Welcome to the Official Dave Fowler web site featuring the music of:

• The Wild, Cool & Swingin' Orchestra
• Fantasy
• The Charlie B Group
• Dave Fowler's Rough Mix Band
• Jim Manley and Horns In The House

WC&S was voted the favorite band at the Old Webster Jazz & Blues Festival 9/18/04 and headlined in 2009 when the mayor of Webster, MO presented Jim Manley with the Wild, Cool & Swinging' day proclamation.

  Riverfront Times Best Lounge Act 2009
The Charlie B Group
Charlie Boehme's smooth, raspy vocals paired with the trumpeting acrobatics of local musician Jim Manley make for a lively, jazzy Wednesday evening at Jimmy's on the Park on DeMun Avenue in Clayton (see www.jimmyscafe.com). Lounge sentiment is there, and the quiet camaraderie of the band — which also includes Dave Fowler on guitar, Mark Friedrich on bass and keyboards, Jim Owens on trombone and keyboards, and Joe Weber on drums — is more obvious during their renditions of popular Miles Davis, Chick Corea and Steely Dan tunes. Basking in the warmth of their experienced musicianship in the understated elegance of Jimmy's is an elevated lounge experience.

Ojai, CA (August 24, 2006) - Walter "Maynard" Ferguson, one of the most influential musicians and band leaders in the history of Jazz, passed away August 23rd at 8:00 pm Pacific Time at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura, California. He was 78 years old. For more information about Maynard Ferguson visit www.maynardferguson.com.

The The Wild, Cool & Swingin' Orchestra February 12, 2003, at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel in the Eau Cafe had the pleasure and distinct honor of sharing the stage with trumpet legend and friend of the band Maynard Ferguson!

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Dave Fowler's Rough Mix Band

This group was formed to work on composition and performance skills. Started in the early 1980s in Los Angeles, CA, the core members consisted of Dave Fowler (guitar), Bruce Malament (keyboards), Chuck Silverman (drums) and Gary Bourg (bass). From there the band was expanded to include many friends and their music. The material from The Rough Mix Band has been saved by the miracle of modern technology and is now available as a CD titled The Almost Lost Tapes. There are compositions by Dave Fowler, Jim Manley, Mark Friedrich and even a special guest appearance by Tom Kennedy (bass). This timeless collection of original music still sounds fresh even after 20 years!

Jim Manley and Horns In The House

This group was formed in the mid 1990s. Jim's concept for this project was a jazz fusion band with horns doing original compositions. The band cut two CDs, in 1996 opened for the legendary Maynard Ferguson and then transformed into The Wild, Cool & Swingin' Orchestra when the swing craze started. The group features Jim Manley (trumpet), Larry Johnson (sax), Syd Rodway (sax), Brett Stamps (trombone), Scott "Papa Doc" Collier (percussion), Don Drewett (drums), Mark Friedrich (bass and keyboards), Dave Fowler (guitar) and Rick Zelle (keyboards). The band had a lot of fun making the CDs, which are full of original high energy jazz fusion compositions.

The Wild, Cool & Swingin' Orchestra

This group, also a Jim Manley concept, is a 9-piece orchestra featuring 4 horns that recreates the Las Vegas scene of the sixties. With retro sophistication and cutting edge style music from Sinatra, Dino, Sammy, Bobby Darin, Louie Prima, Nat Cole, Herb Alpert and Tom Jones WC&S packs a wallop! The group features Jim Manley (trumpet), Larry Johnson (sax), Marc Garcia (trumpet), Jim Owens (trombone), Scott "Papa Doc" Collier (percussion), Mark Friedrich (bass and keyboards), Dave Fowler (guitar), Joe Weber (drums) and Charlie Boehme on vocals. The orchestra recorded their second CD at Music Masters which was released November 15, 2000 with the CD release party held at Backstreet Jazz & Blues in Westport Plaza, St. Louis where the group has played steadily for over a year.

The Charlie B Group

This is an electric jazz & rock group featuring many of the musicians in The Wild, Cool & Swingin' Orchestra. This new group has been performing in local clubs for a couple of years. The music covers composers and groups such as Miles Davis, Tom Scott, Chick Corea, Steely Dan, Norah Jones, Carly Simon, Blood, Sweat and Tears, and many others. The group was formed to have another fun musical outlet. This group plays smooth jazz and some pop from the 1970s to the present. The group performs primarily at local St. Louis clubs once or twice a month. The group features Charlie Boehme (vocals/harmonica), Jim Manley (trumpet/flugelhorn), Mark Friedrich (bass and keyboards), Dave Fowler (guitar), Joe Weber (drums), Jim Owens (trombone/keys) and guests such as Leslie White (vocals).

Fantasy

This group is the pop band that features most of the musicians in the other groups listed above. The band performs regularly on the local club scene and for special occasions (i.e., weddings, corporate functions and sporting events). Fantasy has been a fixture in St. Louis and the surrounding area for nearly 20 years. Call Fantasy when your next event, special occasion or corporate function requires live pop music.