WAX ON Louis Stewart

The revolutionary records and iconic artists that shaped jazz.

WAX ON #10: LOUIS STEWART

This SPECIAL EDITION WAX ON will feature discussion and music from 7-9pm and live performances from special guests from 9:30-10:45pm. Full details below.

WAX ON is both a listening party, placing the needle in the groove of a collection of favourite jazz albums, as well as an intimate space for story-telling and reflections.

To celebrate our 10th edition of WAX ON, the event will focus on the life and music of the most iconic of Irish jazz artists, guitarist LOUIS STEWART. After our traditional Wax On listening session, IMC will host a very special live duo performance inspired by the performance style and compositions of Stewart.
On the night, guitarist Hugh Buckley and bassist Dave Fleming, both of whom worked extensively with Stewart throughout his life, will perform.

Tickets are extremely limited and advance booking is recommended.

A native of Waterford, Stewart’s professional career began at the age of 16 when he joined the Chris Lamb Showband in Cork. By the age of 20, however, he had committed himself exclusively to jazz, and his fluency in the complex language of be-bop became quickly apparent.

He had a remarkable international career spanning six decades, rising to prominence in 1960s, winning successive awards at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival, including the offer a full scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston - an offer which he never took up. He decided instead to settle in Dublin to raise his family, while his international trajectory continued.

He performed with many of jazz greats, including legendary US band-leader Benny Goodman and the great English pianist, George Shearing. Throughout the 1970s, Stewart was a regular in the Ronnie Scott quintet, playing almost nightly in the saxophonist’s eponymous Soho club, where his playing attracted the attention of some of the leading jazz musicians of the day. Among the guitarists who admired Stewart’s playing were US jazz giants such as Jim Hall and Joe Pass. Stewart achieved what no other Irish jazz musician before or since has managed – to become one of the most respected players of his instrument in the world.

The first Irish jazz musician of international stature, he was rightly revered by successive generations of guitarists and is undoubtedly responsible for the preponderance of that instrument in Irish jazz today.

Irish Times music critic Cormac Larkin will host this special edition of WAX ON in conversation with Stewart’s longtime friend and pianist Jim Doherty, bringing the audience on an intimate journey through the life and recordings of one of the most influential and important artists in contemporary jazz guitar.

Venue: The Vintage Room upstairs in The Workman's Club, Dublin.

Doors at 6.30pm for 7pm start

Additional Music Performance from 9:30-10:45pm

Tickets for both; €16 + booking fee online, €18 on the door **

Capacity is extremely limited so ADVANCED BOOKING is advised.