The debut by
Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy (an octet consisting of four trumpets, both
Craig Harris and
Steve Turre on trombones, the French horn of
Vincent Chancey,
Bob Stewart on tuba and drummer
Phillip Wilson) is one of their best recordings. Rather than playing their interpretations of pop tunes (which would be the direction
Brass Fantasy would head in the future), this album finds the musicians performing originals by
Bowie (including "When the Spirit Returns"),
Stewart, trumpeters
Bruce Purse and
Malachi Thompson and the standard title cut. The music is both whimsical and explorative, making for a colorful set. ~ Scott Yanow