Louis Stewart & Jim Doherty - Tunes

Label: Beechpark Records - BPRCD001 - IRL - 2013

Personnel
Jim Doherty - Piano
Louis Stewart - Guitar

Track Listing

It Could Happen To You

You Go To My Head
Broadway
I Remember You
Comme Ci, Comme Ca
This Can’t be Love
Button Up Your Overcoat
I Surrender Dear
I Wished On The Moon
What is There to Say
My Heart Stood Still

A Waterford native, Louis Stewart began playing guitar at the young age of thirteen
and quickly became prominent in the Dublin scene playing in show bands. By the
end of the 60’s he’d already worked as a sideman with Tubby Hayes and Benny
Goodman and won best soloist at the acclaimed Montreux Jazz Festival. The 70’s
comprised of tours, recording dates with the likes of Don Burrows, George Shearing,
Peter Ind and Ronnie Scott. In the coming few years he’d go on to work successfully
with Martin Taylor, Brian Dunning and Spike Robinson. Jim Doherty has worked on
numerous RTE titles over the past several decades and has served as the musical
director for the Late Late Show. He’s worked with theatrical productions and even co-
wrote the Abeey Theatre’s first musical titled ‘Innish’.

The album opens with the Jimmy Van Heusen song “It Could Happen to You”.
What’s instantly recognisable is that there is a certain depth to the music. Every note
is well intentioned and thoughtfully placed. The two effortlessly switch roles leading
and accompanying. “Broadway” popularised by Count Basie starts off with a
memorable call and response arrangement which is referenced several times
through the course of the tune in the improvisations. “What Is There To Say” written
by Vernon Duke showcases a more sensitive side of Louis’s playing beginning with a
solo guitar introduction. Overall the mix of tunes is balanced in respect to the
contrasts of Ballads to more sprightly tempos.

One of the more notable works produced by Louis Stewart is the album ‘Joyce
Notes’ which was performed at The Cork Jazz Festival and The National Theatre in
Oslo and was dedicated to his love for the writer James Joyce. Louis Stewart who
cited Les Paul and Barney Kessel as his influences was truly a keeper of the
tradition as was evident and well put by the New York Times article describing his
playing as “ single-note lines that flow with unhurried grace, coloured by sudden
bright lively chorded phrases”.

In conclusion there is no doubt Louis Stewart was an invaluable contributor and spirit
and will live on through his music as is evident from the 19 albums he’s made as a
leader, not to mention the numerous ones as sideman.