Robert Stewart (saxophonist)

Robert Stewart
Background information
Birth name Robert Darrin Stewart
Born (1969-08-17) August 17, 1969
Oakland, California, United States
Genres Jazz, soul, blues, Middle Eastern, R&B, avant-garde
Occupation(s) Musician
Years active 1986–present
Labels Qwest, Warner Bros., Red, Nagel-Heyer, Exodus, World Stage, Armageddon
Associated acts Wynton Marsalis, Billy Higgins, Pharoah Sanders, Winard Harper, Black Note
Website therobertstewartexperience.com

Robert Darrin Stewart (born August 17, 1969) is an American saxophonist. He recorded several albums under his own name during the period 1994–2006. He has also recorded as a sideman, including on trumpeter Wynton Marsalis' Blood on the Fields.

Early life

Stewart was born on August 17, 1969 in Oakland, California. His biological father, Robert Stewart III, is a San Francisco Conservatory trained flutist and trumpeter who performed with the R&B group The Whispers during the late 1960s, and was the musical director for the 1950s pop vocalist Bobby Freeman during the 1970s. Stewart's mother, Jackie Mae Syas, was a computer analyst born in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Stewart says that his mother began teaching him to read from the Qur'an when he was 3 years old; the Bible was his next reading task, and he went on to study other major religions.[1]

Stewart's uncle gave him a flute as a birthday gift, and his mother bought a flute method book; he then began to teach himself to read music from this book at 11 years of age. He was a flute soloist for all of his high school and junior high school band years. Playing the flute was a hobby for him, his primary passion was basketball during all of his grade school years.[2] He played basketball for the Fremont High School Varsity team during his junior and senior years. He also rapped under the alias "Mix Master D". He says that he "played flute in high school because it was easy to hide from my friends who were all into sports".[3] His high school music teacher encouraged him to play jazz.[2]

The summer after his graduation from Fremont High School, he was listening to the radio and heard tenor saxophonist John Coltrane playing "Russian Lullaby"; the next song was "All Too Soon" played by tenor saxophonist Ben Webster.[4] The contrast in sound between these two men, playing the same instrument, fascinated Stewart; he then remembered his high school teacher's words and focused on jazz.[4] After the summer of 1986, Stewart began to frequent jam sessions with Oakland – Bay Area pianist Ed Kelly.[4] There, he met saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, who encouraged him to continue and advance his playing.[3]

Performance career

Stewart's first major sideman gig was with avant-garde saxophonist Chico Freeman, pianist George Cables, and drummer Eddie Moore in 1988. His next sideman gig that year was with pianist Freddie Redd. In 1989 he made his first sojourn to New York to perform with Winard and Philip Harper of The Harper Brothers. He also performed there with trumpeter Eddie Henderson. In 1990, he went back to New York. He also played with trumpeter Roy Hargrove.[5] Upon his return to San Francisco, he began working with veteran vocalist Mary Stallings and pianist Merrill Hoover. He also worked regularly with pianist Merl Saunders (of the rock band The Grateful Dead) and bassist Wyatt Ruther.

In 1991, Stewart and Max Roach played as a drum and saxophone duo at U.C. Berkeley. He performed with Roach's full ensemble a few months later.[6] In 1992, Stewart performed with McCoy Tyner (piano), Bobby Hutcherson (vibes), Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Milt Jackson (vibes), Billy Higgins (drums), and organist Jimmy Smith.[7] Stewart also joined the Los Angeles-based group Black-Note for an eight-month stint, and performed with trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis and drummer Brian Blade that same year.[8] Jazz critic Jason Ankeny declared Stewart to be "One of the most impressive hard bop tenor saxophonists to emerge during the 1990s".[9]

In 1993, Stewart was asked to tour with the New York-based group The Harper Brothers led by drummer Winard Harper. This was his first national band tour.[10] He remained in New York and performed with vocalist Etta Jones, saxophonist Donald Harrison, pianist Cyrus Chestnut, saxophonist Billy Mitchell, trumpeter Doc Cheatham, saxophonist George Kelly, and pianist Chris Anderson.

In 1994, Stewart's regular group in San Francisco included Bay Area pianist and organist Ed Kelly. They would be joined by veteran jazz musicians such as: saxophonists George Coleman, Pharoah Sanders, Teddy Edwards, David Murray, John Handy, Big Jay McNeely, Hadley Caliman, and vocalist Ernie Andrews. Stewart's highest profile engagement of 1994 came after joining trumpeter Wynton Marsalis' newly formed big band to perform "Blood on the Fields".[3] The other members of this 13 piece band included: Jon Hendricks (vocal), Cassandra Wilson (vocal), Jon Faddis (trumpet), James Carter (sax), Marcus Printup (trumpet), Eric Reed (piano), Herlin Riley (drums), Wycliffe Gordon (trombone), and Regina Carter (violin). Stewart played on the album recording that won Marsalis the Pulitzer Prize.[11][12] Stewart remained a member of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra from 1994 to 1998.[13] He received his first international touring experience with this band.[14] By the end of 1994, Stewart began touring nationally under his own name.[15]

