Luke Stewart (musician)

Last updated
Luke Stewart
Luke Stewart 2020.jpg
Background information
Born Ocean Springs, Mississippi [1]
Genres experimental, free jazz, avant-garde jazz, free improvisation, post-rock, noise, art punk
Occupation(s) composer, improviser, bassist, multi-instrumentalist
Instrument(s) Double bass, bass guitar, alto saxophone
Labels Astral Spirits, International Anthem, Atlantic Rhythms
Member of
Website thelukestewart.com

Luke Stewart is a composer-improviser, bassist, multi-instrumentalist, and organizer [1] known for his work as a soloist; [8] leader of his Exposure Quintet, with Edward Wilkerson, Jr., Ken Vandermark, Jim Baker, and Avreeayl Ra; [4] and member of groups including Blacks' Myths, [3] Heart of the Ghost, [5] Six Six, [6] Irreversible Entanglements, [2] and Heroes Are Gang Leaders, [7] a literary free jazz ensemble that was awarded the 2018 American Book Award for Oral Literature. [9]

Contents

Stewart has co-run DC jazz advocacy nonprofit CapitalBop since 2010, curating the organization's longstanding "Loft Jazz" concert series and writing music criticism for its website. [10]

In 2020, he was included among DownBeat's "25 for the Future" [11] as an artist who "shapes the artistic landscape". [12]

He has performed or recorded with artists including Camae Ayewa, [13] Keir Neuringer, Aquiles Navarro, Tcheser Holmes, Archie Shepp, [14] Warren "Trae" Crudup, III, [3] Miriam Parker, [15] Daniel Carter, Fay Victor, [16] Hamiet Bluiett, [17] Wadada Leo Smith, [18] Jarrett Gilgore, [5] Ian McColm, Anthony Pirog, Jaimie Branch, Thurston Moore, [19] Leila Bordreuil, and Priests. [20]

Early life and career

Stewart grew up in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, where he studied saxophone, violin, and guitar before he began playing electric bass in high school. [1] [21] Stewart began his undergraduate degree as an international studies major at the University of Mississippi. [1] In 2005, as he prepared to begin an internship at the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty in Washington, D.C., Hurricane Katrina hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast. [1] Stewart decided to stay in D.C. and transferred to American University, where his studies expanded to include audio engineering. [10] In addition to his bachelor's from American, Stewart completed a master's in Arts Management and Entrepreneurship at The New School in 2019. [22]

After moving to D.C., Stewart began frequently attending and performing at avant-garde jazz and rock gigs. He also interned at "Jazz and Justice" radio station WPFW, eventually hosting his own weekly jazz radio show and working as a production coordinator. [10]

In 2010, Stewart met Giovanni Russonello, who had recently founded jazz advocacy organization and website CapitalBop. [23] Stewart began writing for and then co-running the organization, [10] which was awarded a $100,000 grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation in 2019. [24]

Stewart met Camae Ayewa (also known as Moor Mother) while playing with Laughing Man, an art-punk band that shared bills with Ayewa's group the Mighty Paradocs. [2] One year after the 2014 "People Issue" of the Washington City Paper called Stewart a "jazz revolutionary", [25] he joined Ayewa, Keir Neuringer, Aquiles Navarro, and Tcheser Holmes in forming the "liberation-oriented free-jazz collective" Irreversible Entanglements. [26] The group performed in the inaugural season of the Kennedy Center's "Direct Current" contemporary culture showcase, [27] and their releases have been included in best-of lists in Magnet, [28] NPR Music, [29] The Quietus , [30] and Stereogum's "20 Best Jazz Albums Of The 2010s". [31]

Stewart has said he wants his collaborative work to "highlight the non-hierarchical nature of free improvisational music" and to challenge "the concept of the capital-C composer and how it affects our perceptions of music". [21]

In 2021, he was a Resident Composer at Pioneer Works in Brooklyn. [32]

