The recently reactivated Livia Records announces the release of a newly re-mastered edition of Louis Stewart’s milestone and career best solo album, “Out On His Own” on 24th February 2023.
Recorded in late 1976 and released in 1977 (LP and cassette) and CD in 1995, this new edition includes 3 previously unreleased tracks, a 16-page booklet with extensive sleeve notes and several previously unseen photographs.
About “Out On His Own”
“Out On His Own” is a fitting title for Louis Stewart as he is perhaps the only Irish jazz musician to attain international front-rank status. This solo record features a mix of lead only and rhythm with lead tracks with a repertoire of Jazz and American Songbook standards, contemporary composers (Chick Corea, Steve Swallow etc.) plus an interpretation of an Irish traditional tune and a self-composed blues.
The album was recorded in Bray, just south of Dublin, while Louis was at his peak and alternating between playing with Ronnie Scott’s band in London with the best of visiting musicians, and his frequent trips back to Dublin to play to packed clubs and bars.
“Out On His Own” was Livia Record’s first release meeting with excellent press reviews as follows:
“Louis is revealed here as a guitar virtuoso already of considerable maturity. A virtuoso in anyone's language, and … a musician to be spoken of in the same league as Django Reinhardt, Wes Montgomery, or, among contemporary virtuosos, Joe Pass.”
Sunday Times critic Derek Jewell
“a performance of such virtuosity, that very few guitarists of any era could ever hope to match it ...a brilliant combination of melodic inventiveness, harmonic ingenuity, technical virtuosity and sheer joy in playing that seems certain to win for it an outstanding place in the record of Jazz guitar”
Irish Times critic, Ray Comiskey
“Louis is a superbly talented natural musician. In my book he's one of the world's great jazz guitarists”
Ronnie Scott
On Louis Stewart
While revered in Ireland, Louis’ fame was always greater abroad. Towards the end of his life, he gained honours at home as Ireland began to realise that he was one of the great geniuses of modern music, and an Irish artist to stand alongside Heaney, Beckett, and Le Brocquy as one who transcended his artform and earned the respect and admiration of his peers around the world.
Over the course of a long career, Louis Stewart would appear on over seventy albums, and tour the world in the company of some of the foundational stars of the music he loved, including Benny Goodman, JJ Johnson and George Shearing. He was awarded with an Honorary Doctorate by Trinity College Dublin (1998) and Aosdána membership (2009) (Arts Council body to acknowledge outstanding contribution to the creative arts in Ireland). Louis died in 2016.
Gerald Davis and Livia Records
Gerald Davis, a Dublin painter and friend of Louis produced his first 1975 recording ”Louis the First” and then founded Livia Records to release, “Out On His Own”, establishing Ireland’s first jazz record label with a name inspired by the works of James Joyce.
Several other Livia releases followed, each featuring Louis in different line ups: duos, and small to medium size groups, e.g., “Alone Together” “Spondance” and “Super Session”.
Livia ceased operations following Gerald’s death in 2005. With his family’s support, Dermot Rogers started a rediscovery and reactivation project in 2021 that led to this release and has unearthed a wealth of other live and studios recordings that are intended for future releases.
Epilogue
“Out On His Own” still stands as the most personal and completely assured recording that Louis Stewart made under his own name. Thanks to the foresight of original producer, Gerald Davis, and the dedication and hard work of executive producer Dermot Rogers who led the retrieval and reactivation of the Livia archive from obscurity, it can be heard again, and a new generation of listeners can bear witness that such a guitarist as this once lived and played in Dublin’s fair city. Enjoy this one and look forward to more releases from Livia Records.
Where to Buy from February 24th
Online
In Store
Tower Records
7 Dawson St, Dublin, D02 X688
Spindizzy Records
32 The Market Arcade, South Great George's Street, Dublin, D02 DH79
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