Inspired by the late, great Robert Johnson, Jimmy taught himself to
play and sing by interpreting by sight and sound in his own natural style.
At the tender age of 11, Jimmy was invited to join Jeff Healey onstage,
alongside his now mentors and bandmates, Jerome Godboo and Alec Fraser.
With the addition of drummer Bob Vespaziani, the Jimmy Bowskill band was
completed.
Since being discovered in Southern Ontario a whirlwind of activity has
been bestowed on Jimmy. Major festivals, radio and television appearances
including national coverage on CTV's Open Mike with Mike Bullard have all
featured his rise in popularity and blues stardom. Jimmy has been broadening
his musical boundaries to Quebec, where he received much media exposure.
Jimmy is not your typical kid for onstage he is nattily attired as an
old blues artist and the image fits him so comfortably. His savvy style
commands your attention but his genuine true self engulfs you as he makes
friends with his audience. He has confidence and stage presence way beyone
his tender years and it seems an old bluesman's lifetime of performing
skills in his bag of tools.
True to the timeless Delta Bluesmen of the
past there is a deliberate low-tech aspect of Jimmy's sound. His inner
voice must be of an old-field song on a dusty, scratched 78 recording.
You wonder while under his spell where someone so young can feel the blues
so deep. His soul is not mimicking as he reels back, squints and grimaces
as his voice covers the dynamic range of a blues holler back to a gentle
vibrato whisper all so effortlessly.
The boy has a genuine "mojo soul" going on deep inside that is just
begging to come out. Jimmy is a very
advanced and relaxed traditional acoustic blues guitar player. He has had
stellar teachers along the way including professionals such as Rick Fines
and Juno award winner Jack deKeyzer. Not a stranger to other instruments,
Jimmy also plays harmonica, penny whistle and has even tackled a Hammond
B3 organ while on stage. Jimmy Bowskills future is bright with intense
shades of blue.
By Teresa Bowskill Jimmy’s website: http://www.jimmybowskill.com