For those unaware, Bowmanville strives to bring the hip sensibilities of Hot Club Jazz from 1930s Paris mingled with the influences born of Chicago’s global crossroads to a wider audience.

Creating a simmering synergy of vibrant bouncing sound that crackles with electric energy, Bowmanville leaves listeners always hungry for more.

The self-titled new album, Bowmanville features plenty of that wondrous variety with close interplay between violin and harmonica, passionate vocals by Graham 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 Destruction) 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.

1. Annie & Me (3:55)
2. Metal Bird (3:24)
3. Georgia (6:38)
4. Don’t Force It (3:31)
5. Boiano Campobasso (5:39)
6. Fly Me To The Moon (4:33)
7. Helen’s Theme (1:38)
8. Saint James Infirmary (5:18)
9. Caravan (6:35)
10. La Vie En Rosè (3:48)
11. Weapons of Mass Distraction (3:33)

The album opens on the heartwarming melodies of Annie & Me and the stridently fervent Metal Bird and then we are brought forth their rendition of the low slung blues-jazz of Ray Charles’ Georgia, the harmonica-hued, guitar-driven Don’t Force It and then we get the playfully rambunctious Boiano Campobasso.

Along next is the beautifully dutiful version of Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me To The Moon and the mesmerizing, short, but sweet swirl within Helen’s Theme and they are in turn followed by the traditional folk song, and Cab Calloway hit Saint James Infirmary, a hauntingly imbibed, harmonica and drum-led arrangement of Duke Ellington’s Caravan, the album rounding out on their instrumental version of Edith Piaf’s beautiful La Vie En Rosè, closing on the rousing blues-jazz ambiance within Weapons of Mass Distraction.

Bowmanville’s distinctive and continually surprising swing music is well displayed on this, their brand new recording, and thus with this release, those who are lucky enough to see and hear them perform live in Chicago, well now be joined by a much larger national audience.

Official Purchase Link