Discography

As leader / co-leader

Release yearArtistTitleLabelPersonnel
2013Trio OOOLive for TrayvonAaron Martin, Sam Lohman, Stewart
2015Trio OOODays To Be Told [33] New AtlantisMartin, Lohman, Stewart
2017 Irreversible Entanglements Irreversible Entanglements [2] International Anthem / Don Giovanni Camae Ayewa, Keir Neuringer, Aquiles Navarro, Stewart, Tcheser Holmes
2018Blacks' MythsBlacks' Myths [34] Atlantic RhythmsStewart, Warren "Trae" Crudup, III
2018Heart Of The GhostHeart Of The Ghost [35] [5] PidgeonJarrett Gilgore, Stewart, Ian McColm
2018Luke StewartWorks for Upright Bass and Amplifier [8] Astral Spirits Stewart
2019Blacks' MythsBlacks' Myths II [36] Atlantic RhythmsStewart, Crudup, Dr. Thomas "Bushmeat" Stanley, Cedar and Lu
2019Heart of the GhostHeart of the Ghost II [37] DagorettiGilgore, Stewart, McColm
2019Heart of the GhostLive In ChicagoCatalytic SoundGilgore, Stewart, McColm
2020Irreversible Entanglements Who Sent You? [13] International Anthem / Don GiovanniAyewa, Neuringer, Navarro, Stewart, Holmes
2020Luke Stewart, Brian Settles, Warren "Trae" Crudup, IIINo Treaspassing [38] Stewart, Settles, Crudup
2020Six SixSix SixAtlantic RhythmsAnthony Pirog, Stewart
2020Irreversible EntanglementsLive in Italy [39] Ayewa, Neuringer, Navarro, Stewart, Holmes
2020Heart of the GhostLive in DetroitDagorettiGilgore, Stewart, McColm
2020Irreversible EntanglementsLive in Berlin [40] Ayewa, Neuringer, Navarro, Stewart, Holmes
2020Heart of the Ghost with Dave Ballou Live at RhizomeDagoretti / Bulb Gilgore, Stewart, McColm, Ballou
2020Luke Stewart & Tashi DorjiPhases [41] Stewart, Tashi Dorji
2020Luke StewartGapsStewart
2020Luke Stewart Exposure QuintetLuke Stewart Exposure Quintet [4] Astral SpiritsStewart, Edward Wilkerson, Jr., Ken Vandermark, Jim Baker, Avreeayl Ra
2021Luke Stewart / Patrick ShiroishiLuke Stewart / Patrick Shiroishi [42] Profane IlluminationsStewart, Shiroishi
2021!MOFAYA!Like One Long Dream [43] Trost Records jaimie branch, John Dikeman, Stewart, Aleksandar Škorić
2021Irreversible Entanglements Open the Gates International Anthem / Don GiovanniAyewa, Neuringer, Navarro, Stewart, Holmes
2022Luke Stewart's Silt TrioThe Bottom Cuneiform Records L Stewart, B Settles, C Taylor
2024Luke Stewart Silt TrioUnknown Rivers Pi Recordings Luke Stewart, Brian Settles, Trae Crudup, Chad Taylor

As sideperson

Release yearArtistTitleLabel
2010Laughing ManThe LovingsSockets Records
2014Laughing ManBe Black Baby [44] Bad Friend / BLIGHT
2015 Ross Hammond Mean Crow [45] Prescott Records
2016James Brandon Lewis TrioNo Filter [46] BNS Sessions
2017 Priests Nothing Feels Natural [47] Sister Polygon Records
2017Heroes Are Gang LeadersThe Avant-Age Garde I Ams Of The Gal Luxury Fast Speaking Music
2018 William Hooker Pillars... At the Portal [48] Mulatta Records
2019James Brandon LewisAn UnRuly Manifesto [49] Relative Pitch
2019BrahjaBrahjaRR Gems
2019J. R. BohannonDusk [50] Figureight
2020Elliott Levin Trio with Chad Taylor and Luke StewartTin - Tabu - Latin' - Rhyth - Hymn
2020 Archie Shepp, Raw Poetic, & Damu the Fudgemunk Ocean Bridges [14] Redefinition Records
2020Heroes Are Gang LeadersArtificial Happiness Button [51] Ropeadope Records
2020 Moor Mother Circuit City [52] Don Giovanni Records
2020Anthony PirogTerry Riley's In C [53] Sonic Mass
2021Bob BellerueRadioactive Desire [54] Elevator Bath

