Grant Stewart
Background information
Born (1971-06-04) June 4, 1971
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Tenor sax, soprano sax
Years active1990s–present
Websitegrantstewartjazz.com
Grant Stewart at Copenhagen Jazz Festival 2018

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

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]

Stewart married Armenian American jazz singer Lucy Yeghiazaryan in the fall of 2020. They welcomed a daughter, Loreni Jacqueline Stewart, on December 6, 2023.

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 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)
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)
2008 Recado Bossa Nova Birds Records
2008 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)
2009 Plays Jazz Ballads Birds Records
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 St. Thomas Birds Records
2012 Live at Smalls Smalls Live Quartet, with Tardo Hammer (piano), David Wong (bass), Phil Stewart (drums); in concert
2015 Trio Live Cellar Live Trio, with Paul Sikivie (bass), Philip Stewart (drums); in concert
2017 Roll On Cellar Live
2019 Rise and Shine Cellar Live
2022 The Lighting of the Lamps Cellar Live

As co-leader with Eric Alexander

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

As co-leader with Fabio Miano

Year Recorded Title Label
2018 Namely You DISCMEDI

As sideman

Year recorded Leader Title Label
2007* Ehud Asherie Lockout Posi-Tone
2008* John Swana Bright Moments Criss Cross
Year Recorded Leader Title Label
1997 Michael Melito My Conception MHR Records
1998 Jazz Underground: Live at Smalls GRP Records
2001 Michael Melito 'Bout Time CD Baby
2002 Yves Brouqui Live at Smalls Smalls Live
2003 Ryan Kisor Awakening Criss Cross
2004 Paul Hoffman Topsy Turvy MHR Records
2004 Ryan Kisor The Quintet A Night in Tunisia Video Arts
2005 Sasha Loukachine The Sasha Loukachine Quartet with Clark Terry Stars Fell on Alabama CD Baby
2005 John Marshall Frisky Organic Music
2005 Michael Melito The Next Step CD Baby
2006` Bob Sneider and Joe Locke Film Noir Project Fallen Angel Sons of Sound Recorded Music
2006 Yves Brouqui Made in France self released
2006 Ryan Kisor This is Ryan Video Arts
2007 Lennie Cuje Lennie Cuje with Mike Wilner Quartet At Smalls
2007 Bob Stata Get This Ilikai Music

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. ↑ Myers, Marc (March 18, 2008) "Grant Stewart: Young at Heart". JazzWax.
  4. ↑ Dryden, Ken "Grant Stewart: Around the Corner". AllMusic. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
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