Lester Bowie’s Brass Fantasy - I Only Have Eyes For You

I Only Have Eyes For You marks a surprising turn in revered Avant-Garde hornist and Art Ensemble of Chicago founder’s career: like Ornette Coleman or Don Cherry, Lester Bowie left the free jazz world to initiate a more pop friendly series of releases with this brilliant cover of The Flamingos’ doo-wop classic. An excellent brass LP somehow recalling Maher Shalal Has Baz.

I’m fond of Don Cherry’s least celebrated body of work, his various recordings for ECM, including the brilliant Codona trilogy. In general, I love what working with Manfred Eicher brought to the sound of revered American free jazz musicians, who were then given the opportunity to blast their fierce sound over the desolated landscapes of Northern Europe. They flew the roaring American city to Bavarian havens - only in a metaphorical way in the case of Lester Bowie, as this LP was in fact recorded in NYC...

I don’t think all of Lester Bowie’s Brass Fantasy's LP's are good, but this is one is a great, consistent record. Of course the title track steals the show; it’s extremely original and just as hypnotic and addictive as the Flamingos’ classic, but the rest of the songs are no fillers. "Nonet" and "Lament" are two tense, long and minimal brass pieces, recalling Sketches of Spain's minor modes. Composed by Lester Bowie, the closing song, "When The Spirit Returns", is a blues counterpoint to the opening title track. Highlighting the theatrical nature of the record, it sounds like the credit rolls to a film adaptation of some Broadway show, thus highlighting the theatrical nature of the record. There’s something even slightly cartoonish to it, and I can't help but imagine a miniature parade, led by Lester Bowie and his great variety of horns, walking down the Main Street of my mind.  (M/M - sealed copy!)

(sorry for the terrible youtube vinyl rips below)

Tracklist

1. I Only Have Eyes For You
2. Think
3. Lament
4. Coming Back, Jamaica
5. Nonet
6. When The Spirit Returns