# Bill Stewart is also a capable pianist, the instrument on which he composes … Video

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2017/10/18/bill-stewart-is-also-a-capable-pianist-the-instrument-on-which-he-composes-video/
- Published: 2017-10-18T00:34:22+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**18.10. – Happy Birthday !!! 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’.

![Картинки по запросу Bill Stewart](https://i0.wp.com/www.instantseats.com/photos/
1/1457972316593_mobileLarge.jpg?w=640)

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