James Bowman, 1941 - 2023

[sarahk]

I was fortunate to see James Bowman, John Turner, and David Pugsley perform a tribute to David Munrow at the Royal Naval College Chapel in November 2006.  After spending many hours listening to Early Music Consort albums from childhood to adulthood, I was amazed to finally hear Bowman's (to me) very familiar voice in the flesh.  Munrow passed almost before my time, so the 2006 event was the closest I came to properly seeing the Early Music Consort.

Did Bowman influence Munrow to hate vibrato in singing or did Munrow so influence Bowman?

Rest in peace, Mr Bowman.

[admin]

Thanks for the James Bowman post.

Unfortunately, most obituaries played down the Early Music Consort of London's work association and influence with Bowman - yet he was an integral part of the sound of the early music super group for ten years.

The lack of wobble tonewise from all members of the EMCL was a joy to behold, compared to the Continental style prevalent today!

James could be quite the raconteur and wonderfully indiscreet at times, especially so when my friend Richard Wood interviewed him a few years' ago - it'll form one of the chapters in a new book about Munrow, from people who knew him. Watch this space!