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Bill Stewart

Percussionist Bill Stewart made his name as the rhythmic force behind guitarist John Scofield 's band, working with him for five years between 1990 and 1995. Self-taught on drums, Stewart is also a capable pianist, the instrument on which he composes. He grew up listening to his parents' jazz and R&B record collection, but otherwise jazz was a rare commodity in Iowa in the 70s and he played in a Top 40 covers band in high school as well as the school orchestra.

After graduating he enrolled at the University Of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, playing in the jazz and marching bands as well as the orchestra. He then transferred to college in Wayne, New Jersey, where he studied with Dave Samuels, Rufus Reid and Harold Mabern. It was here that he met future collaborator, saxophonist Joe Lovano. While still in college he made his recording debut with saxophonist Scott Kreitzer and recorded two further collections with pianist Armen Donelian. After graduation in 1988 he moved to Brooklyn, New York, where he set up home. There he began the slow process of establishing his reputation by regular appearances at jam sessions and by word of mouth, leading to his first gigs with the Larry Goldings trio.

At one of their regular sessions at Augie's Club in Manhattan, Maceo Parker attended and invited him to contribute to a forthcoming recording date (for Roots Revisited ). Afterwards he was invited to join Scofield's band, which also included Lovano, who has featured on both of Stewart's solo albums to date. The first, Think Before You Think, was issued on the Japanese label Jazz City and featured Dave Holland on bass and Marc Copland on piano in addition to Lovano. The second, Snide Remarks, featured pianist Bill Carrothers, trumpeter Eddie Henderson and bassist Larry Grenadier. This boasted nine original Stewart compositions, highlighting a sophisticated compositional technique that Lovano once analogized as being that of 'a melody player within the concept of rhythm'.

Lage Lund: Idlewild

by C. Andrew Hovan
December 29, 2023

An open and revealing format for any artist, the jazz trio offers rewards on many levels. Left in veracious hands, there is a spacious pocket that can be filled by any number of rhythmic and harmonic ideas, not to mention a freedom in melodic phrases which don't have to be constrained by strict chordal structures. On the other hand, it is the mere vulnerability of the format that can challenge all but the most seasoned musicians. With its ...

Album Review

John Scofield: Uncle John's Band

Read "Uncle John's Band" reviewed by Mario Calvitti

by Mario Calvitti
November 13, 2023

Dopo la parentesi del primo disco realizzato in completa solitudine, il chitarrista John Scofield torna alla formazione per lui più abituale del trio, ma non lo stesso con cui aveva inciso Swallow Tales sempre per la label tedesca. Al posto di Steve Swallow troviamo infatti il contrabbassista Vicente Archer, mentre alla batteria siede nuovamente il fido Bill Stewart. È una nuova formazione per Scofield, anche se i tre insieme al pianista e organista Gerald Clayton avevano registrato Combo 66 nel ...

Album Review

John Scofield: Uncle John's Band

Read "Uncle John's Band" reviewed by Ian Patterson

by Ian Patterson
October 31, 2023

John Scofield's entire oeuvre can be roughly divided into groove-based or straight-ahead recordings. Yet even in maximum groove propulsion, as on A Go Go (Verve, 1998), to cite one stellar example, Scofield's grounding in straight-ahead jazz is never far from the surface. On the flip side, his most conventional jazz is always rhythmically vital. Uncle John's Band, the guitarist's third ECM album as leader, following Swallow Tales (2020) and John Scofield (2022), falls squarely in the latter category. And it ...

Album Review

John Scofield: Uncle John's Band

Read "Uncle John's Band" reviewed by Neil Duggan

by Neil Duggan
October 24, 2023

Phil Lesh, Grateful Dead's bassist for over 30 years, claimed their basic inspiration came from the musical unions he saw in the Miles Davis Quartet along with the John Coltrane Quartet from the early 1960s. John Scofield and Lesh have played together on many occasions. So perhaps it is no surprise that the Grateful Dead anthem, “Uncle John's Band," written by guitarist Jerry Garcia and lyricist Robert Hunter, originally released on their album, Workingman's Dead (Warner Bros. 1970), should serve ...

Liner Notes

Lage Lund: Idlewild

by C. Andrew Hovan
August 19, 2023

Album Review

Vicente Archer: Short Stories

Read "Short Stories" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic

by Mike Jurkovic
July 3, 2023

Bassist Vicente Archer may be a Grammy winner with a long grand vintage (Nicholas Payton, John Scofield, Kenny Garrett, Norah Jones) but he has not revealed his own particular harvest as he does on the amicable and resilient Short Stories. Accompanied on what is technically his debut, fellow Scofield and Payton alum, drummer Bill Stewart and ever curious pianist Gerald Clayton bring to these stories a captivating, unified narrative. The soft, insistent tannins of “Mirai" opens Short Stories ...

Liner Notes

Seamus Blake: Bellwether

by C. Andrew Hovan
February 20, 2023

The music speaks for itself. This timeworn axiom has often served as a suggestion that there's an intangible aspect to music's universal language that is somehow beyond mere words. In some cases this may be true, but on the other hand, this outlook has occasionally in the past served as a viable excuse for justifying music of a somewhat dubious nature.In recently talking with saxophonist Seamus Blake by phone from Vancouver, it occurred to me that his “less ...

Performance / Tour

Larry Goldings H B3 with Peter Bernstein and Bill Stewart at Vitellos on December 16 & 17

Source: All About Jazz
December 12, 2011

December 16 & 17, 2011 Vitello's Jazz & Supper Club 4349 Tujunga Ave Studio City, CA 91604 818-769-0905 Featuring: Larry Goldings (Hammond B3 organ) Peter Bernstein (guitar) Bill Stewart (drums) Described by the New York Times as “the best organ trio of the last decade," Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein, and Bill Stewart have recorded their first live album together. Live at Smalls (Smalls Live) captures the group from the New ...
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Performance / Tour

Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein, Bill Stewart at the Jazz Standard - October 7th thru 9th, 2011.

