* En anglais uniquement
Slam Stewart was a superior swing-oriented bassist whose ability to bow the bass and hum an octave apart made him famous in the jazz world. He had thought of the idea while studying at Boston Conservatory when he heard Ray Perry singing along with his violin. In 1936,
Stewart was with
Peanuts Holland's group and the following year he started playing regularly with guitarist/singer/comedian
Slim Gaillard in a group logically dubbed "Slim and Slam." "Flat Foot Floogie" became a huge hit and kept the group working through the early '40s. After leaving
Gaillard,
Stewart was in great demand. He played with
Art Tatum's trio, was featured on records with
the Benny Goodman Sextet,
Red Norvo (a famous session with
Charlie Parker and
Dizzy Gillespie), and
Lester Young (a classic rendition of "Sometimes I'm Happy"), and led his own group which for a period featured the up-and-coming pianist
Erroll Garner.
Stewart performed a couple of stunning duets with tenor saxophonist
Don Byas at a 1945 Town Hall concert and later worked with
Billy Taylor,
Roy Eldridge,
Bucky Pizzarelli, the Newport All-Stars, and a countless number of other jazz greats. He even recorded two albums with bassist
Major Holley (who also bowed and hummed but in unison). Up until the end,
Slam Stewart occupied his own unique niche in jazz. ~ Scott Yanow