Nigerian Drummer Jon Onabowu Releases New Single “The Bounce” ft. David Mrakpor | LISTEN!

JON ONABOWU DROPS NEW SINGLE ‘THE BOUNCE’ FEATURING DAVID MRAKPOR OF BLUE LAB BEATS

THE BOLD INTRODUCTION TO A NEW VOICE WITHIN THE CONTEMPORARY JAZZ SCENE

20 MAR 2026: Jon Onabowu, the British-Nigerian drummer, composer and bandleader has unveiled his new single ‘The Bounce’ featuring multi-instrumentalist David Mrakpor of Blue Lab Beats.

Drawing from jazz, funk, Hip-Hop and the swaggering pulse of syncopated street rhythms, ‘The Bounce’ opens with a striking horn figure recorded in a New York City loft. Embodying rhythm as a unifying force rooted in physicality, interaction and feel. Beneath its shifting and harmonically adventurous backdrop, the groove remains strikingly direct, grounding the track in an irresistible forward momentum.

Speaking on the track, Jon said: “‘The Bounce’ really captures the spirit of my forthcoming album. It came out of a really natural session with David, and the way our heads started nodding (which is where the name came from) felt undeniable from the start. I chose it as the opening statement because it immediately brings listeners into the live, collaborative energy that runs through the album”.

Prior to releasing ‘The Bounce’, Jon was best known among jazz circles for founding the Cosmic Fusion residency at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club. A platform which began life as a space where musicians could come together to explore rhythm-led, improvisational music in an intense live setting. Guest artists and musicians have included Donald Hayes (Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Beyoncé), Greg Spero (Halsey, Shock G, Ski Beatz) and Sullivan Fortner (Roy Hargrove, Samara Joy, Paul Simon).

The release of ‘The Bounce’ comes after many years of Onabowu nurturing his talents alongside internationally acclaimed artists in collaborative, improvisation-driven settings. He has performed with renowned figures such as Venna and Theo Croker across a range of stages and festivals, including the former’s first European tour, North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, Cross The Tracks, EFG London Jazz Festival and Recessland.

Additionally, as the drummer for The Balimaya Project, Onabowu has also contributed to high-profile cross-disciplinary projects, such as a London Fashion Week collaboration with Labrum, Adidas, and Abbey Road Studios.

Single Artwork Credit: Michael Akuagwu

UPCOMING LIVE SHOWS:

10th April – Komünite – Istanbul, Turkey (Theo Croker Support)
11th April – Cully Jazz Festival – Cully, Switzerland (Theo Croker Support)
15th May – KOKO – London, UK (The Balimaya Project)
16th May – Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club – London, UK (The Balimaya Project)
22nd May – Peggy’s Skylight – Nottingham, UK
24th May – Manchester Jazz Festival – Manchester, UK

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