Alexander Stewart December 6, 2012

The seductive, sultry, soul-wrapped golden voice of jazz vocalist Alexander Stewart - one of the hottest new names in jazz performing in the perfect setting of Band on the Wall.

Alexander Stewart’s live show is a powerful experience. With its four-piece horn section, the group can punch like a big band but then turn on a sixpence to deliver a heartfelt sotto voce ballad. The material, too, is a delightful shock to a jaded musical palette. There are show tunes, of course, but Stewart also ranges over the best pop material, from Paul Simon to Stevie Wonder to more surprising choices like Blondie and The Smiths. Stewart and musical director Alex Webb also deliver some cool, carefully-crafted originals.

Stewart’s voice, seductive and velvety one moment, smoky and world-weary the next, is a thing of wonder. As the Bebop Spoken Here blog put it, ‘Stewart captures the legacy of his spiritual mentors (Sinatra, Bennett etc) and adds a dash of his own angostura to the mix.’

His line-up includes some of the UK’s finest jazz musicians: saxophonist Nathaniel Facey (of MOBO-winning group Empirical), bassist Gary Crosby (Nu Troop, Jazz Warriors, Jazz Jamaica, Courtney Pine), Andy Chapman (Rhythmica, Ayanna Witter-Johnson), trumpeter Freddie Gavita (NYJO), Trombonist Winston Rollins (Brand New Heavies, Incognito, Jamiraquoi, Courtney Pine, Jools Holland), Frank Griffith on tenor sax (Ron Carter, Jon Hendricks, Jack McDuff) and pianist, arranger and musical director Alex Webb.

Alexander Stewart also works in a quartet format, or with one or two horns according to the requirements of the venue and promoter.

‘A terrific concert … he has the look, his voice is warm, clear and very listenable, he croons and swings with the best of them’ CaberetScenes.org

Official Website: http://crd.fm/1cc