Ralph Bowen

Saxophonist Ralph Bowen has made his mark on the New York jazz scene for over three decades, while bringing his "casual perfectionism" to clubs, concert halls, and festivals worldwide. Bowen's discography of over 70 titles includes associations with Orrin Evans, Michel Camilo, Horace Silver, Renee Rosnes, Kenny Garrett, Steve Wilson, Kenny Davis, Michael Mossman, Ralph Peterson Jr., Anthony Branker, and Jared Gold. 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.

Jae Sinnett Quintet Featuring Randy Brecker and Ada Rovatti at the Attucks Theater

by Mark Robbins
November 24, 2024

Since the mid-'70s, when he came to this part of Southeastern Virginia to serve in the Navy, Jae Sinnett's name has become synonymous with excellent jazz drumming nationally and internationally. His first album as a leader, Obsession (Self Produced), was released in 1986 and featured Frank Foster, John Hicks, Wallace Roney, Steve Wilson and Clarence Seay. ...

Ralph Bowen: Keep the Change

by C. Andrew Hovan
September 7, 2024

I can still remember the impression that Ralph Bowen made on a young jazz enthusiast trying to break into radio and be part of the hip jazz crowd. I had decided to get involved with the programming end of a local non-profit arts support organization and on a letter perfect July evening our committee had lined ...

Ralph Bowen: Five

by C. Andrew Hovan
September 1, 2024

Although he's better known in educational circles due to his solid commitment to jazz pedagogy as a member of the faculty at Rutgers University, Ralph Bowen has been a vital member of the jazz community since debuting with the group Out of the Blue back in the mid '80s. His adaptability to a diversity of musical ...

Brian Lynch: Con Clave Vol.2

by C. Andrew Hovan
January 4, 2024

The jazz musician's road to success and sustainability is a rocky one, marked with more than its share of ups and downs. Becoming the norm as of late, those with the strongest staying power have increased their flexibility by becoming more diverse in their efforts. The affect is thus twofold-providing an income to pay the rent, ...

Spirit Songs

By Anthony Branker

Label: Origin Records
Released: 2023
Track listing: Chant for Peace Eternal; Parris in April; Spirit Song; Sketches of Selim; Imani (Faith); In God��s Hands; Mentor; J.C.��s Passion.

Johnathan Blake: Passage

by Dave Linn
August 31, 2023

The drummer Johnathan Blake was born in Philadelphia in 1976. His father was the esteemed jazz violinist and educator John Blake Jr. who played in many diverse settings, (most notably Archie Shepp and McCoy Tyner), before releasing seven albums under his name. He died in 2014. Blake (the son) began studying music at a young age, ...

Chant for Peace Eternal

August 23, 2023

Album: Spirit Songs
By Anthony Branker
Label: Origin Records
Released: 2023
Duration: 07:07

Conrad Herwig: A Voice Through the Door

by C. Andrew Hovan
May 5, 2023

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 ...

Meet Liam Sutcliffe, Jimmy Waltman, Sam AuBuchon, Derick Freitas Campos

by Sanford Josephson
June 5, 2022

The winners of the New Jersey Jazz Society's new Juried Scholarship Competition are:$1,000 prize for PerformanceTrumpeter Liam Sutcliffe, Rutgers' Mason Gross School of the Arts Jazz Studies Program$1,000 prize for Composition Vocalist Jimmy Waltman, Princeton University Program in Jazz Studies$500 prize for Performance Bassist Sam AuBuchon, William Paterson University Jazz ...