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Introducing Phil Stewart: Melodious Drum

By Jack Bowers
February 21, 2018
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Introducing Phil Stewart: Melodious Drum

Cellar Live Records continues its run of admirable mainstream albums with Melodious Drum, Canadian-born and New York City-based

Phil Stewart

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Phil Stewart's debut as leader of his own groups, which range from trio to sextet. It's an interesting title, as Stewart's drums may be congenial but aren't melodious in the manner of, say,

Jeff Hamilton

drums
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Hamilton,

Ed Thigpen

drums
1930 - 2010

" data-original-title="" title="">Ed Thigpen,

Shelly Manne

drums
1920 - 1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Shelly Manne,

Chico Hamilton

drums
1921 - 2013

" data-original-title="" title="">Chico Hamilton or even

Louie Bellson

drums
1924 - 2009

" data-original-title="" title="">Louie Bellson. He simply keeps very good time without excessive frills or flamboyance, while his solos are forceful yet far from song-like.

Stewart's well-knit core trio (

Sacha Perry

" data-original-title="" title="">Sacha Perry, piano;

Paul Sikivie

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Sikivie, bass) is showcased on Perry's compositions "Far Sure" and "Livin' with Hobson" and

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk's bop-flavored "Eronel." Elsewhere, the group is enhanced by the presence of trumpeter

Joe Magnarelli

trumpet
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Magnarelli, tenor saxophonist

Chris Byars

saxophone
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Byars and, last but not least, Stewart's older brother and longtime band mate,

Grant Stewart

saxophone, tenor
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Grant Stewart, who plays tenor on three numbers, alto on "The Sumo." Magnarelli makes it a quartet on the classic opener,

Dizzy Gillespie

trumpet
1917 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Dizzy Gillespie's "Manteca," and is joined by Byars and Grant Stewart on

Bud Powell

piano
1924 - 1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Bud Powell's sonorous "Dance of the Infidels" and

George Coleman

saxophone, tenor
b.1935

" data-original-title="" title="">George Coleman's mercurial "Apache" (a.k.a. "Cherokee"). Byars expands the trio on his free and easy original, "The Doctor Is In."

Perry shows an affinity for the blues on "Hobson," which embodies perhaps his most persuasive solo, again with staunch support from drummer Stewart and bassist Sikivie who appends a cogent statement of his own. As for the tenors, Stewart and Byars are two of a mind, in tone and execution, framing solos that are far more complementary than antithetical. Magnarelli, for his part, is comfortable in any scenario and knows how to coax the maximum mileage from every ad lib.

This a trim and tasteful blowing session, upraised by varying the size and makeup of Stewart's team, as well as a nice coming-out party for Grant's younger brother.

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Track Listing

Manteca; Dance of the Infidels; Far Sure; The Sumo; Erratic; This Is All I Ask; Apache; Eronel; The Doctor Is In; Livin�� with Hobson.

Personnel

Phil Stewart

drums

Phil Stewart: leader, drums; Grant Stewart: alto (4), tenor sax (2, 6, 7); Chris Byars: tenor sax (2, 5, 7, 9); Joe Magnarelli: trumpet (1, 2, 7); Sacha Perry: piano; Paul Sikivie: bass.

Album information

Title: Melodious Drum | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Cellar Live

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