Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy - I Only Have Eyes for You (ECM, 1985)

This post is by Scott and Dan

Lester Bowie (tr); Stanton Davis (tr, flhn); Malachi Thompson (tr); Bruce Purse (tr); Craig Harris (tb); Steve Turre (tb); Vincent Chancey (Fr hn); Bob Stewart (tba); Phillip Wilson (d)

Recorded in February 1985

I Only Have Eyes for You is wholesome fun. The aim of Lester Bowie and his Brass Fantasy band is to celebrate the era in which he came of age: the 1950s and early 1960s. But it's not jazz music that he's celebrating. It's rhythm & blues, rock & roll, and good old-fashioned doo-wop. The title song dates back to 1959 and "Blueberry Hill" to 1956. 

Dan, being the senior member of the blog team, has a personal relationship with the title song.  The Brass Fantasy capture the original feel of "I Only Have Eyes for You," which was a major hit by the Flamingos in 1959. Teens used to dance to songs like that and snap up 45 rpm copies when they could. Dan went for the album (pictured) that compiled many of the singles. The Brass Fantasy stretch this tribute out to 10:26 minutes, well beyond the 3:20 of the Flamingos' single.

While nostalgic to a degree, Bowie also contributes two original compositions to I Only Have Eyes for You. The marvelous reggae tune, "Coming Back, Jamaica," is all strut and swagger. His closing "When the Spirit Returns," is reverent and prayerful, bringing the circle back to the Black church where much of this music was spawned. Bowie's performance here is deeply moving.

As delightful as these gestures to the past are, the album is enhanced further by two quite mysterious long pieces composed by members of the band. "Lament," written by Malachi Thompson, is a dedication to trumpeter Ray Copeland, who died in 1984 just before the recording was made. It's 13:47 minutes of gentle and detailed interaction among the Fantasy band. "Nonet," penned by tuba player Bob Stewart, is also a lengthy workout at 14:25. It's a peppy affair with plenty of spots for brass members to have their say. 

Throughout, the leader's beautiful tone on trumpet captures the essence of each track. He sometimes loses individuality in the Art Ensemble of Chicago, but this is his band, and he takes the lead on most cuts.

I Only Have Eyes for You is the first of eight albums recorded by the Brass Fantasy, and one of only two on the ECM label. It's a sonic marvel that so many instruments of common timbres can be separated in the mix, especially the lower-pitched tuba, French horn, and trombone.