Source: Two for the Show Media
September 22, 2011

Larry Goldings—Hammond B-3 Organ Peter Bernstein—guitar Bill Stewart—drums In noting the various billings of this trio, Nate Chinen wrote in the New York Times that “Two of the best organ trios of the last decade have featured the same three players." With his signature Hammond organ style and multi-keyboard versatility, Larry Goldings has traversed a rainbow highway of music lending his distinctive playing for recordings by Christina Aguilera, Tracy Chapman, Robben Ford, Herbie Hancock, Al Jarreau, Norah Jones, and as ...
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Performance / Tour

Marc Copland and Tim Hagans with Doug Weiss and Bill Stewart at Chris' Jazz Cafe - 2/26/11

Source: Two for the Show Media
February 4, 2011

Marc Copland & Tim Hagans with Doug Weiss & Bill Stewart Live at Chris' Jazz Cafe 1421 Sansom St. Philadelphia, PA 215-568-3131 Saturday February 26th, 2011 8PM Show ~ $22, 10PM Show ~ $20 The Quartet of Marc Copland & Tim Hagans accompanied by longtime Copland partners Bill Stewart and Doug Weiss—An incredible quartet featuring the synergy of two of the leading harmonic thinkers on their instruments. Marc Copland—Piano Tim Hagans—Trumpet
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Performance / Tour

Larry Goldings original Organ Trio reunion Vitellos with Peter Bernstein & Bill Stewart February 18th & 19th 2011

Source: April Williams
January 24, 2011

There will be a reunion of one of the finest organ jazz trios to emerge in the past 20 years at Vitellos Jazz & Supper Club Friday & Saturday February 18th & 19th 2011. The original “Larry Goldings Trio" will do two nights of concerts Friday and Saturday nights at 8pm & 10pm and a morning Study Group and lunch hang on February 18, 2011. We're talking about that heavyweight of the Hammond B-3, Larry Goldings, along with scintillating guitarist ...
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Performance / Tour

Bill Stewart Quartet Live at Smoke/NYC - Friday and Saturday February 12th and 13th, 2010

Source: Two for the Show Media
February 4, 2010

Drummer Bill Stewart will be performing with his Quartet at SMOKE Jazz Club in NYC on Friday & Saturday February 12th & 13th, 2010

Set times are: @ 8:00PM, 10 & 11:30pm

Bill Stewart Quartet

Steve Wilson (alto saxophone) Seamus Blake (tenor saxophone) Peter Washington (bass) Bill Stewart (drums)

About Bill Stewart

born 18th of October 1966, in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. Percussionist Bill Stewart made his name as the rhythmic force behind guitarist ...
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304

Performance / Tour

The Bill Stewart Quartet at Smoke (NYC) on February 12 & 13

Source: Two for the Show Media
January 19, 2010

Drummer Bill Stewart will be performing with his Quartet at SMOKE Jazz Club in NYC on Friday & Saturday February 12th & 13th, 2010. - Set times are: @ 8:00PM, 10 & 11:30pm

Bill Stewart Quartet Steve Wilson (alto saxophone) Seamus Blake (tenor saxophone) Peter Washington (bass) Bill Stewart (drums)

SMOKE Jazz Club 2751 Broadway New York, NY February 12th & 13th, 2010 Sets@ 8:00PM, 10:00PM, ...
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164

Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: Al Jarreau, Marc Copland Trio with Gary Peacock and Bill Stewart, Mardra and Reggie Thomas, Tom Wopat, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
February 12, 2009

It's another busy week for jazz in St. Louis, so let's go right to the highlights:Tonight, Jazz St. Louis presents Reggie Thomas and OGD in a free concert celebrating Blue Note records at the Third Baptist Church, 620 N. Grand. In case you didn't know, “OGD" stands for organ, guitar and drums, and it's always a treat to hear Thomas play the B-3, especially given the relative dearth of jazz organ shows in town these days. Also, the ...
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Performance / Tour

The Bill Stewart Quartet Live at the Jazz Gallery

Source: Two for the Show Media
September 11, 2008

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Recording

Drummer/Composer Bill Stewart Releases New CD "Incandescence" on Pirouet Records

Source: Two for the Show Media
March 31, 2008

Pirouet Records/ Release Date: April 1, 2008 Bill Stewart-Incandescence Bill Stewart - Drums Larry Goldings -Hammond Organ, Accordion Kevin Hays - Piano Drummer/Composer Bill Stewart releases new CD “Incandescence" (PIT3028) on Pirouet Records One set of drums and two sets of keyboards - that's a combination with a lot of possibilities. A unique music in which each piece presents a new challenge. Here are three musicians who are on the case, with ...
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Performance / Tour

Gary Peacock, Marc Copland, Bill Stewart Trio @ Birdland NYC - March 19-22nd, 2008

Source: Two for the Show Media
March 16, 2008

Gary Peacock, Marc Copland, & Bill Stewart Trio Gary Peacock- bass Marc Copland- piano Bill Stewart - drums Birdland Jazz Club 315 West 44th Street Broadway New York, NY March 19th-22nd 2008 Set Times are 8:30 PM & 11:00 PM $30 general admission; $40 orchestra For information call 212.591-3080 “Transcendent...makes one realize how ordinary, how formulaic, so much of the rest of today's music ...
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