Leroy Eliot "Slam" Stewart (September 21, 1914 – December 10, 1987) was an American jazz musician who played the double bass. His special way of playing included using a bow (arco) on the bass while also humming or singing a note one octave higher at the same time. Before he became a bass player, he played the violin. He switched to the bass when he was 20 years old.
Biography
Stewart was born in Englewood, New Jersey, United States. He started playing the string bass while attending Dwight Morrow High School. While studying at the Boston Conservatory, he heard Ray Perry sing while playing the violin. This inspired Stewart to begin playing the bass. In 1937, Stewart joined forces with Slim Gaillard to create a jazz group called Slim & Slam. Their most famous song was "Flat Foot Floogie (with a Floy Floy," released in 1938.
During the 1940s, Stewart worked regularly on recordings with many famous musicians, including Lester Young, Fats Waller, Coleman Hawkins, Erroll Garner, Art Tatum, Johnny Guarnieri, Red Norvo, Don Byas, Benny Goodman, and Beryl Booker. One of his most well-known recordings happened in 1945 when he played with Dizzy Gillespie's group, which included Charlie Parker. From these sessions came famous bebop songs like "Groovin' High" and "Dizzy Atmosphere."
Stewart taught at Binghamton University in Binghamton, New York, and at Yale University. He passed away on December 10, 1987, in Binghamton due to heart failure at the age of 73.
Discography
- Slam Stewart (1946)
- Slam Bam (1971)
- Slamboree (1972)
- Fish Scales (1975)
- Two Big Mice (1977)
- Dialogue (1978)
- Shut Yo' Mouth! (1981) with Major Holley
- The Cats Are Swingin' (1987)
- Benny Goodman Sextet, Slipped Disc, 1945–46 (1990)
- Art Tatum, Art Tatum Live 1951–1953 Volume 6 (2004)
- Joe Turner, Big Joe Turner, Texas Style (Black & Blue, 1971)