Deb Bowman Lights Up The Drawing Room
By: Elaine Anne Watt
When Dan Moore decides to do something, he puts his heart and soul into it—and brings all his friends along for the ride. That’s when something magical happens, like turning his The Drawing Room at 8393 West Main in Marshall, Virginia into a one-night packed performance venue featuring Dynamo Deb Bowman, an acclaimed performer, who happens to be one of his great long-time besties. Accompanied by the George Mason Musicians, Bowman wowed with selections from the Great American Songbook.
Twenty years ago, Moore and Bowman shared the stage for performances of Cabaret. She’s gone on to perform both nationally and internationally, recently adding songwriter to her list of accomplishments. Dan fell in love with Marshall, and has his own thriving businesses there but wants to do more for his community. Bringing talented performers for spectacular evenings of entertainment is his answer.
And, he seems to have found the secret formula. With “light refreshments” featuring a bountiful table full of icy shrimp cocktail, flaky biscuits with Virginia ham, cheese, apricot and salami charcuterie selections, satays of chicken in peanut sauce and a decadent dessert buffet during intermission, you could have arrived starving and left satiated.
But what truly satisfied were the magnificent sounds that flowed from Ms. Bowman as she dazzled the crowd with fabulous arrangements of some well-known standards like “Diamonds are Forever,” “My Way,” and “Georgia on My Mind,” and her own original songs, “Willow in the Wind” and “Where Can We Go.” The latter, which she plans to record this coming year, brought all her talent and emotion to the fore.
After the show, Ms. Bowman shared how special it was to be in such a “comfortable place” to perform and with such a wonderful group of musicians. With only two hours to rehearse, they didn’t miss a beat, and Bowman had a wonderful time playing off them and the audience to great effect.
“It is such a journey as an artist, one that is absolutely beautiful and very difficult. You have to be so in touch with your emotions,” said Bowman. “I took six days off last year and went to the beach. There’s something about the water that is so real and replenishing.”
Of her relationship with Moore, she said he’s one of her “lifers. We can be out of touch for months at a time, and then we pick up right where we left off. We just know each other so well.”
Bowman hopes to return to The Drawing Room again. After two standing ovations and a rousing encore of “I’m A Woman,” made famous by Peggy Lee, we’re ready to return the love. ML
To find out about future events, visit www.thedrawingroomat8393.com