Stewart, Louis: Out On His Own (CD)

The 1977 solo album by Louis Stewart - Ireland’s major contribution to world class jazz guitar playing - was reissued in November 2023.

Recorded when Stewart was playing at his formidable peak and alternating between touring with saxophonist and legendary jazz club owner Ronnie Scott and making trips back to play in packed Dublin clubs bars, Out On His Own is aptly named. Tracks feature Stewart playing alone and to his own rhythm tracks.

The album also captures Stewart in the form that enabled him to engage with top-flight musicians including Benny Goodman, George Shearing and Tubby Hayes and to lead recording sessions including "I Thought About You" with pianist John Taylor, bassist Sam Jones and drummer Billy Higgins.

Selections include Great American Songbook standards and tunes by Chick Corea, Steve Swallow and Antonio Jobim plus Stewart’s interpretation of the traditional 'She Moved Through The Fair' and a self-composed blues.

Recorded in late 1976 in Bray and released the following year, the album now comes with three previously unreleased tracks, a 16-page booklet with extensive sleeve notes and several previously unseen photographs.

1. Blue Bossa
   
2. Windows
   
3. Darn That Dream
   
4. Wave
   
5. She Moved Through The Fair
   
6. Make Someone Happy
   
7. I'm All Smiles
   
8. Stella By Starlight
   
9. Lazy Afternoon
   
10. Invitation
    
11. I'm Old Fashioned
    
12. General Mojo's Well Laid Plan
    
13. What's New