Luke Stewart (musician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Luke Stewart
Luke Stewart in Red Hook, Brooklyn.
Background information
Born	Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Genres	experimental, free jazz, avant-garde jazz, free improvisation, post-rock, noise, art punk
Occupation(s)	composer, improviser, bassist, multi-instrumentalist
Instruments	Double bass, bass guitar, alto saxophone
Labels	Astral Spirits, International Anthem, Atlantic Rhythms

Luke Stewart is a very talented musician. He is known for playing the upright bass and bass guitar. He also plays other instruments like the alto saxophone. Luke is a composer, which means he writes music. He is also an improviser, creating music on the spot.

He leads his own group called the Luke Stewart Exposure Quintet. He is also a member of several other bands. One of his well-known groups is Irreversible Entanglements. This group won an award in 2018 for their unique music.

Since 2010, Luke has helped run CapitalBop. This is a group that supports jazz music in Washington, D.C. He helps organize concerts and writes about music for their website. In 2020, a famous music magazine called DownBeat named him one of the "25 for the Future." This means they saw him as an artist who would help shape music for years to come.

Luke has played and recorded with many other musicians. Some of these include Camae Ayewa, Jaimie Branch, and Thurston Moore.

Luke Stewart's Early Life and Music Journey

Luke Stewart grew up in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. When he was younger, he learned to play the saxophone, violin, and guitar. In high school, he started playing the electric bass.

He began college at the University of Mississippi. In 2005, he planned to move to Washington, D.C., for an internship. But then Hurricane Katrina hit his home state of Mississippi. Luke decided to stay in D.C. and transferred to American University. There, he also studied how to record and produce music. Later, in 2019, he earned a master's degree from The New School. This degree was in Arts Management and Entrepreneurship.

Getting Started in Music and Radio

After moving to D.C., Luke often went to and played at jazz and rock concerts. These concerts featured new and experimental music. He also worked at a jazz radio station called WPFW. He eventually hosted his own weekly jazz radio show. He also helped with music production at the station.

In 2010, Luke met Giovanni Russonello. Giovanni had just started CapitalBop, a group that supports jazz music. Luke began writing for CapitalBop and later helped run the organization. In 2019, CapitalBop received a large grant to help their work.

Joining Irreversible Entanglements

Luke met Camae Ayewa, also known as Moor Mother, while playing in a band called Laughing Man. In 2015, Luke joined Camae Ayewa and other musicians to form Irreversible Entanglements. This group plays a type of music called "free-jazz." They aim to create music that feels freeing and open.

Irreversible Entanglements has performed at important places like the Kennedy Center. Their music has also been featured on many "best-of" lists. These lists include ones from NPR Music and Stereogum.

Luke believes that when musicians play together, everyone should be equally important. He wants his music to show that no one person is more important than another in a band. In 2021, he was a special artist at Pioneer Works in Brooklyn.

Luke Stewart's Music Albums

Luke Stewart has released many albums, both as a leader and with other musicians. Here are some of his main projects.

Albums as a Leader or Co-Leader

Albums as a Side Musician