Back in the late 1980s, whilst taking drum lessons from the late, great Johnny Wadham, GG was lucky enough to get to know Louis Stewart.
Quite possibly the greatest jazz guitarist this country has ever produced, and certainly up there with Rory Gallagher, Gary Moore, Henry McCullough, Dave Evans and Gerry Leonard as one of our country’s finest six-string wonders.
Quite possibly the greatest jazz guitarist this country has ever produced, and certainly up there with Rory Gallagher, Gary Moore, Henry McCullough, Dave Evans and Gerry Leonard as one of our country’s finest six-string wonders.And now, aged just 72, the great man has passed.
We were lucky enough here in Greystones to catch Louis Stewart in action, when he swung by The Hot Spot Music Club almost a year ago, on September 25th, 2015. And, typical of the man, Louis was gracious, self-effacing and, despite his incredible talent and his legendary status, was happy to play in the shadows.
Where all the truly beautiful music happens.
In music, as with all art forms, it’s always the quiet ones that you have to watch. The artists who are clearly not in it for the money, or the power and the glory. Louis Stewart was definitely one such artist.
At the time, we took some shots of Louis, planning to use them for the next time he swung through town. “I should be back shortly enough,” he told us back in September. “I’ve been gigging all my life, and it’s where I’m happiest.
“Right from the start, I could never imagine myself doing anything else with my life…”
Doing what you love, and doing it well, right up until the end – sounds like the perfect recipe for a good life.
