BILL STEWART - batteria

batterista e pianista, si è imposto sulla scena internazionale nei 5 anni trascorsi con la band di John Scofield tra il ‘90’ e il ’95. Autodidatta alla batteria, ha frequentato la University Of Northern Iowa e il Wayne College, dove ha studiato con Dave Samuels, Rufus Reid e Harold Mabern, e ha incontrato per la prima volta Joe Lovano. Nel periodo trascorso al college effettua le sue prime registrazioni, dapprima con il sassofonista Scott Kreitzer e in seguito incidendo due album col pianista Armen Donelian. Trasferitosi dopo gli studi a Brooklyn nel 1988, ha iniziato ad affermarsi sulla scena di New York, suonando in numerose jam sessions e iniziando ben presto a suonare con il Larry Goldings trio, completato da Peter Bernstein. A una jam session cui prende parte al club Augie’s viene notato da Maceo Parker, che lo invita a partecipare all’incisione del suo album “Roots Revisited”. In seguito entra a far parte del gruppo di John Scofield, dove incontra nuovamente il suo compagno di college Joe Lovano, il quale successivamente suonerà anche in entrambi i due dischi di Stewart da leader: “Think Before You Think”, per la giapponese Jazz City, in cui oltre a Lovano suonano Dave Holland al basso e Marc Copland al piano, e “Snide Remarks”, con Bill Carrothers al piano, Eddie Henderson alla tromba  e Larry Grenadier al basso. I brani di Stewart mettono in luce una sofisticata tecnica compositiva, definita da Lovano come quella di un “suonatore di melodie all’interno del concetto di ritmo”.

18 October 1966, Des Moines, Iowa, USA. 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'.

Discografia

  Metheny Pat  Trio 99-00
 Warner

 
  Scofield John  Meant to be
 Blue Note

 
  Blake Seamus
Hays Kevin  Sangha Quartet, Fear of Roaming
 Fresh Sound
 
 
  Carrothers Bill  Armistice 1918 (2CD)
 Sketch
 
 
  Scofield John  EnRoute
 Verve
 
 
  Scofield John
Metheny Pat  I can see your house from here
 Blue Note
 

  Scofield John  Quiet
non vendibile  Verve

 
  Scofield John  Live in Montreal
a richiesta  Universal

 
  Blake Seamus  The call
a richiesta  Criss Cross

 
 
  Kreisberg Jonathan
Grenadier Larry
Stewart Bill  Nine stories wide
a richiesta  Criss Cross

 
Carrothers Bill  Duets with Bill Stewart
a richiesta  Birdology

 
  Carrothers Bill  Gosth ships
a richiesta  Sketch

 
  Potter Chris  Traveling Mercies
non vendibile  Universal