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Ralph Bowen
His seven solo CDs (Movin' On, A Morning View, Soul Proprietor, Keep the Change, Five, Dedicated, Due Reverence, and Power Play) feature a wide variety of top shelf musicians including trumpeters John Swana and Ryan Kisor; pianists Jim Beard and Orrin Evans; Organist Sam Yahel; guitarists Peter Bernstien, Jon Herington, and Adam Rogers; bassists John Patitucci, Anthony Jackson, Charles Fambrough, Reuben Rogers, and Kenny Davis; and drummers Ben Perowski, Bill Stewart, Brian Blade, Antonio Sanchez, Gregory Hutchinson, Donald Edwards, and Dana Hall.
Gear
Ralph Bowen plays Henri Selmer Paris saxophones; Vandoren reeds, mouthpieces, and ligatures; and Avanti Flutes by Conn-Selmer exclusively.
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Conrad Herwig: A Voice Through the Door
by C. Andrew Hovan
In the challenging economic and political climate of present day, it seems that much time is spent on matters of only fleeting importance. Furthermore, it seems that our culture has experienced a paradigm shift that places more emphasis on immediacy and instant fulfillment and less on rumination and appreciation of more profound matters. On the one hand come the duties and obligations that embody day to day survival, but there is also a need for balance. It is this current ...
read moreRalph Bowen: Standard Deviation
by Glenn Astarita
Tenor saxophonist Ralph Bowen (Out Of The Blue, Horace Silver, Michel Camillo) is a highly regarded New York-based artiste and an idea man who can stand with the best of them. With his fifth solo venture for Posi- Tone Records Bowen tackles standards, and as the title intimates, he often deviates from the norm. Jerome Kern's “Yesterdays" receives a Latin uplift, sparked by venerable pianist Bill O'Connell's topsy-turvy opening statements and bristling unison choruses with the rhythm section. ...
read moreRalph Bowen: The Power Play
by Diana Kondrashin
[Editor's Note: A shorter version of this interview was originally published at Jazz.Ru. It has been translated and expanded exclusively for All About Jazz.]Ralph Bowen was born in Canada but he has pursued a jazz career in the United States for over 20 years, as tenor saxophonist, composer and arranger. He strikes neatly with his recordings as a leader, just like it was done last year with Total Eclipse, an album recorded with his quartet: organist Jared Gold, ...
read moreRalph Bowen: Power Play
by Bruce Lindsay
With over 20 years experience as a recording artist and composer, saxophonist Ralph Bowen has a mastery of straight-ahead jazz that is immediately apparent on Power Play, his third album for the Posi-Tone label. Bowen's first two Posi-Tone releases, 2009's Dedicated and 2010's Due Reverence were quintet recordings. For Power Play, he trims down to an all-new quartet lineup, but it still swings. On the album's opener, “K. D.'s Blues," Bowen jumps straight in with a hard-edged ...
read moreRalph Bowen: Power Play
by Mark Corroto
The inscription on saxophonist Ralph Bowen's business card probably should read “solid citizen," because his post-bop jazz conception has always been steadfast and dependable. With Power Play, he only adds to his stalwart reputation. Together with bassist Kenny Davis, Bowen was picked, in the mid-1980s, to spearhead the return of Blue Note Records in the all-star band Out Of The Blue. Along with the likes of Michael Philip Mossman, Kenny Garrett, and Ralph Peterson, OTB revived the classic ...
read moreRalph Bowen: Power Play
by Dan Bilawsky
Saxophonist Ralph Bowen has always been an original, despite being tagged as one of the neo-traditionalist young lions of the '80s. A quarter century has gone by since Bowen came to semi-prominence as a member of Out Of The Blue, yet this mega-talent still manages to fly just under the radar, despite impressive dates like this one. Power Play is a sharp departure from Bowen's previous Posi-Tone albums, which were built on an all-star guitar-bass-drums rhythm section, ...
read moreRalph Bowen: Due Reverence
by John Patten
Saxophonist Ralph Bowen's Due Reverence is a too-short set of tributes to horn players who've made an impression on Bowen. The five tunes were written in the styles of players Ted Dunbar, Bob Mintzer, James Scott, Phil Nimmons and Robert Dick.Bowen gets backing from a strong quartet--Sean Jones on trumpet, Adam Rogers on guitar, John Patitucci on bass and Antonio Sanchez on drums. The combination of competently-crafted tunes from Bowen (director of jazz ensembles at Rutgers), played by ...
