Grant Stewart (musician)
Grant Stewart (born June 4, 1971) is a Canadian jazz saxophonist.
Grant Stewart | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | June 4, 1971 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Tenor sax, soprano sax |
| Years active | 1990s–present |
| Website | grantstewartjazz.com |
Life and career
Stewart was born in Toronto, Ontario on June 4, 1971.[1] His father was a part-time jazz guitarist.[1] Aged ten, Stewart played on alto sax solos from saxophonists Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, and Wardell Gray that had been transcribed by his father.[2] "By his early teens, Stewart had already found performance experience with such artists as Pat LaBarbera and Bob Mover".[1] By 18 he "was leading a quartet in Toronto, including for a regular gig at C'est What café and pub"; and he moved to New York City when he was 19.[1]
In New York, Stewart first played with guitarist Peter Bernstein and saxophonist Jesse Davis.[2] He then began playing at Smalls Jazz Club from when it opened in 1993.[2]
His younger brother, Philip, has been a drummer in Stewart's bands since 2005.[2]
For his 2007 recording Young at Heart, Stewart chose some challenging compositions, including by Elmo Hope and Neal Hefti, as well as originals.[3] On Around the Corner in 2010, Stewart also played soprano sax.[4]
Playing style
Stewart plays "steady swinging, muscular hard bop".[2] His sound is "lean and sinewy, yet flush with lyricism, humor and rhythmic possibilities, much like tenor icons Dexter Gordon and Sonny Rollins, to whom Stewart is frequently compared".[2]
Discography
An asterisk (*) indicates that the year is that of release.
As leader/co-leader
| Year recorded | Title | Label | Personnel/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Downtown Sounds | Criss Cross | Quintet, with Joe Magnarelli (trumpet), Brad Mehldau (piano), Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums) |
| 1995 | More Urban Tones | Criss Cross | With Peter Bernstein (guitar), Peter Washington (bass), Billy Drummond (drums), Chris Byars (tenor sax), Jay Collins (tenor sax) |
| 1998 | Buen Rollo | Fresh Sound New Talent | Trio, with Chris Higgins (bass), Marc Miralta (drums) |
| 2004 | Wailin' (Reeds and Deeds session) | Criss Cross | Quintet, with Eric Alexander (tenor sax), David Hazeltine (piano), Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums) |
| 2004 | Grant Stewart + 4 | Video Arts | Quintet, with Joe Cohn (guitar), Bill Charlap (piano), Paul Gill (bass), Willie Jones III (drums) |
| 2005 | Stars Fell on Alabama | Quintet, with Clark Terry (trumpet), Chip Crawford (piano), Ruslin Khain (bass), Sasha Loukachine (drums) | |
| 2005 | Tenor and Soul | VideoArts | Most tracks quartet, with Joe Cohn (guitar), Ehud Asheire (piano), Joel Stewart (drums); some tracks quintet, with Ryan Kisor (trumpet) added |
| 2005 | Estate | VideoArts | With Eric Alexander (tenor saxophone), Joe Cohn (guitar), Ehud Asherie (piano), Joel Forbes (bass), Phil Stewart (drums) |
| 2005 | Cookin' (Reeds and Deeds) | Criss Cross | With Eric Alexander (tenor sax), David Hazeltine (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) |
| 2007* | In the Still of the Night | Sharp Nine | Quartet, with Tardo Hammer (piano), Peter Washington (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) |
| 2007 | The Shadow of Your Smile | Sharp Nine | Quartet, with Tardo Hammer (piano), Peter Washington (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) |
| 2007 | Young at Heart | Sharp Nine | Quartet, with Tardo Hammer (piano), Peter Washington (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) |
| 2009 | Plays the Music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn | Sharp Nine | Quartet, with Tardo Hammer (piano), Paul Gill (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) |
| 2010 | Around the Corner | Sharp Nine | Quartet, with Peter Bernstein (guitar), Peter Washington (bass), Phil Stewart (drums); Stewart plays soprano sax on some tracks |
| 2010 | Tenor Time (Reeds and Deeds) | Criss Cross | With Eric Alexander (tenor sax), David Hazeltine (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) |
| 2012 | Live at Smalls | Smalls Live | Quartet, with Tardo Hammer (piano), David Wong (bass), Phil Stewart (drums); in concert |
| 2014 | Trio Live | Cellar Live | Trio, with Paul Sikivie (bass), Philip Stewart (drums); in concert |
As sideman
| Year recorded | Leader | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007* | Ehud Asherie | Lockout | Posi-Tone |
| 2008* | John Swana | Bright Moments | Criss Cross |
References
- Collar, Matt "Grant Stewart". AllMusic. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
- West, Michael J. (August 2008) "Grant Stewart: Young Old Soul". JazzTimes.
- Myers, Marc (March 18, 2008) "Grant Stewart: Young at Heart". JazzWax.
- Dryden, Ken "Grant Stewart: Around the Corner". AllMusic. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
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