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Murph, John (17 July 2018). "The Reinvention of Bassist Luke Stewart". DownBeat. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Camp, Zoe (2 April 2020). "The Revolutionary Free Jazz of Irreversible Entanglements". Bandcamp Daily. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 Richards, Chris (5 September 2019). "In the heart of an 'empire in decline,' Blacks' Myths try to spark another big bang". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 Meyer, Bill (10 November 2020). "Essential New Music: Luke Stewart's "Luke Stewart Exposure Quintet"". Magnet. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Burris, Tom (25 June 2019). "Heart of the Ghost – s/t cassette (Pidgeon, 2018) ****". The Free Jazz Collective. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  6. 1 2 Duguay, Rob (March 2021). "Luke Stewart Calls Two Places Home". The Brooklyn Rail. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  7. 1 2 West, Michael J. (16 May 2018). "Jazz meets poetry with Heroes Are Gang Leaders at Blues Alley". The Washington Post. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  8. 1 2 Elizabeth, Jordannah (February 2021). "Artist Feature: Luke Stewart" (PDF). The New York City Jazz Record. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  9. ↑ "For Immediate Release: The Before Columbus Foundation announces the Winners of the Thirty-Ninth Annual American Book Awards" (PDF). The Before Columbus Foundation. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Richards, Chris (30 May 2012). "D.C.'s jazz scene gets an online boost from CapitalBop's young advocates". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  11. ↑ "These 25 Performers Could Shape Jazz For Decades". DownBeat. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  12. ↑ West, Michael J. (17 November 2020). "Luke Stewart Shapes The Artistic Landscape". DownBeat. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  13. 1 2 Harry, Todd (20 March 2020). "Irreversible Entanglements Invoke the Revolution on Who Sent You?". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  14. 1 2 Weiner, Natalie (22 May 2020). "How jazz legend Archie Shepp, his nephew Raw Poetic and a cast of D.C. musicians teamed up for an experimental improvised album". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  15. ↑ "NY Art Book Fair 2019". Printed Matter, Inc. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  16. ↑ "Fay Victor's Mutations For Justice". WBGO. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  17. ↑ "Jazz Listings for Oct. 28-Nov. 3". The New York Times. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  18. ↑ West, Michael J. (16 February 2017). "Wadada Leo Smith's jazz is demanding, but emotionally cathartic". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  19. ↑ "The Stone at The New School Presents Thurston Moore, Luke Stewart and Leila Bordreuil". The New School. 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  20. ↑ Gotrich, Lars (19 January 2017). "Review: Priests, 'Nothing Feels Natural'". NPR. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  21. 1 2 Freeman, Philip (28 October 2020). "Bassist Luke Stewart Approaches Jazz With a "Punk Rock" Mindset". Bandcamp Daily. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  22. ↑ "MA in Arts Management and Entrepreneurship at the New School's College of Performing Arts graduates first cohort". The New School. 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  23. ↑ Richards, Chris (3 February 2017). "The District's jazz scene is all over the place. Is Luke Stewart holding it together?". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  24. ↑ West, Michael J. (15 March 2019). "How a flagging nonprofit D.C. jazz advocacy group picked up its tempo". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  25. ↑ Cauterucci, Christina (21 November 2014). "The People Issue". Washington City Paper. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  26. ↑ Ng, Ivana (May 2020). "Irreversible Entanglements: Who Sent You?". DownBeat. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  27. ↑ "Irreversible Entanglements - DIRECT CURRENT: Millennium Stage (March 13, 2018)". The Kennedy Center. 