Born: February 22, 1907 | Died: September 7, 1967 Primary Instrument: Trumpet
Rex Stewart achieved his greatest glory in a subsidiary role, playing cornet 11 years in the Duke Ellington Orchestra. His famous “talking” style and half-valve effects were exploited brilliantly by countless Ellington pieces containing perfect passages tailored to showcase Stewart's sound.
He played in a forceful, gripping manner that reflected the influences of Louis Armstrong, Bubber Miley, and Bix Beiderbecke, whose solos he once reproduced on record. Stewart played on Potomac riverboats before moving to Philadelphia. He went to New York in 1921.
Stewart worked with Elmer Snowden in 1925, then joined Fletcher Henderson a year later. But he felt his talents were not at the necessary level, and departed Henderson's band, joining his brother Horace's band at Wilberforce College. Stewart returned in 1928. He remained five years and contributed many memorable solos. There was also a brief period in McKinney's Cotton Pickers in 1931, a stint heading his own band, and another short stay with Luis Russell before Stewart joined the Ellington Orchestra in 1934.
He was a star throughout his tenure, co-writing classics “Boy Meets Horn” and “Morning Glory.” He also supervised many outside recording sessions using Ellingtonians. After leaving, Stewart led various combos and performed throughout Europe and Australia on an extensive Jazz at the Philharmonic tour from 1947-1951.
He lectured at the Paris Conservatory in 1948. Stewart settled in New Jersey to run a farm in the early '50s. He was semi-retired, but found new success in the media. He worked in local radio and television, while leading a band part-time in Boston.
Stewart led the Fletcher Henderson reunion band in 1957 and 1958, and recorded with them. He played at Eddie Condon's club in 1958 and 1959, then moved to the West Coast. Stewart again worked as a disc jockey and became a critic. While he published many excellent pieces, a collection containing many of his best reviews, Jazz Masters of the Thirties, came out posthumously. There's also a Stewart autobiography available.
by Rex Stewart
( 1991)
Things Ain't What They Used to Be
by Rex Stewart and Johnny Hodges
(2001) - Original recording reissued
Rexatious
by Rex Stewart
( 1996)
Things Ain't What They Used to Be by Duke Ellington
(1996)
Great Ellington Units
by Duke Ellington, Rex Stewart, Barney Bigard, and Johnny Hodges
(1990)
Late Date
by Rex Stewart
(1998)
Chatter Jazz
by Rex Stewart and Dickie Wells
( 1999)
Baden 1966 & Montreux 1971
by Rex Stewart
(2005)
The Big 18. Live Echoes of the Swinging Bands
by The Big 18;Buck Clayton;Charlie Shavers;Rex Stewart;Billy Butterfield;Lawrence Brown;Lou McGarity;Dickie Wells;Vic Dickerson;Walt Levinsky;Peanuts Hucko;Hymie Schertzer;Sam Donahue;Boomie Richman;Ernie Caceres;Johnny Guarnieri
( 2009)
Shady Side of the Street
by Rex Stewart
(2010)
Jazz Foundations, Vol. 62 - Rex Stewart
by Rex Stewart
(2010)
With Alex Welsh Band
by Rex Stewart and Alex Band Welsh
( 2005)
Americans in Sweden by Hot Lips Page
(1999)
Rex Stewart 1947-1948
by Rex Stewart (Audio CD - 2002)
Story 1926-1945
by Rex Stewart
(1996)
Rex Stewart 1934-1946
by Rex Stewart
(1999)
Muggsy Spanier and Rex Stewart Horns of Plenty
by Muggsy Spanier and Rex Stewart
( 1989)
Rex Stewart and his Ochestra
Rex Stewart
1957 Cootie and Rex in The Big Challenge: Jazztone
by Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart, and Hank Jones
(1957) - Original recording
1949 by Rex Stewart
(2003)
Rex Stewart & Peanuts Hucko Play Duke Ellington & Benny Goodman
by Rex Stewart & Peanuts Hucko
Trumpet Jive
by Rex Stewart and Wingy Manone
( 2002)
Best of Rex Stewart
by Rex Stewart
(2002)
1948-1949
by Rex Stewart
(2001)
Thea Musgrave: Choral Works
by Thea Musgrave, Harold Rosenbaum, New York Virtuoso Singers, Walter Hilse, and Rex Benincasa
(2004)
Duets & Narration 1963
by Rex Stewart
The Golden Era of Dixieland Jazz - 1887 - 1937 Volume 2
by Buster Bailey, Vic Dickenson, and Rex Stewart
Chatter Jazz : The Talkative Horns of Rex Stewart and Dickie Wells
by Rex Stewart, Dickie Wells, John Bunch, Leonard Gaskin, and Charlie Masterpaolo (Vinyl - 1959) - Original recording
Dixieland Jazz
by various Dixieland legends, Tenor sax Bud Freeman, Trumpet Rex Stewart, Trombone Bobby Byrne, and Clarinet Peanuts Hucko
Newport Jazz Festival: Live
(Unreleased Highlights from 1956, 1958, 1963)
The Best of Joe Pass
by Rex Stewart and Mingy Manone
(1994)
Coleman Hawkins & His Friends at a Famous Jazz Party
by Coleman Hawkins, Jimmy Rushing, Red Allen, Rex Stewart, and Charlie Shavers
Limited Collector's Edition
Duke Ellington's Trumpeters (1937-1940)
by Cootie Williams
(2002)
Skyscraper (1965 Original Broadway Cast)
by Sammy Kahn, Jimmy Van Heusen, Julie Harris, Peter L. Marshall, and Charles Nelson Reilly
( 2002) - Cast Recording
Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra (1927-1976) Hocus Pocus
by Fletcher Henderson, Coleman Hawkins, Rex Stewart, Roy Eldridge, and Red Allen
(1992)
Rex Stewart's 'Hot Club Berlin' Session
Heinz Becker Quintett, Walter Dobschinski
by orig. Schellack
Rex Stewart 1934-1946
by Rex Stewart
( 2002)
Late Date
by Rex Stewart
(1998)
Hard Rockin' Hits - Volume 5
by Bachman Turner Overdrive, Uriah Heep, The Kinks, Rod Stewart, and Procol Harum
(1993)
1947-1948
by Rex Stewart
(1999)
Redhead
by Rex Stewart
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