Rory Stuart

Rory Stuart (born January 9, 1956, in New York, United States) is an American jazz guitarist and composer. Although he has performed as a sideman with many renowned jazz musicians, he is best known for his work as leader of critically acclaimed groups and for his role as an educator who has taught many of the rising young stars of the jazz world.

Stuart was exposed during his childhood to jazz through records played by his parents and really became enthusiastic about the music in seventh and eighth grade. When he wrote a paper on Rahsaan Roland Kirk, a seventh-grade teacher, who had played many jazz recordings for the class, arranged for Rahsaan to perform for the class (and then discuss the music) one afternoon at the Village Vanguard. In the eighth grade, pianist Jaki Byard made weekly visits to teach the school’s music class. In high school, Stuart studied classical guitar with Leonid Bolotine. At Stanford University, he began to play jazz guitar and met fellow student and great guitarist Tuck Andress, who was an inspiration and became a lifelong friend. Stuart moved to Colorado where he performed in groups led by Joe Keel (the Action Orchestra), Billy Tolles, Jerry Granelli, Carol Kaye, and he co-led Parameters. In 1981, he moved to New York.

Stuart has performed as a sideman or co-leader with numerous noted artists, including Charlie Rouse, Charles Earland, Brother Jack McDuff, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Ernie Krivda, Larry Coryell, Jeanie Bryson, Bill Doggett, Glenn Wilson, Makanda Ken McIntyre, the Keith Copeland Coalition with John Stubblefield and Joe Locke, Steve Coleman's band with Geri Allen, Graham Haynes, and Cassandra Wilson (Stuart was an early member and contributor to MBASE) and Errol Parker's Tentet In recent years, he has performed in groups with Billy Harper,Sheila Jordan,Reggie Workman, George Garzone, Cecil Bridgewater, Jack Walrath, Jay Clayton, Kevin Hays, Jason Lindner, and John Ellis. He performed and contributed original compositions to Glenn Wilson's recording "Blue Porpoise Avenue" with Marc Copland, Jay Anderson, and Jeff Hirshfield. His compositions have also been performed on recordings by other artists, including Tuck & Patti.

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