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Chris Doc Stewart

Bebop altoist & ER doctor, Chris "Doc" Stewart continues to cut it up on the jazz scene.

About Me

Chris “Doc” Stewart, prominent ER Doctor for the Mayo Clinic Hospital, is also a world class technician on the alto saxophone. Having said that, Stewart could well be one of the best jazz saxophonists you will ever hear. Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1960, and raised on a farm in Rockford, Stewart was the sixth of nine musical children; everybody in the family played an instrument. Stewart picked up his lifetime instrument, the alto saxophone, when he was just ten. In eighth grade, his family moved to Anaheim, California just three doors down from his future wife. While in high school, Stewart received jazz and classical awards on both the flute and saxophone. Winning a talent contest at Disneyland, gave Stewart the opportunity to be a part of the then vibrant music scene at the Magic Kingdom.

During and after high school, Stewart played gigs and performed with many of the local big bands, sharing the stage with Louis Bellson, Bill Watrous, and Matt Catingub. Stewart also enjoyed a steady gig with the Tashiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabakin Big Band! Stewart developed an interest in clarinet, which sparked him to transcribe all of Eddie Daniels' solos off his “To Bird with Love LP.” As he delved further into transcribing solo's his journey took him to the sounds of Cannonball Adderley. Stewart then began the huge project of transcribing all of Cannonball Adderley's solos, hence the beginning of a sincere interest and deep love of Cannonball Adderley, which would be the basis of his latest release.

Jazz was a passion for Stewart, but at the age of 23, and already married for three years; Stewart hit the proverbial fork in the road and chose the stability of a career in medicine as his source of living. Doctor Stewart has enjoyed many successes in his profession, but his love of music has always been an underlying passion. Twenty years later Doc Stewart's interest in Cannonball was rekindled by the accessibility of information on the legendary Cannonball via the Internet and a revisit to the vast collection of every recording Cannonball ever made. Doc Stewart became inspired and committed himself to creating a 21-volume transcription library of Cannonball solos - a project that is ongoing today. The result, for Doc Stewart was his interest in playing was once again re-ignited!