Quick Facts
GeminiBiography
Grant Stewart (born June 4, 1971) is a Canadian jazz saxophonist.
Life and career
Stewart was born in Toronto, Ontario on June 4, 1971. His father was a part-time jazz guitarist. Aged ten, Stewart played on alto sax solos from saxophonists Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, and Wardell Gray that had been transcribed by his father. "By his early teens, Stewart had already found performance experience with such artists as Pat La Barbera and Bob Mover". 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.
In New York, Stewart first played with guitarist Peter Bernstein and saxophonist Jesse Davis. He then began playing at Smalls Jazz Club from when it opened in 1993.
His younger brother, Philip, has been a drummer in Stewart's bands since 2005.
For his 2007 recording Young at Heart, Stewart chose some challenging compositions, including by Elmo Hope and Neal Hefti, as well as originals. On Around the Corner in 2010, Stewart also played soprano sax.
Playing style
Stewart plays "steady swinging, muscular hard bop". 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".
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' | 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' | 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 |
| 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* | Asherie, EhudEhud Asherie | Lockout | Posi-Tone |
| 2008* | Swana, JohnJohn Swana | Bright Moments | Criss Cross |