"An open door into contemporary jazz": Jon Onabowu announces debut LP Now’s The Time with new single
The British-Nigerian drummer and bandleader has announced details of his debut album, Now’s The Time, due 22 May, and shared the record’s closing track, "The Emergence", to accompany the news.
Drawing on gospel, drill, hip-hop, neo-soul and classical music, Now’s The Time prioritises improvisation and live energy. Onabowu cites Thundercat, Kamasi Washington, and Yussef Dayes as key influences, with rhythm acting as the driving force throughout. “The album,” he says, “is an open door into contemporary jazz for people who don’t see themselves as ‘jazz listeners’.”
The LP features musicians from Europe, the US and East Africa, including Rick Leon James (Amy Winehouse, Chaka Khan), Alex “Cosmo” Blake (Loyle Carner), Taylor Graves (Mac Miller, Flying Lotus), and Francois Fasano (Stormzy, Tems).
Onabowu was recently featured as the cover star on Spotify’s ‘Fresh Finds Jazz’ playlist, but before stepping out on his own, he founded the Cosmic Fusion residency at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, a space for rhythm-led, improvisational music. He has performed with Venna and Theo Croker at festivals including North Sea Jazz, Montreux Jazz, and EFG London Jazz Festival, and is a member of The Balimaya Project.
“After many years playing alongside other artists, releasing my own music feels like stepping into a conversation I’ve been preparing for a long time,” Onabowu says. “This album is the first time I’ve been able to bring those experiences together under my own name.”
Now’s The Time artwork
Now’s The Time is released on 22 May via Finished Work Records Ltd
Sign up to Best Fit's Substack for regular dispatches from the world of pop culture