Colin Bowden, widely regarded as one of the top New Orleans style drummers in Europe died on August 1st. Born in 1932 he began drumming around age 10. Initially a fanatic for Spike Jones it was a Jelly Roll Morton record he heard in 1952 that set him on the jazz trail.
Renowned for a style reminiscent of Baby Dodds, he was a member of Ken Colyer’s band for many years. He was still performing within the last few years with bands including The Great Northern Band, the Mike Daniels Delta Jazzmen, and the Delta Jazz Band, which include many of the remaining notables of British Trad.
