The Chicago-based Bowmanville has a unique sound of its own. Comprised of violinist-leader Ethan Adelsman, Graham Nelson on harmonica and vocals, guitarist Mason Jiller, Oliver Horton (and occasionally Ethan Philion) on bass, and drummer Noah Plotkin, their self-titled debut introduces the highly appealing group to a wider audience. Bowmanville features plenty of variety with close interplay between violin and harmonica, passionate vocals by Nelson, hot solos, and colorful ensembles. The group’s originals (a swinging “Annie & Me,” the minor blues “Metal Bird,” “Don’t Force It,” the Djangoish “Boiano Campobasso,” a brief “Helen’s Theme,” and the rollicking blues “Weapons Of Mass Distraction”) are full of excitement. In addition, Bowmanville performs their own fresh takes on “Georgia,” “Fly Me To The Moon,” “St. James Infirmary,” a very exotic rendition of “Caravan,” and a surprising version of “La Vie En Rose” that swings hard. With the lead alternating between violin, harmonica and guitar while driven by bass and drums, plus the very expressive and soulful vocals of Graham Nelson, Bowmanville will never be mistaken for any other group. The players find something new to say on every song they interpret while swinging all the way. Violinist Ethan Adelsman has performed Gypsy jazz, bluegrass, rock, classical and Latin jazz, all before putting together Bowmanville. The group that he formed features eclectic musicians who have extensive experience playing in Chicago and elsewhere. Each musician is comfortable in several different idioms, combining together their past experiences to form the band’s unique and personal sound. Bowmanville performs in such Chicago venues as Space, Andy’s Jazz Club, the Whistler, Fitzgerald’s, and the Acorn Theater. They have also played at the Chicago Jazz Festival and at the Live at Heart Festival in Orebro, Sweden. Bowmanville’s distinctive and continually surprising swing music is well displayed on their new recording. With this release, those who are lucky enough to hear them perform in Chicago will be joined by a larger national audience.

Ethan Adelsman:

Ethan was born with a violin in hand… well nearly. His love of the instrument transcends his Classical training, making him adept and equally at home in nearly any genre. He has logged his time on the road playing searing violin pop solos with Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, as Associate Concert Master for the Western Piedmont Symphony in North Carolina, and with songwriter Tim Lowly. At home in his native Chicago, Ethan is a continually requested gigging and session musician in the Gypsy, Bluegrass, Latin Jazz, Rock, and Classical genres. A composer and performer, his love of Hot Club jazz and eclectic music has given birth to the powerhouse combo Bowmanville.

Mason Jiller:

Mason Jiller is an emitter of light who views music as a symbol of freedom which has a deep resonant ability to dissolve boundaries to increase understanding & empathy between beings. His sounds reimagine paradigms & hearken to boundless definitions of what collaborative music can be.

Graham Nelson:

Graham Nelson is a Chicago performer, storyteller, and avant-garde jazz musician. He has been performing on stages in the US and abroad for the past 20 years, and lending the elegant, edgy, and unique sounds of his diatonic harmonica to a host of performances and recordings. With a flair for the eclectic, Graham has worked on theatrical productions and with arts collaboratives at notable venues, festivals, and concert halls.

Noah Plotkin:

Noah Plotkin is a professionally trained Performance Drummer and World Percussion musician who is a 2007 graduate of the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has collaborated as a percussionist/drummer with a number of notable institutions in the United States and abroad including The Martha Graham Dance Conservatory, Sala Crisantempo School of Dance in Vila Madalena, São Paulo, Brazil, The Amsterdam Theatre School of Dance. Noah is currently a private drum teacher, music educator and valued member of many exciting Chicago area bands including Railheart, Imperial Boxmen, 40,000 Headman, & the Gold Coast All Stars.

Oliver Horton:

After graduating from Knox College in 2012 where he studied bass/voice performance and creative writing, Oliver Horton moved to Chicago to pursue a career as a musician. Oliver is thrilled to play bass with his good friends in Bowmanville. He also plays with Gone Valley, NineWorlds Ensemble, Euphoria, and Bowtime and sings in common pulse. In addition to performing in Chicago-based ensembles, Oliver teaches private lessons. He offers upright bass, electric bass, guitar, voice, piano, and beginning drum instruction. Oliver collaborates with his wife, Lydia, to offer combined studio recitals, where their students perform solos, duets, and trios. A writer, Oliver produces monthly originals for his solo project, ohm, which is supported by Patreon. Oliver also writes for ohm trio, an ensemble in collaboration with Sam Genualdi (guitar) and Graham Nelson (harmonica, vocals).