Louis Stewart - One of the Greats!

**JimR56** · 01-20-2025, 11:04 PM

I've been a big fan of Louis since the 1980's, when I was fortunate enough to be made aware of him by jazz guitarist/author/collector Robert Yelin. I've been trying to make people more aware of Louis ever since, mostly on another jazz forum where I used to spend a lot of my spare time. I'm very (very) late joining this forum, after knowing about it for many years, but better late than never, I suppose.

I could post comments and memories about Louis (I met him in 1995) all day, but I thought I would post an updated discography (not including private recordings). Hopefully it will need to be edited very soon if Livia releases more material in the coming year!

Louis Stewart - selected discography

As leader

Louis the First (Hawk, 1975)
Baubles, Bangles and Beads with Peter Ind (Wave, 1975)
Out on His Own (Livia, 1976)
Some Other Blues with Noel Kelehan (Livia, 1976)
Milesian Source (Pye, 1977)
Drums And Friends (Livia, 1978)
Alone Together with Brian Dunning (Livia, 1979)
I Thought About You (Livia, 1979)
Louis Stewart and the Red Lion Trio (Decibelle, France, 1980)
The Dublin Concert with Jim Hall (Livia, 1982)
Acoustic Guitar Duets (Super Sessions) with Martin Taylor (Jardis, 1985)
Good News (Villa, 1986)
String Time (Villa, 1988/1990)
Serious Jazz (Livia, 1989)
Winter Song with Heiner Franz (Jardis, 1990)
In a Mellow Tone with Heiner Franz (Jardis, 1992)
Louis Stewart Quartet (feat. Michael Moore) (Cecilia, 1992)
Joycenotes (Villa, 1993)
Overdrive (Hep, 1993)
I Wished On the Moon with Heiner Franz (Jardis, 1999)
GIFT(w/Bill Charlap) (Ashbrown, 2000)
Street of Dreams with Heiner Franz (Jardis, 2001)
Road Song (Villa, 2002?)
Core Business with Egil Kapstad, Terje Venaas, Eyvind Olsen (Villa, 2004)
Angel Eyes (Blau, 2006)
You've Changed w/Frank Harrison Trio (Desert Island, 2007)
Tunes (Beechpark, 2013)
Live in London (Blau, 2016)

As sideman
With Tubby Hayes (1968–69)

England's Late Jazz Great (IAJRC, released 1987)
200% Proof (Master Mix, released 1992)
Rumpus (Savage/Solweig, released 2015)
The Syndicate: Live at the Hopbine 1968 Vol.1 (Gearbox, released 2015)
Grits, Beans and Greens (Fontana, released 2019)

With George Shearing

Windows (MPS, 1977)
500 Miles High (MPS, 1977)
Getting in the Swing of Things (MPS, 1979)
On Target (MPS, 1980)
How Beautiful Is Night (Telarc, 1992)
That Shearing Sound (Telarc, 1994)
Paper Moon (Telarc, 1995)

With others

Mary Coughlan, Long Honeymoon (Evangeline, 2001)
Laila Dalseth, Daydreams (Hot Club/Gemini, 1984)
Kevin Dean, Venous Lake (Gemini, 1998)
Jim Doherty, Spondance (Livia, 1986)
Benny Goodman, Benny Goodman in Concert (Decca, 1971)
London Jazz Chamber Group / Ken Moule, Adam's Rib Suite (Ember, 1970) •
J. J. Johnson, Robert Farnon, Tangence (Gitanes, 1994)
Len McCarthy & The Guinness Jazz All-Stars (Livia, 1986)
Maurice Meunier (clarinet), Louis Stewart (guitar), Michel Gaudry (contrebasse), ’’Paris - Dublin'’ (Bloomdido, France, 1986)
Doug Raney, Heiner Franz, Maarten Van Der Grinten, Frederic Sylvestre, The European Jazz Guitar Orchestra (Jardis, 1993)
Spike Robinson, Three for the Road (Hep, 1989)
Spike Robinson, A Real Corker (Capri, 1991)
Ronnie Scott, Serious Gold (Pye, 1977)
Clark Terry, At the Montreux Jazz Festival (Polydor, 1970)
Joe Williams, Here's to Life (Telarc, 1993)

**Rob MacKillop** · 01-21-2025, 11:11 AM

Thanks for that list, Jim!

I got Out On His Own - the new vinyl version for Christmas. Nothing else has been on the turntable since. Top class player.

**axe81** · 03-16-2025, 10:09 PM

Does anyone know how Louis came to play like that? Do we know if he studied with anyone, or completely self taught?

**grahambop** · 05-13-2025, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by axe81

Does anyone know how Louis came to play like that? Do we know if he studied with anyone, or completely self taught?

Just came across this post - the attached interview with Louis from a guitar magazine in 1975 gives some details.

**Smoothsailor** · 07-28-2025, 07:36 AM

Originally Posted by neatomic

just posted about this vid on what you listening to now thread..but worthy of re-post, for those that dont follow that thread (shame!) hah

louis stewart with great george shearing and nhop...great trio

doin' chick coreas 500 miles high