Join the Arts Council of Big Sky for a free pop-up jazz concert on Sunday, August 27th, in the Lobby Bar of the Wilson Hotel from 5–7pm. Performing will be Bowdog, featuring legendary bass player Bob Bowman. Joining him will be Alex Nauman on guitar, Erik Olson on piano and Zach Paris on drums.
Bob Bowman, a native Kansan, learned to play the piano and clarinet before beginning to play bass at age 12. He won a scholarship to the Stan Kenton Jazz Clinic as a high school freshman, followed by study at North Texas State University. In 1976, he joined the famous Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, touring and recording several albums, including the Grammy award-winning “Live in Munich.” He continued his performing and recording career by joining the Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabakin Big Band in Los Angeles in 1979, and many of these albums were nominated for Grammy Awards.
Bowman has toured and recorded with many artists including the legendary Carmen McRae, Pat Coil, Freddie Hubbard, Bud Shank, Karrin Allyson, Steve Houghton, Steve Allee, Bill Mays, Clay Jenkins, Danny Embrey, Todd Strait, Bob Sheppard, Matt Otto, Rod Fleeman, John Stowell, Jerry Hahn, Bobby Watson and others. Also he has had a very important musical relationship with Kansas City musicians like Tommy Ruskin, Paul Smith, Mike Ning, Claude “Fiddler” Williams, Jay McShann, Stan Kessler, and many more. Bob moved to Kansas City in 1988 where he has been a major part of the vibrant jazz scene there. Bob now lives in Montana where he first visited when he was 5 years old, enjoying playing music and the beautiful country year around.
The concert is free and open to the public. •