read moreGiant Steps Album Celebrated with Clinic & Concert
Source:
The Phillips Agency
The title track from John Coltrane's landmark album Giant Steps is a rite of passage for all serious jazz musicians. On Saturday, March 31 five acknowledged jazz masters will teach a special inDepth Jazz Clinic focused on “Giant Steps" and other groundbreaking Coltrane tunes. Jazz fans can experience this thrilling music when the same powerhouse musicians perform at Twins Jazz on March 30 and 31. The Workshop The Giant Steps clinic takes place from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at ...
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New Brunswick Jazz Project garners award from City Market
Source:
Michael Ricci
The New Brunswick Jazz Project has been up and running for a little more than a year and the effort to make New Brunswick a jazz music destination is already receiving recognition. The New Brunswick City Market, a nonprofit group that promotes the city's businesses and the revitalization of its downtown area, gave the jazz project an award at its annual board of directors meeting in April. The award, for outstanding music program contribution, is a sign to the founders ...
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Ralph Bowen - Power Play (Posi-Tone, 2011)
Source:
Music and More by Tim Niland
Saxophonist Ralph Bowen has carved out a fine niche for himself on the mainstream jazz scene as an educator at Rutgers University, and as a recording artist (BTW, back when the Library where I work had money I actually booked him for a concert!) This is a fine mainstream jazz hard-bop recording where Bowen is performing with Orrin Evans on piano, Kenny Davis on bass and Donald Edwards on drums. They open the album with “K.D.'s Blues" which has a ...
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Ralph Bowen - Power Play (2011)
Source:
Something Else!
By S. Victor Aaron It seems like it was not even a year since we were last here chatting up a new Ralph Bowen CD, and checking back, there actually is less than twelve months between his last one, Due Reverence and this one due out on February 8, Power Play. That makes his third Posi-Tone record in as many years. And given how deadgummed good the last one was, that is just fine by me. On last year's record, ...
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Jazz Bridge Presents Ralph Bowen at Cheltenham Art Center on January 5, 2011
Source:
Suzanne Cloud
Saxophonist Ralph Bowen has made his mark on the New York jazz scene for over two decades, while bringing his “casual perfectionism" to clubs, concert halls, and festivals worldwide. Bowen's discography of over 60 titles includes collaborations with Orrin Evans, Michel Camilo, and Horace Silver. Bowen will be appearing at the Cheltenham Art Center, 439 Ashbourne Rd, Cheltenham, PA on January 5, 2011. One show: 7:30-9PM. Tickets: $10/$5 for students. No advance sales. Free Refreshments! For info: 215-517-8337 Appearing with ...
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Ralph Bowen Quartet - 6/17/09 - Smoke NYC
Source:
Two for the Show Media
Ralph Bowen Quartet SMOKE Jazz Club 2751 Broadway New York, NY June 17th, 2009 sets @ 8:00PM, 10:00PM, 11:30pm 212.864.6662 - $30 music charge About Ralph Bowen: Saxophonist Ralph Bowen first made his mark on the New York jazz scene in the 1980s as a co-leader of Bluenote Records' sextet “OTB-Out of the Blue." Along with Kenny Garrett, Robert Hurst, Steve Wilson, Rene Rosnes, Kenny Davis, Ralph Peterson, Harry Pickens, and Mike ...
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Ralph Bowen CD Release Party at Ortlieb's Jazzhaus on May 30, 2008
Source:
All About Jazz
"Ralph Bowen is an assured saxophonist and versatile composer who clearly enjoys spontaneous conversation with his mates. In short, Power Play is an unpretentious delight." —Carlo Wolff, Jazz Times Magazine
"Saxophonist Ralph Bowen's Power Play is a solid and straightahead album that juxtaposes fearless up-tempo playing with pensive introspection. Bowen, who has chops galore, displays his mastery of tenor, alto, and soprano throughout." —Chris Robinson, Down Beat Magazine
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Chant for Peace Eternal
From: Spirit SongsBy Ralph Bowen
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