Over the last decade, Elmira native Adam Bowman has made his mark on the Canadian music scene.
![Adam Bowman’s drumming is featured on two 2015 Juno Award nominated albums: Womyn, by Alysha Brilla and Singing in Tongues by Eccodek. [Submitted]](https://www.observerxtra.com/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/post_juno.jpg)
An accomplished session drummer/percussionist, Bowman’s reach extends across a wide spectrum of genres, from jazz and world music though rock, folk and electronic styles.
Now, Bowman has a chance to add two Juno Awards to his résumé as the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences gave the nod January 27 to a pair of projects he helped create in 2014: Alysha Brilla’s “Womyn” was nominated for adult contemporary album of the year, and Eccodek’s “Singing in Tongues” is up for world music album of the year.
“Playing on a Juno-nominated album is truly a dream come true,” Bowman said. “Playing on two is such an incredible, unbelievable honour.”
As a freelance musician, Bowman works with a variety of artists and groups from across the world. It’s a setup that fits his musical sensibilities.
“I’ve had the opportunity to perform and record with artists that are varied,” Bowman explained. “I think that’s one of the reasons I have gravitated towards being a session musician rather than a member of one particular band. I really love all different styles of music and lessons that come with them; I enjoy really digging in to discover what makes each style tick.”
And it allows Bowman to learn from a deep pool of talented musicians.
“Every time I turn around there is another fantastic bassist that I get to play with,” Bowman said, noting the important connection drummers share with bassists. “It’s great to work with different singers and guitarists as well and to learn about different ideas and songwriting styles.”
And both the Alysha Brilla and Eccodek – led by Andrew McPherson of Guelph – recording experiences fit that bill.
“I met Alysha about a year and a half ago through Chris Rouse, who is her keyboardist,” Bowman said. “Chris and I have been playing together for years so when Alysha needed a new drummer, he put my name forward. And we all clicked really well after that with great musical chemistry and good personal chemistry as well. And that was that, we recorded the record together at a beautiful studio in Toronto called Noble Street Studios.”
Bowman’s relationship with Eccodek stretches back even further.
“It’s called global-dub-fusion,” Bowman said of the band’s style. “Andrew (McPherson) gets amazing singers from around the world to perform on the record and he builds these amazing tracks underneath them and then he brings in the band to record our parts. The production is so lush and rich; working with him is like a master class in electronic music.”
The 2015 Juno Awards are set for March 15 at Hamilton’s First Ontario Centre.
Bowman’s looking forward to the lead up that will include a range of musical performances, parties and press junkets. And he remembers where his musical career got started.
“It’s all a product of the EDSS band,” he said. “It all started in Grade 9 band with Murray Showers.”
You can keep up with Bowman’s latest work at www.adambowman.com.
