Kellylee Evans, Joni NehRita, Ember Swift, Chris Rouse, Marinda Lavut, Rufus ...
Influences
Drummers: Randy Cooke, Shamakah Ali, Sekou Lamumba, Gary Tomlin, John Blackwell, Amir Thompson, Neil Peart, Prince (yes, he's a very good drummer), Neil Peart, James Gadson, Terreon Gully, Stewart Copland ...
Bands / Artists: U2, Rush, Prince, The Time, Zapp, Me'Shell Ndegéocello, Michael Jackson, Dave Matthew's Band, Miles Davis, P-Funk, Bootsy Collins, James Brown ...
Non Musicians: My Father, My Mother, My Sister, My Grandfather, Bruce Lee (really, think about it, we both hit things. A lot can be learned about a great many things from Bruce Lee)
Adam was born and raised in the small southern Ontario Town of Elmira. Although he was not from a musical family, music was always a strong presence in Adam's childhood. His mother was constantly spinning her record collection, consisting mostly of 60s, 70s, and 80s funk, soul, and R&B. Adam was instantly drawn to the smooth, infectious grooves from Detroit, Atlanta, and Minneapolis. By the age of three, Adam had mastered the family record player and the sounds of Michael Jackson, Kool and the Gang, The Gap Band, Prince, and all the Motown greats could be heard emanating from the Bowman's living room. Shortly thereafter, Adam could regularly be hard pounding away on pots and pans. When tying Adam's wrists to his ankles brought no respite to the family's cooking implements (or ears), his parents got Adam his first drum set, which proved visionary.
While attending Elmira District Secondary School, Adam was trained as a classical percussionist in the music program and performed in the school's concert band, stage band, jazz choir, percussion ensemble, and countless theatrical productions. During this time, Adam honed his skills performing and recording with his first band, progressive rock outfit Olive Wide (1994-99) while taking private lessons with Canadian drum/percussion guru Gary Tomlin. It was clear that Adam had made a choice about the path his life was to take.
In 1999 Adam attended the Humber College Music program and studied with some of the country's finest teachers (Roger Flock, Don Vickery, Paul DeLong). The sharp environmental shift from high school in Elmira to college in Toronto opened many doors and gave Adam his first glimpse into the world of freelancing. Adam began performing with many bands, including Hamilton's Flux and Guelph's Corduroy Leda. He also kept busy with Humber's many R&B singers and performers. The school's jazz focus made groove players in high demand, and Adam helped reduce that demand.
Perhaps the most important connection Adam made during this period was with R&B vocalist Tanya Asaki, who gave Adam the opportunity to perform with Toronto funk all-star Project F (featuring Carlos Morgan and Wade O. Brown). Under the constant tutelage and relentless brow-beating of musical director and keyboardist Billy Alexander, Adam heightened his groove and his understanding and appreciation of funk, soul, hip hop, and R&B. The year and a half he spent working with Project F was one of the most inspiring and encouraging periods in Adam's training. But after finishing the first year of Humber's program, Adam left the mostly jazz-oriented school in search of a funkier groove.
Adam continued working in a variety of bands ranging in style from rock, funk, and hip hop to country, blues, and jazz, and also performed in many musical theatre productions. Finally some projects came along that gave Adam the opportunity to tour nationally, including his own funk outfit The Motor Booty Affair. Currently Adam is working with Canada's undisputed queen of the underground, independent musician Ember Swift. He also performs with Juno Award nominee Kellylee Evans, while recording and performing with hip hop / soulster Rufus, funk artist Chris Rouse and Neo-Soul singer / songwriter Joni NehRita.
Amazingly, Adam still manages to find time to freelance with many other acts that satisfy his never-ending passion for diverse musical styles. Adam's deep feel and tight grooves have been seminal on dance floors, in theatres, at festivals, and on recordings for years now, and he has toured extensively throughout Canada, the United States, Australia , New Caledonia, Scotland, Wales and England. This funky drummer is just getting started.
Bio by Lisa Johnson,
contact www.unsung.ca
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