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  28. ↑ Meyer, Bill (15 December 2020). "Best of 2020: Jazz/Improv". Magnet Magazine. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  29. ↑ "The 100 Best Songs Of 2017". NPR. 13 December 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  30. ↑ Smith, Stewart (13 December 2017). "Complete Communion: The Best Jazz Of 2017". The Quietus. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  31. ↑ Freeman, Phil (9 January 2020). "The 20 Best Jazz Albums Of The 2010s". Stereogum. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  32. ↑ "Luke Stewart: Music Residency". Pioneer Works. 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  33. ↑ Russonello, Giovanni (5 January 2016). "Trio OOO's 'Days to Be Told:' The long-awaited debut of a powerhouse avant-garde trio". CapitalBop. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  34. ↑ Galil, Leor (20 March 2020). "D.C. progressive jazz duo Blacks' Myths find the light in harsh noise". The Chicago Reader. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  35. ↑ Cohen, Matt (21 March 2018). "Listen: Heart of the Ghost's Angular Free Jazz Is a Language of Its Own". Washington City Paper. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  36. ↑ Orlov, Piotr (16 September 2019). "Blacks' Myths: Blacks' Myths II". Pitchfork. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  37. ↑ "Reckless Records 2019 Employee Best of Lists". Reckless Records. 29 December 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  38. ↑ "Best D.C. Jazz Albums of 2020". CapitalBop. 22 December 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  39. ↑ "AMN Reviews: Irreversible Entanglements – Live in Berlin (2020; Bandcamp); Live in Italy (2020; Bandcamp)". Avant Music News. 21 June 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  40. ↑ Scherstuhl, Alan (24 June 2020). "Jazz Is Built for Protests. Jon Batiste Is Taking It to the Streets". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  41. ↑ Rose, Brad (29 January 2021). "Luke Stewart & Tashi Dorji s/t". Foxy Digitalis. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  42. ↑ Rose, Brad (8 April 2021). "Patrick Shiroishi/Luke Stewart split". Foxy Digitalis. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  43. ↑ Hareuveni, Eyal (12 August 2021). "MO'FAYA! "Like One Long Dream"". salt peanuts*. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  44. ↑ Cohen, Matt (29 September 2014). "Listen: Laughing Man, 'Body Cop'". DCist. Archived from the original on August 23, 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  45. ↑ Acquaro, Paul (7 December 2015). "Ross Hammond - Mean Crow (Prescott Records, 2015) ****". Free Jazz Blog. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  46. ↑ Turner, Mark F. (11 January 2017). "James Brandon Lewis Trio: No Filter". All About Jazz. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  47. ↑ Mashurova, Nina (27 January 2017). "Review: Priests' Nothing Feels Natural Is Vital Post-Punk for Trump's America". SPIN. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  48. ↑ "Pillars... At the Portal". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  49. ↑ Shteamer, Hank (6 February 2019). "Song You Need to Know: James Brandon Lewis, 'Sir Real Denard'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  50. ↑ Krakow, Steve (8 November 2019). "Health & Beauty and J.R. Bohannon push their music forward while staying rooted in tradition". The Chicago Reader. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  51. ↑ Orlov, Piotr (20 March 2020). "The World According to Heroes Are Gang Leaders". AFROPUNK. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  52. ↑ Hagen, Thomas (27 June 2019). "Moor Mother's Camae Ayewa imagines the future of liberation in Circuit City". WXPN. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  53. ↑ Aguzzi, Andrea (20 January 2021). "Terry Riley's In C by Sonic Mass Records". Neuguitars. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  54. ↑ "Bob Bellerue: Radioactive Desire". Roulette. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
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