Defunkt Big Band

A long-range life dream of Joe was to place the music of Defunkt into the Big Band idiom. In 1999 Joe’s brother, Byron arranged big band charts from a selection of classic Defunkt songs and the Defunkt Big Band was born. In the band was a “Who’s Who” of New York’s finest jazz musicians. The Debut concert was the Texaco Jazz Festival at the Knitting Factory in NYC. Following the Defunkt Big Band did a European tour playing festivals in Finland, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland. The sound is absolutely “awesome”, the groove and power undeniable. There is no big band sound comparable...truly the sound of Defunkt merged into big band sensibility. This formation is absolutely awesome!!! Joe also works with Universities, professional and youth big bands throughout the world performing this music in a residency situation. Byron Bowie-conductor, Don Glasgo-assistant conductor. Joe Bowie - vocals/percussion/trombone.

In 2009 Joe combined forces with conductor/saxophonist/music educator Sigi Feigl and the Zagreb Jazz Orchestra to perform the Defunkt Big Band Music.  We peformed concerts in Zagreb and Leibnitz, Austria.  The music and vibrations were absolutely BURNING!   The band includes musicians from Croatia, Slovenia, Italy and Austria...a hot, new experience from Eastern Europe. We agreed to continue this new Defunkt Big Band formula and hope to perform many concerts throughout the world.

Joe & Sigi Feigl (Leibnitz 2009)