From 1995 to 1997, Stewart performed with saxophonist Branford Marsalis, pianists Kenny Kirkland and Marcus Roberts, drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts, bassist Ray Drummond, Kirk Hammett (lead guitarist for the rock group "Metallica"), Billie Joe Armstrong (founder of the rock band "Green Day"), and drummer Zigaboo Modeliste (founding member of the Funk band "The Meters"). He also played with vocalist Les McCann and singer Jon Hendricks inside Alcatraz Island Penitentiary in 1997. In 1997, Stewart played weekly at San Francisco venues such as Club Deluxe and Bruno's.[16]

In June 1997, Stewart's quartet included drummer Billy Higgins for a concert at The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles.[17] The previous year, Higgins was reported as saying that Stewart was "perhaps the most important young artist to come along in decades."[18]

From 1998 to 1999, Stewart performed with pianist Barry Harris and Horace Tapscott, and avant-garde saxophonist Sonny Simmons. His most prestigious performance was with guitarist Patrick Greene for President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton at a Democratic Fund Raiser in Woodside, California in 1998.[19]

Recording career

Stewart's first album as leader was Judgement.[20] It was recorded in Los Angeles for World Stage Records at the behest of Billy Higgins, who owned the label. The recording featured Higgins, pianist Eric Reed, and bassist Mark Shelby.[20] Jazz writer Scott Yanow wrote: "Even on the up-tempo tunes, Stewart is often content to emphasize his warm tone and to hold long notes, taking his time to get his message across. [...] this is a pleasing modern mainstream effort."[20] In 1994, Stewart recorded Beautiful Love for Red Records of Italy;[21] it was released in 1998.

Stewart then signed to the Qwest/Warner Bros. record label. His first album for Qwest was In the Gutta.[22] Saxophonist Dave Liebman, on hearing it, reported enthusiastically that Stewart sounded like a player from an older generation.[23] Stewart's next album was The Force, with drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts, bassist Reginald Veal, and pianist Ed Kelly.[24] The saxophonist reported that Qwest delayed its release for almost two years and then did not promote it, because of its Islamic influences.[1]

In 2000, following the disbanding of Qwest, Stewart recorded another album for Red Records. Nat the Cat was a tribute to Nat "King" Cole and featured Kelly (piano), Mark Williams (bass), Sly Randolph (drums), and family members Kevin Stewart (piano) and Robert Stewart III (flute).[25] In 2002, Stewart signed for one record with Exodus Records of Los Angeles entitled The Movement. The concert recording featured Higgins and bassist Art Davis together, as well as bassist Al Mckibbon and drummer Larance Marable. This record is also the final band recording of Billy Higgins. In 2003, Stewart recorded Heaven and Earth for Nagel-Heyer Records.[26] This was essentially a smooth jazz record, and several of the thirteen songs were Stewart originals.[26] He also made his debut as a drummer on the final track entitled "Peace Within". The AllMusic reviewer stated that there is "a positive social message that runs through the songs [...] Perhaps Stewart has found a way to combine new age politics with new age music, creating a hybrid that seems almost natural."[26] In 2006, Stewart released a series of live recordings on Armageddon Records, a label which he co-owned with Faheem Al-Azeem. These albums feature Stewart in live performance with Pharoah Sanders, Etta Jones, Winard Harper, Mary Stallings, Sonny Simmons, Marcus Printup, Ed Kelly, and others.

Stewart retired from recording and performing at the end of 2016 in order to write religious books, teach, and travel.[27]

Discography

As leader

  • Judgement (World Stage, 1994)
  • In the Gutta (Qwest/Warner Bros., 1996)
  • The Force (Qwest/Warner Bros., 1998)
  • Beautiful Love Ballads (Red, 1998)
  • Nat the Cat (Red, 2000)
  • The Movement (Exodus, 2002)
  • Heaven and Earth (Nagel-Heyer, 2004)
  • Happy Birthday Trane (Armageddon, 2006)
  • Invitation (Armageddon, 2006)
  • Evolution (Armageddon, 2006)
  • Don't Move the Groove! (Volume 1 – Organ Funk) (Armageddon, 2006)
  • Don't Move the Groove! (Volume 2 – Organ Blues) (Armageddon, 2006)

