Bryan Bowman is a San Francisco Bay Area drummer, pianist, composer and author.
His 2015 release, Like Minds received critical acclaim and widespread radio play throughout the United States. The all-original jazz CD was featured on two “Best of 2015” lists, reaching #1 on WHFC’s Top 15 of 2015, Desert Island Picks, and was called a “noteworthy jazz release” in KQED’s Top Ten Bay Area Jazz Releases of 2015.
He has performed with Mark Levine, Deron Johnson, Donald “Duck” Bailey, Harvey Wainapel, Noel Jewkes, Eric Reed, Mary Stallings, Randy Vincent, Dave Creamer, Paul McCandless, Lanny Morgan, Bill Berry, Larry Vuckovich, and many others.
Bryan toured the US with RCA recording artists Monica Behan and Deron Johnson. He has traveled throughout Mexico and the Caribbean on cruise ships and has recorded and performed in the world music scene with the acclaimed Bulgarian accordionist Ivan Milev and the Bulgarian fusion group, Trio Mopmu.
He performed at the historic SFJAZZ Grand Opening in January of 2013 with Mary Stallings and Eric Reid.
He studied composition and music performance at The Berklee College of Music in Boston, CSU Long Beach, CSU Chico and studied North Indian Classical Music at the Ali Akbar College of Music.
Bryan studied drums and percussion with Lew Langworthy, Joe Hunt, Michael Carney , Gregory Goodall, and Dan Kinkle. He studied North Indian tabla with Swapan Chaudhuri, Tim Witter and attended master classes with Zakir Hussain. He also attended group Hindustani vocal classes with Ali Akbar Khan.
He is a free-lance performer on both drums and piano in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Endorsements
“My course of study as an aspiring drummer did not include working out of Ted Reed’s Syncopation book, much to my regret in later years. My sense of having missed out on some essential training was somewhat offset by my mistrust or misunderstanding of the Reed book and its intended goals. Bryan Bowman’s revisit and expansion on the topics of syncopation and rudimental drumming bridges the gap for me, as I’m sure it will for many other drummers — as well as providing a beautifully useful tool for students of the Reed, Dawson and Wilcoxin methods and etudes. I am looking forward to utilizing this book with my students as well as on my own practice pad.”
— Peter Erskine
“A wonderful addition to the world of drum set pedagogy, extending the great work of jazz education pioneer Alan Dawson’s methods with Ted Reed’s Syncopation. Indeed, a rich legacy to stand upon. I am most impressed by the logical progression from Chapter 1 through Chapter 12 and the inclusion of concepts applicable to various styles, including Jazz, Rock, Funk, Brazilian, and Afro Cuban genres. The technical exploration presented in Syncopation Companion will surely extend the hand and four-way technique of the intermediate-advanced drummer, making it an excellent resource for drum set and percussion teachers alike, who are looking to challenge their students’ overall musical development.”
— Yoron Israel, Chair and Professor of Percussion, Berklee College of Music
“Bryan’s book is an excellent source for those who are looking for interesting and engaging ideas based on the Syncopationbook! All too often students (as well as their teachers) have a limited arsenal of ideas when it comes to the possibilities hidden in this widely-used textbook. I would recommend Bryan’s Compa to the army of drummers out there who own Ted Reed’s book but don’t really know how to put it to full use!”
— Marko Djordjevic, Associate Professor, Percussion, Berklee College of Music
“Bryan Bowman’s book, Syncopation Companion, is a masterfully crafted, well-organized, learning tool for all drummers who are interested in moving forward on the instrument. The systems introduced in Bryan’s book are perfect vehicles for musically incorporating rudiments into any drummer’s vocabulary. The exercises can be challenging, but also very gratifying and fun! I started working out of Syncopation by Ted Reed when I was seven years old. I still work out of it today. I’m looking forward to digging into Syncopation Companion for many years to come!”
— David Rokeach, Drumset instructor at Stanford University. Drummer with Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, etc.
“I have done so many applications of Syncopation in my life. For many years I had an idea to come up with a book of all these applications. Well, I have to say, you have done it for me! In fact, you have surprised me with many applications. I think you have done a tremendous job and I would definitely recommend it to my students.”
— Mariano Steimberg, Assistant Professor of Drums, Berklee College, Valencia, Spain campus
“As a drummer myself I’ve found Bowman’s book hard to put down. It’s brimming with great content for drummers of every genre. Bowman’s idea of presenting a second stave above the exercise, highlighting just the accents is a noticeably nice touch to help grasp the accents added to various patterns. This also helps students not so proficient in reading rhythm develop their reading chops. He succeeds in what he sets out to do, namely help build strong technique, independence of limbs, reading and, above all, strong musicality. Drummers, go get this book.”
— The Jazz Journal