Two very different sessions are combined on this two-LP set. Trumpeter Lester Bowie and a quintet also including Ari Brown on tenor and soprano, pianist Art Matthews, bassist Fred Williams, and drummer Phillip Wilson, are often used to accompany the soulful and gospel-oriented vocals of Fontella Bass and David Peaston (in addition to taking colorful solos). The 12-minute "For Louie" and a suite that is dominated by an emotional version of "Everything Must Change" are highlights; also memorable is a brief version of Albert Ayler's "Ghosts." The second album is quite a bit different, a set of unaccompanied trumpet solos by Bowie that are often quite humorous. On "Miles Davis Meets Donald Duck," the meeting does seem to take place; "Thirsty?" is a funny joke, and some of the other pieces (including "Organic Echo,""Dunce Dance" and "Fraudulent Fanfare") are brief but effective wisecracks. All in all, this two-fer shows off both Lester Bowie's playing abilities and his sense of humor. - Scott Yanow
Tracks
CD1
01. For Louie (Phillip Wilson/Fontella Bass)
02. Spacehead (Lester Bowie)
03. Ghosts (Albert Ayler)
04. Trans Traditional Suite (Lester Bowie/Bernad Ighner/Lester Bowie)
05. Let The Good Times Roll (Lee Leonard)
CD2
01. Organic Echo
02. Dunce Dance
03. Charlie M·Part II
04. Thirsty?
05. Almost Christmas
06. Down Home
07. Okra Influence
08. Miles Davis Meets Donald Duck
09. Deb Deb's Face
10. Monkey Waltz
11. Fradulent Fanfare
12. Organic Echo·Part II
FRED WILLIAMS bass (1-5)
PHILLIP WILSON drums (1-5)
ART MATTHEWS piano (1-5)
LESTER BOWIE trumpet
ARI BROWN tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone (1-5)
DAVID PEASTON vocals (1-5)
FONTELLA BASS vocals (1-5)
Music composed by Lester Bowie (CD2)
Recorded June 1982 at Tonstudio Bauer, Ludwigsburg
ECM Records - ECM 1246/47 (Germany)