Tim Bowman has been in the business a long time – he worked with The Winans as guitarist and musical director in the 80s.  Bowman is one of those extremely talented musicians who hasn’t received all the props he’s actually due.  He certainly deserves them for his fifth solo project. This self-titled CD has a clarity and fluidity that comes from holding a guitar in his hands for almost 4 decades.  And it certainly doesn’t hurt to have heavy hitters like Kirk Whalum, Najee, Jeff Lorber and Darren Rahn sit in with you.  This album contains 12 tracks of original songs, nine of which were written or co-written by Bowman, including the hit radio single “Sweet Sunday.”

Bowman gives us a lot of variety on this CD - the “chill” flavored “High Def”; the fun, upbeat and funky “Motor City Shuffle” and “On the Flyyy” (featuring Darren Rahn) ; the Latin-infused “For You, My Love” and “Sunset” (co-written with Tim’s daughter, Candice); the soft RnB vocal “All I Need Is You (featuring Tim Bowman, Jr. on lead vocal), the sweet, sweet sounds of “The Gift” (with Kirk Whalum) and “Rapture” (with Najee); the Benson-esque “Steppin’” and “Soul Dream” ; and closing it out, is a little fusion with Mr. Fusion himself, Jeff Lorber on “Mr. B.”

This is great stuff – a bright spot in a genre that could really use more music like this. Definitely worth a listen.