As sideman

  • Ed Kelly & Pharoah Sanders (Evidence, 1992) Pharoah Sanders, Eddie Marshall
  • They Came to Swing (Columbia, 1994) Wynton Marsalis, Jon Faddis, Joshua Redman, James Carter, Billy Higgins, Marcus Roberts, Nicholas Payton
  • Blood on the Fields (Columbia, 1995) Wynton Marsalis, Cassandra Wilson, Jon Hendricks, James Carter, Eric Reed, Herlin Riley[28]
  • The Music of America: Wynton Marsalis (Sony, 2012) Wynton Marsalis, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Marion Williams[29]
  • Can't Hide Love (Seaside, 1996) Buddy Conner, Wilton Felder, John Handy, Gaylord Birch, Carl Lockett
  • Full Swing Ahead (Deluxe, 1998) Jay Johnson, Mark Shelby, Ed Kelly
  • Expressions of a Legacy (Effania Brown, 2001) Lady Memfis
  • Live at Lo Spuntino (Music in the Vines, 2002) David Leshare Watson[30]
  • David Leshare Watson Loves Swinging Soft & the Ballads (Music in the Vines, 2003) David Leshare Watson
  • Nobody's Home (Chump Change, 2014) Paul Tillman Smith, Levi Seacer Jr.
  • Fonky Times (Chump Change, 2015) Paul Tillman Smith, Pharoah Sanders, Norman Connors, LaToya London, Rosie Gains
  • A Beautiful Heart (Chump Change, 2016) Paul Tillman Smith, Levi Seacer Jr., Rodney Franklin, Kenneth Nash

Compilations

  • 25th Red Records Anniversary – Un Filo Rosso Nel Jazz (Red, 2003)
  • Red Records : The Color of Jazz (Red, 2009)
  • 30 Jazz Love Standards (Red, 2010)
  • Relaxin' Jazz (Red, 2010)
  • Red Records 35th Anniversary (Red, 2011)
  • Ballads 2004 (Nagel-Heyer, 2004)

Video

  • Marsalis on Music Video Series, Columbia Films (1995)[31]
  • Sessions at West 54th, PBS Television (1997)
  • South Bank Show (Blood on the Fields), Bravo Television (1995)[32]

Books

  • The Real Mind Of God – A Comparative Scriptural Analysis, Smashwords; (May 19, 2017) ISBN 1521332347

References

  1. 1 2 Moody, Shelah (2004) "Up Close & Personal with Robert Stewart". City Flight Magazine.
  2. 1 2 The Santa Clara Metro, "Young Man With A Hot Horn," by Nicky Baxter, June 1995
  3. 1 2 3 Kohlhaase, Bill (January 31, 1995) "A Young Saxman Gets Sound Advice from Jazz Giants". Los Angeles Times.
  4. 1 2 3 Rasputin's Manifesto. "May The Force Be With You". May 1998. pp. 47–48.
  5. ↑ Merod, Jim (June 1994) "Stray Horns". Jazz Now. p. 15.
  6. ↑ The Monterey County Herald, "The Future Of Jazz" by Mac McDonald, May 1995
  7. ↑ The Cincinnati Post, "Hot West Coast Sax Phenom Playing at Greenwich Tavern" by Rick Bird, 1994
  8. ↑ LA Village View, "The Record Bin," by Andrew Gilbert, 1994
  9. ↑ Ankeny, Jason. "Robert Stewart". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-05-02.
  10. ↑ Jazz Now Magazine, "Youth In Jazz: Robert Stewart," by Elizabeth Goodwin, February 1995
  11. ↑ Yanow, Scott. "Wynton Marsalis – Blood on the Fields". AllMusic. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Wynton Marsalis – Blood on the Fields – Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  13. ↑ DownBeat Magazine, "CD Reviews" November 1994
  14. ↑ "Search Results". wyntonmarsalis.org. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  15. ↑ The New York Beacon, "All That Jazz" by John Daye, April 1994
  16. ↑ Gilbert, Andrew (August 3, 1997) "Saxophonist Busy Over All That Jazz". San Francisco Chronicle and Examiner.
  17. ↑ Kohlhasse, Bill (May 30, 1997) "Museums Draw On Palette of Acts in Summer". Los Angeles Times.
  18. ↑ Kline, Randall 1996 San Francisco Jazz Festival Official Program Book.
  19. ↑ The East Bay Express, "Robert Rules," by Lee Hildebrand, July 1998
  20. 1 2 3 Yanow, Scott. "Judgement – Robert Stewart". AllMusic. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  21. ↑ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2004). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. Penguin. p. 1507.
  22. ↑ Kohlhaase, Bill (17 May 1998). "Album Reviews" – via LA Times.
  23. ↑ Primack, Bret (June 1996) "Before and After". JazzTimes. p. 59.
  24. ↑ Elwood, Philip (April 18, 1998) "Sax and Flute with a Spiritual Bent". San Francisco Examiner.
  25. ↑ "Robert Stewart: Nat the Cat". Allaboutjazz.com.
  26. 1 2 3 Lankford, Jr., Ronnie D. "Heaven and Earth – Robert Stewart". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-05-02.
  27. ↑ Gilbert, Andrew. "Sax man Robert Stewart kicks off free jazz series in Oakland". The Mercury News. Retrieved 2017-05-02.
  28. ↑ "Blood on the Fields". wyntonmarsalis.org. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  29. ↑ "The Music of America: Wynton Marsalis". wyntonmarsalis.org. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  30. ↑ "Live at Lo Spuntino – David Leshare Watson". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  31. ↑ "Marsalis on Music DVD trailer available". wyntonmarsalis.org. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  32. ↑ "South Bank Show – Blood on the Fields". wyntonmarsalis.org. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
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