Joseph Bowie
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Joseph Bowie (born September 17, 1953 in St Louis, Missouri) is an American bandleader, trombonist, and founder of the seminal jazz fusion band, Defunkt. The group has been blending jazz with funk and punk music for more than three consecutive decades.
[edit] Background
Bowie is the younger brother of world renowned avant-garde jazz trumpeter Lester Bowie, and saxophonist Byron Bowie. He cut his teeth as a trombonist with the Black Artists Group a musical collective from St. Louis.
In 1973, Bowie relocated to New York as part of the Human Arts Ensemble (founded by Charles "Bobo" Shaw), and became involved with various rhythm and blues projects alongside no wave saxophonist James Chance. Other outfits Bowie has collaborated with include (but not limited to):
- David Murray
- Ethnik Heritage Ensemble
- Yusef Lateef
- Adam Rudolph
- Hans Dulfer
[edit] Personal life
After recovering from a bout with drug addiction during the 1980s, Bowie discovered Buddhism and has been a practicing Buddhist ever since. He has since founded Kosen-Rufu, another musical outfit aside from Defunkt.
