An hour-long solo piano set recorded in April 1993 at
SteepleChase Records
' Danish studio,
Stanley Cowell
's
Angel Eyes
shows off the educator and sideman's impeccable melodic sense in its purest setting. Although there's a cerebral quality to
Cowell
's playing, akin to cool piano pioneers like
Lennie Tristano
,
Bill Evans
, and
Dave Brubeck
(who performed one of the best-known versions of this set's title track),
never loses sight of the song's melodic line, even when his playing veers off into abstract variations. The program is roughly divided between
originals and
jazz
standards, with a completely restructured take on
John Lennon
"Imagine"
the odd tune out. Heavy on the
ballads
does include a swinging take on
Thelonious Monk
"Eronel"
as a change-up. The four
originals are uniformly fine, with the soulful
"Akua"
the particular standout. Neither cabaret snooze nor
avant-garde
experiments, these nine piano solos are sublime, low-key mainstream
. ~ Stewart Mason