vincent Van Gogh) followed in 1980, though this one was leaning towards the pop side of things. In 1981, Klapka and Adamova emigrated to the U.S., leaving the project in dust.
http://www.progarchives.com

"Mahagon's first album brought together a lot of the best jazz-rock musicians from Prague. The result was a energetic fusion remarkably close to several French groups or the British Canterbury sound (editor's note: NOT true) (featuring electric violin, electric piano, electric guitar, sax and scat vocals). This is among the best of such albums from Czechoslovakia and a perfect starting point for the curious."-Scented Gardens of the Mind.

This reissues the two albums by this group. This has all of their recordings; their two albums and 7 singles. Beautifully done with lots of great photos and (Czech) liner notes.
http://www.waysidemusic.com