At just 23 years of age, Manchester-born singer Alexander Stewart releases his debut CD All Or Nothing At All, and the act that has captivated Ronnie Scott's, the Pizza Express, Boisdale's, the Hideaway, the Forge—in fact all of London's coolest music venues—can be heard in the company of some of the UK's finest musicians.
'All Or Nothing At All' is released on Monday 5 September on ASM and distributed by Proper Note Distribution.
Alexander has already created a buzz as one of the most precociously talented vocalists of the new generation. With a warm, urgent voice that shows off his early love of Billie Holiday and Tony Bennett, he avoids being a nostalgia act with his judiciously off-beat choice of material and a decidedly contemporary energy level. As well as clever re-arrangements of some of the famous standards, he stamps his mark on great pop songs as well as adding some superb originals, including songs by his pianist and musical director Alex Webb.
He has appeared on stage with Curtis Stigers and Buddy Greco (in a concert from the Cheltenham Jazz Festival broadcast live by BBC Radio 2) and sung live on ITV1's Alan Titchmarsh Show. He has also performed live on BBC Radio London and other local radio stations
All Or Nothing At All features a stellar band of bassist Gary Crosby OBE (whose CV includes Courtney Pine, Jazz Jamaica, Nu Troop and Denys Baptiste), saxophonist Nathaniel Facey (of MOBO-winning group Empirical), trumpeter Freddie Gavita (previously a star of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra) and Andy Chapman (Rhythmica, Ayanna Witter-Johnson). Pianist, arranger and musical director Alex Webb has contributed the original track The Hard Way featuring a guest appearance by Blue Note recording artist China Moses, daughter of legendary singer Dee Dee Bridgewater.
The CD, produced by first-call bassist and producer Andy Cleyndert, ranges from Blondie (Call Me) to the Smiths (Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want), from Sam Sparro (Black And Gold) to Paul Simon (Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover)—with a nod to past masters like Sinatra (Too Marvelous For Words) and Ellington (Jump For Joy). It's a high-energy record with razor-sharp arrangements, augmented by punchy horn charts from US saxophonist Frank Griffith.
The album is released on Alexander Stewart Music (ASM 001) via Proper Note Distribution on Monday 5 September and is launched with a live show at the Pizza Express Jazz Club,
Track listing:
- Call Me (Harry-Moroder)
- No Moon At All (Evans-Mann)
- Young At Heart (Leigh-Richards)
- Black And Gold (Falson-Rogg)
- Too Marvelous For Words (Mercer-Whiting)
- Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover (Simon)
- All Or Nothing At All (Lawrence-Altman)
- Easy To Love (Porter)
- The Hard Way (Webb)
- Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want/Last Night I Dreamed (Morrissey-Marr)
- Jump For Joy (Ellington-Kuller-Webster)
- All The Way (Van Heusen)
Personnel:
Alexander Stewart (vocals) Alex Webb (piano, MD), Gary Crosby (bass), Andy Chapman (drums), Nathaniel Facey (alto sax). Special guest: China Moses (vocals) on 'The Hard Way' Horn section: Frank Griffith ( tenos sax), Freddy Gavita, Robbie Robson (trumpet), Winston Rollins, Adrian Fry (trombone); arco bass on Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover by Andy Cleyndert
Produced by Andy Cleyndert Recorded at Red Gables studio by Dick Hammett in February 2011
Press reaction to Alexander Stewart:
'23-year-old Alexander Stewart ... a new name for many in the audience but already a seasoned performer, Stewart navigated through the demanding Strayhorn songbook with unerring skill and youthful energy and charisma' —Jazzwise.com
'This young rising star complete with good looks and “way too smart enough to be in a boy band" persona is a compelling performer natural and instantly likeable. There's no artifice here or paper-thin elegance, just artfully crafted music in the shape of originals written with/by gifted pianist and songwriter Alex Webb, his man about town MD' —Bluesand Soul.com
'Was this a gig or was this a gig!? Alexander Stewart is one of the best young singers I've heard in many a year' —Bebopspokenhere Blog
'A beautiful voice and such wonderful control of it. He glides effortlessly through his songs ... and some terrific original material written by Alex Webb, his Musical Director. Anyone interested in a star-hopefully-in-the-making, should high-tail it to see him' —Cabaret Scenes magazine
