Slam Stewart

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Slam Stewart, 1946

Leroy Elliot "Slam" Stewart (born September 21, 1914 in Englewood , New Jersey ; † December 10, 1987 in Binghamton , New York ) was an American jazz bassist who first became known as part of the duo Slim & Slam . He was the first to develop the solo role of the double bass in jazz.

Live and act

Stewart was known as a bassist for accompanying his solo play (with the bow) by simultaneous unison hums an octave higher. According to his own statements, he had taken this over from the violinist Ray Perry . But he also built other show elements into his numbers. It got its nickname Slam from the beating sound of its strings while playing.

He started out as a violinist, but then switched to bass, studied at the Boston Conservatory and initially worked at Peanuts Holland in 1936 . In 1937 he moved to New York and founded the duo Slim and Slam with Slim Gaillard , known for novelty numbers such as their 1938 hit Flat Fleet Floogie (with a Floy Floy). Gaillard's draft for military service in World War II ended this collaboration. Stewart then played with Fats Waller in 1943, the year of his death, and also appeared with him in the movie Stormy Weather (directed by Andrew Stone), a bio-pic with and about Bill "Bojangles" Robinson . Stewart's new duo with guitarist Tiny Grimes performed a. a. with Art Tatum (1942 to 1944 and in the 1950s) and also appeared for the first time with the Benny Goodman sextet. A famous session from 1945 with Dizzy Gillespie , Charlie Parker and Red Norvo is one of the bebop classics ( Groovin 'High , Dizzy Atmosphere ). Stewart also recorded with Lester Young (the classic Sometimes I'm Happy ), with Don Byas (duets in the Town Hall Concert 1945, Indiana ) and with his own groups, in which Erroll Garner sat at the piano. In 1945 he was voted the best bassist of the year by Down Beat .

During the 1950s and 1960s, Stewart worked with musicians such as Art Tatum, Roy Eldridge , Beryl Booker and Rose Murphy, and also toured Italy and Germany. In the 1970s he withdrew a bit from the jazz scene: he played as a soloist in the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, gave advanced lessons, wrote textbooks and was a member of the television show Today . But he also performed with the New York Jazz Repertory Company . He continued his career as a popular, very individually playing bassist with regular tours, festival appearances (e.g. Newport Jazz Festival 1964) and recordings until the 1980s.

Discographic notes

Slam Stewart in William P. Gottlieb's office, New York City, circa 1947. Photo: Gottlieb

literature

Web links

Commons : Slam Stewart  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Dan Morgenstern in the liner notes for Shut Yo 'Mouth! Delos 1991
personal data
SURNAME Stewart, slam
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Stewart, Leroy Elliot (real name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz bassist
DATE OF BIRTH September 21, 1914
PLACE OF BIRTH Englewood , New Jersey
DATE OF DEATH December 10, 1987
Place of death Binghamton , New York