Leroy Eliot "Slam" Stewart (September 21, 1914 – December 10, 1987) was an American jazz double-bass player whose trademark style was his ability to bow the bass (arco) and simultaneously hum or sing an octave higher. He was a violinist before switching to bass at the age of 20.

Biography

thumb|Stewart at [[Keystone Korner, San Francisco, California, on April 28, 1981|left|228x228px]]

Stewart was born in Englewood, New Jersey, United States, and began playing string bass while attending Dwight Morrow High School. While attending the Boston Conservatory, he heard Ray Perry singing along with his violin.

Discography

Studio albums

  • Slam Stewart (1946)
  • Slam Bam (1971)
  • Slamboree (1972)
  • Fish Scales (1975)
  • Two Big Mice (1977)
  • Dialogue (1978)
  • Shut Yo' Mouth! (1981) with Major Holley
  • The Cats Are Swingin (1987)

As sideman

  • Benny Goodman Sextet, Slipped Disc, 1945–46 (1990)
  • Art Tatum, Art Tatum Live 1951–1953 Volume 6 (2004)
  • Joe Turner, Big Joe Turner, Texas Style (Black & Blue, 1971)

Filmography

  • Hellzapoppin (1941)
  • Almost Married (1942)
  • Boy! What a Girl! (1947)

References

  • Audio of Slam Stuart improvising at a 1970 Binghamton Symphony concert on YouTube
  • A Slam Stewart Biography via Internet Archive
  • Slam Stewart and other jazz musicians on Don Gabor's Continental Records at www.soundfountain.org
  • Slam Stewart solo transcription of "I Got Rhythm" at Back Beat Magazine