Irish jazz guitarist Louis Stewart began recording in 1968, but it wasn't until 1976 that he released his first leadership album—Louis the First. Recorded at Dublin's Trend Studios on September 25, 1975 for the Hawk label, the album featured Louis Stewart (g), Martin Walsh (b) and John Wadham (d). The album featured nine tracks—five with the trio form, one bass-guitar duet and three solo pieces.
Now, the long out-of-print album has been lovingly remastered and reissued by Ireland's Livia Records. Louis the First is notable not only for the different instrumental configurations but also for Stewart's technique, especially on swingers.
Stewart's hands are so fast that in places they make you think there were two guitarists. In fact, on a couple of tracks, Stewart overdubbed himself so that you were, in fact, hearing two guitarists. Regardless, the energy is remarkable. Even on ballads, like Here's That Rainy Day, he was itching to take off, as you can hear on the fills. [Photo above of the Louis Stewart Trio playing at Dublin's Baggot Inn in 1976]
In 1968, Stewart won an award as the most outstanding soloist at the Montreux Jazz Festival and soon after spent three years playing with Benny Goodman. After Louis the First was taped, he recorded in London with Billy Higgins, Peter Ind, Sam Jones, Red Mitchell and Spike Robinson. In the late 1970s, he toured in the U.S. with George Shearing and bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen and played with many other American jazz musicians.
The tracks:
- All the Things You Are
- Bluesology
- Body and Soul
- Send in the Clowns
- O Grande Amore
- Here's That Rainy Day
- Alone Together
- Autumn Leaves
- Footprints (Bonus track)
Hats off to the team at Livia Records for re-issuing this gem and for ensuring that the music sounds warm, with the bass and drums distinct without crowding out Stewart.
Louis Stewart died in 2016 at age 72.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find the reissue of Louis Stewart's Louis the First (Livia) here.
JazzWax clips: Here's All the Things You Are...
Here's Here's That Rainy Day...
And here's Alone Together...
