Grant Stewart (musician)

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Grant Stewart
22 Festival Internacional de Jazz de Punta del Este - 180107-9381-jikatu (38876642634).jpg
Background information
Born (1971-06-04) June 4, 1971 (age 53)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres Jazz
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Tenor sax, soprano sax
Years active1990s–present
Website grantstewartjazz.com
Grant Stewart at Copenhagen Jazz Festival 2018 Grant-stewart DSC00442.jpg
Grant Stewart at Copenhagen Jazz Festival 2018

Grant Stewart (born June 4, 1971) is a Canadian jazz saxophonist.

Contents

Life and career

Stewart was born in Toronto, Ontario, on June 4, 1971. [1] His father was a part-time jazz guitarist. [1] At age ten, Stewart played 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 when it opened in 1993. [2]

His younger brother, Philip, has been a drummer in Stewart's bands since 2005. [2]

Stewart is the first to have been interviewed for the long-running jazz-interview podcast The Jazz Session when it was created by Jason Crane in 2007. [3]

For his 2007 recording Young at Heart, Stewart chose compositions that included music by Elmo Hope and Neal Hefti, as well as originals. [4]

On Around the Corner in 2010, Stewart also played soprano sax. [5] In 2011, this album was the focus of his second interview by Crane for the 4th-anniversary episode of The Jazz Session. [6]

Stewart married Armenian American jazz singer Lucy Yeghiazaryan in the fall of 2020. [7]

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 recordedTitleLabelPersonnel/Notes
1992 Downtown Sounds Criss Cross Quintet, with Joe Magnarelli (trumpet), Brad Mehldau (piano), Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums)
1995More Urban Tones Criss Cross With Peter Bernstein (guitar), Peter Washington (bass), Billy Drummond (drums), Chris Byars (tenor sax), Jay Collins (tenor sax)
1998Buen Rollo Fresh Sound New Talent Trio, with Chris Higgins (bass), Marc Miralta (drums)
2004Grant Stewart + 4Video ArtsQuintet, with Joe Cohn (guitar), Bill Charlap (piano), Paul Gill (bass), Willie Jones III (drums)
2005Stars Fell on AlabamaQuintet, with Clark Terry (trumpet), Chip Crawford (piano), Ruslin Khain (bass), Sasha Loukachine (drums)
2005Tenor and SoulVideoArtsMost tracks quartet, with Joe Cohn (guitar), Ehud Asheire (piano), Joel Stewart (drums); some tracks quintet, with Ryan Kisor (trumpet) added
2005EstateVideoArtsWith Eric Alexander (tenor saxophone), Joe Cohn (guitar), Ehud Asherie (piano), Joel Forbes (bass), Phil Stewart (drums)
2007*In the Still of the NightSharp NineQuartet, with Tardo Hammer (piano), Peter Washington (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
2007The Shadow of Your SmileSharp NineQuartet, with Tardo Hammer (piano), Peter Washington (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
2008Recado Bossa NovaBirds Records
2008Young at HeartSharp NineQuartet, with Tardo Hammer (piano), Peter Washington (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
2009Plays the Music of Duke Ellington and Billy StrayhornSharp NineQuartet, with Tardo Hammer (piano), Paul Gill (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
2009Plays Jazz BalladsBirds Records
2010Around the CornerSharp NineQuartet, with Peter Bernstein (guitar), Peter Washington (bass), Phil Stewart (drums); Stewart plays soprano sax on some tracks
2010St. ThomasBirds Records
2012Live at SmallsSmalls LiveQuartet, with Tardo Hammer (piano), David Wong (bass), Phil Stewart (drums); in concert
2015Trio LiveCellar LiveTrio, with Paul Sikivie (bass), Philip Stewart (drums); in concert
2017Roll OnCellar Live
2019Rise and ShineCellar Live
2022The Lighting of the LampsCellar Live

As co-leader with Eric Alexander

Year recordedTitleLabelNotes
2005Reeds and Deeds: Wailin' Criss Cross With David Hazeltine (piano), Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums)
2006Reeds and Deeds: Cookin' Criss Cross With David Hazeltine (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
2010Reeds and Deeds: Tenor Time Criss Cross With David Hazeltine (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)

As co-leader with Fabio Miano

Year RecordedTitleLabel
2018Namely YouDISCMEDI

As sideman

Year recordedLeaderTitleLabel
2007* Ehud Asherie Lockout Posi-Tone
2008* John Swana Bright Moments Criss Cross
Year RecordedLeaderTitleLabel
1997Michael MelitoMy ConceptionMHR Records
1998Jazz Underground: Live at SmallsGRP Records
2001Michael Melito'Bout TimeCD Baby
2002Yves BrouquiLive at SmallsSmalls Live
2003 Ryan Kisor AwakeningCriss Cross
2004Paul HoffmanTopsy TurvyMHR Records
2004 Ryan Kisor The Quintet A Night in TunisiaVideo Arts
2005Sasha LoukachineThe Sasha Loukachine Quartet with Clark Terry Stars Fell on AlabamaCD Baby
2005 John Marshall FriskyOrganic Music
2005Michael MelitoThe Next StepCD Baby
2006`Bob Sneider and Joe LockeFilm Noir Project Fallen AngelSons of Sound Recorded Music
2006Yves BrouquiMade in Franceself released
2006 Ryan Kisor This is RyanVideo Arts
2007Lennie CujeLennie Cuje with Mike Wilner Quartet At Smalls
2007Bob StataGet ThisIlikai Music

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Collar, Matt "Grant Stewart". AllMusic. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 West, Michael J. (August 2008) "Grant Stewart: Young Old Soul". JazzTimes.
  3. Crane, Jason (24 February 2007). "Show #1: Grant Stewart". The Jazz Session. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  4. Myers, Marc (March 18, 2008) "Grant Stewart: Young at Heart". JazzWax.
  5. Dryden, Ken "Grant Stewart: Around the Corner". AllMusic. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  6. Crane, Jason (24 February 2011). "The Jazz Session #243: Grant Stewart (TJS 4th Anniversary Show!)". The Jazz Session. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  7. Yeghiazaryan, Lucy (1 October 2020). "We got married yesterday and no he's not Armenian, but he is the perfect man for me and I couldn't be a happier wife! My mom was the mom, witness and photographer. We will congregate in a large group and celebrate when the plague passes..." Instagram. Retrieved 9 July 2024.