Search - Lester Bowie :: Great Pretender

Lester Bowie
Great Pretender
Genres: Jazz, Pop, R&B

Track Listings (6) - Disc #1
1. The Great Pretender
2. It's Howdy Doody Time
3. When The Doom (Moon) Comes Over The Mountain/A) Doom?/B) When The Moon Comes Over The Mountain
4. Rios Negroes
5. Rose Drop
6. Oh, How The Ghost Sings

Lester Bowie took the trumpet and improvisational music in his own, unique direction. His ECM debut as a leader is a fascinating and fun sonic amalgam. Bowie's highly original approach combined the avant-garde, traditiona... more »

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CD Details

All Artists: Lester Bowie
Title: Great Pretender
Members Wishing: 3
Total Copies: 0
Label: ECM Records
Release Date: 9/12/2000
Album Type: Original recording reissued
Genres: Jazz, Pop, R&B
Styles: Avant Garde & Free Jazz, Modern Postbebop, Swing Jazz, Bebop, Funk
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 042282936929

Synopsis

Album Description

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CD Reviews

You'll never listen to the Platters the same way again

m_noland | Washington, DC United States | 11/26/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Lester was pomo before there was pomo. The Amazon.com reviewer says that its suspended between "kitsch and concerto." Exactly -- Lester Bowie obliterated such distinctions. The standout cut is the absolutely monumental reworking of the Platters' "The Great Pretender" featuring doo-wop vocals, a variety of slurred half-valve trumpet techniques a la Bubber Miley/Cootie Williams, and a scorching double time bari sax solo by Hamiet Bluiett. (Be forewarned -- when this came on the radio one afternoon in the car, the overblowing part of the solo had a friend of mine threatening to drive the car off a bridge if I didn't turn it off.) The piece ends with Bowie sounding like Jack Nicholson in "The Shining" intoning "Hey, baby I'm here...I...have...arrived...he,he,he.""Rios Negros" is based on a repeated vamp; Bowie solos, pianist Donald Smith solos, and then Bowie comes back with a muted solo to finish. "Rose Drop" and "Oh, How the Ghost Sings" are exercises in atmospherics. "Howdy Doody Time" and "When the Doom (Moon) Comes Over the Mountain" are along the "Great Pretender" model of deconstructing pop culture themes.This is a great record, but forewarned is forearmed -- it is not for everyone."

Great !

Deleauvive | Paris XIV - FRANCE | 03/08/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I agree that this record is not for everyone, but is it a reason to give it less than 5 stars? Sure, the title has very little to do with the complex free-jazz oriented harmonies of Lester Bowie, and the vocals represent a drop of water in his ocean.

But this is without a doubt a brilliant record, great for those in need of some relaxing, challenging and subtely burlesque music.

Made in 1981 in Germany on the usually-no-risk-taking ECM label, "The Great Pretender" is an powerful, haunting and fully enjoyable record.

"

A Particular Pleasure

Mrs. Frisky | New York City | 03/13/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bowie's take on "The Great Pretender" is delicious for those of us old enough to remember the original - quirky in the best sense of the word. And as though that's not enough, take a listen to the next cut, "Howdy Doody Time." Time travel through music...."