Josh Nelson/Bob Bowman Collective: Tomorrow is Not Promised

Josh Nelson is a reputed jazz pianist that got his start in 1998. From the age of 19, he has been releasing albums, and his newest, Tomorrow is Not Promised was released in April. It is a collaboration between Nelson and bassist Bob Bowman, who has been playing with groups since the 1970’s. The album has a classic 50’s/60’s sound to it, a tremendous backing band, and marvelous performances by Nelson. There is virtuosity on this album, and there is lots of beauty and energy.

One of the best parts of this album is the classic feel it showcases. The production is vintage sounding, and the performances take me back to the ‘Hard Bop’ and ‘Modal’ eras of jazz. The album also has a live feeling to it. All the performances are stunning. Especially impressive are drummer Steve Houghton, bassist Bob Bowman, and saxophonist Bob Sheppard. A track that showcases the band’s virtuosity is, “Your Night Your Music�. The last half the song goes crazy, especially with the brass and drums. The drummer is so full of energy and sets the song on fire. The songs of slower tempo are where Nelson and bassist Bowman really shine. The interplay between the two of them stands out on a track like “Sometime Ago�, which reminds me of Bill Evans and Scott LaFaro in their prime. The album is a bit long, running about an hour, but it never feels boring to me. The playing is continuously stunning, and the actual songs are strong the entire way through.

Overall, I have zero issues with this album at all. I think it is stunning that Nelson, Bowman, and their band were able to pull off a classic jazz sound so well. If someone put this album on without telling me anything about it, I would honestly think that it was at least thirty or forty years old. The production is cleaner than most of the classic jazz albums, but it still maintains the atmosphere and sound of a much older album. All the playing is top notch, and the songs are too. My mind is truly blown. I highly recommend this album to any jazz fan, because it is stunning.

Josh Nelson/Bob Bowman Collective is:
Josh Nelson: piano
Bob Bowman: Bass
Larry Koonse: Guitar
Bob Sheppard: Sax
Clay Jenkins: Trumpet
Steve Houghton: Drums

Track Listing:

1. Tomorrow is Not Promised
2. Your Night Your Music
3. Sometime Ago
4. Blues for Albert E
5. Yae San
6. Weaver of Dreams
7. Blue In Green
8. Happy Returns
9. Sandra’s Gait
10. Water Mile
11. Nelbows Elbows

Added: May 28th 2022
Reviewer: Ryan Gavalier
Score:
Related Link: Artist Website
Hits: 777
Language: english

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