Portrait of Rex Stewart, Part II (Podcast #20-002)

Ellington Reflections · Feb 22, 2020 · 58m

https://ellingtonreflections.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/rex-stewart-part-ii.mp3

“In the Ellington band, Stewart quickly blossomed into a major jazz soloist with a wide range of style and technique. He was a fine melodist, could improvise with a Beiderbecke-like grace (he was a great admirer of Bix’s playing), provide sharply crackling muted choruses of immense drive, or play open solos in a uniquely jaunty manner. Rex also became adept at the plunger-muted growl style which was, by the time he joined, a tradition in the Ellington orchestra. Most importantly, he developed a…