Grant Stewart

Joan Fort Hangin’ In (45 Jazz 2026)

- Francois Leave a comment

NEW RELEASE – JOAN FORT

Spanish guitarist in a New York state of mind.  

Personnel

Joan Fort (guitar), Grant Stewart (tenor saxophone), Daniel Cohen (tenor saxophone #2), Michael Weiss (piano), David Wong (bass), Aaron Kimmel (drums)

Recorded

on December 7, 2024 at Bunker Studio in New York

Released

as 45 Jazz 003 in 2026

Track listing

Javastraat / A Day At The King’s County / 5 In 1 Flat / Miradouro Da Pederneira / Up, Over & Out / Hangin’ In / TJI / She / Philly Twist

Go figure. You’re a promising guitarist and out there in The Big Apple for a while. The New York heavyweights, toughest cats on the global block, seem to like what you’re doing, so why not invite some of those guys to play on your record?

Spanish Joan Fort, fresh from the Amsterdam scene and part of the sassy hard/post bop outfit The Dam Jawn, took care of this business. A full day in the studio, original compositions, a couple of covers and off to the races. Bravo!

Good preparation and spontaneous blowing is all you need, and Hangin’ In, neo-traditionalism at its best, down to the rootsy title and cover, has got it down pat. Punchy and fat guitar tone, resonant band sound, a killer line-up including tenor great Grant Stewart.

Plenty enjoyment. The beautiful long line of Javastraat, re-imagined late 50’s Prestige thang, somewhat a Jimmy Raney-ish melody, starting with a snatch of Coltrane, so nothing to complain! Typical of this band to boot, a very deep pocket courtesy of Michael Weiss, David Wong and Aaron Kimmel, express train relentlessly rolling on the track.

The gypsy-ish intro of A Day At The King’s County. All the guys setting fire to Hank Mobley’s Up, Over & Out. The fast-paced sizzling bop of 5 In 1 Flat. Miradouro Da Pederneira‘s mellow canvas for Fort’s canny use of space and wide intervals, reflecting soft sun rays on your face.

Not to mention his quartet version of George Shearing’s She, featuring Fort’s most successful storytelling and mingling of patterns, voicing and octaves off this album.

Fort’s hangin’ in, true to his work’s leitmotif, being a jazz musician, a nomad, tackling challenges in Amsterdam, Philly, NYC, on the road, growing as a human being. Growth is what you’re looking for and Fort certainly meets demands, a step forward with a record that gains weight downtown.

Listen on streaming platforms or go to your local store: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znOb2H8FCGQ&list=OLAK5uy_k3J-7Lm-EwCk1zz36olDoyMlfb7DV_kvY&index=2

Tenor & Alto Madness

- Francois Leave a comment

CHARLES MCPHERSON, GRANT STEWART, ALAN SKIDMORE – LIVE

Charles McPherson
Grant Stewart
Alan Skidmore

Great weeks for fans of real jazz and sax aficionados in The Lowlands. The English tenor saxophonist Alan Skidmore has been touring the country with the trio of pianist Rein de Graaff, bassist Marius Beets and drummer Eric Ineke. Last chance to see this excellent group also including saxophonists Tineke Postma and Benjamin Herman perform is tonight at The Bimhuis, Amsterdam and tomorrow at Tivoli, Utrecht. On March 8 the 78-year old alto saxophonist Charles McPherson, who has been keeping the flame of bebop burning in a most confident, energetic and excellent way, will be playing at The Bimhuis in Amsterdam. Great gig! McPherson will be assisted by pianist Alberto Palau, bassist Daryll Hall and drummer Stephen Keogh.

And on Monday the 5th of March, tenor saxophonist Grant Stewart will be performing at Murphy’s Law in The Hague. The 46-year old, Canada-born Stewart is one of the most prolific saxophonists of mainstream jazz today. He’s a fixture on the NYC scene and has been performing all around the world. Stewart played and recorded with, among others, Jimmy Cobb, Clark Terry, Louis Hayes, Brad Meldau, Larry Goldings and Eric Alexander.

The concert at Murphy’s Law, organized by Equinox Jazz Productions, starts at 21:00. A rare opportunity to hear one of the best in the business in an intimate setting. Stewart is performing with Dan Nicholas on guitar, Kenji Rabson on bass and Wouter Kühne on drums.

Find Murphy’s Law here
Check out Grant Stewart’s website here.