Louis Stewart - with Sandro Gibellini, Rufus Reid, Norma Winstone and Myles Drennan, Weds August 8 2007, 8.30pm

Born in Waterford , Ireland , guitarist Louis Stewart began his musical career in the early 60s as a member of the Dublin jazz scene. In 1968 he received and invitation to the Montreux Jazz Festival together with the Jim Doherty Quartet. He came away with the press award for “Outstanding European Soloist of the Festival”. The following year – again in Montreux- he won the “Grand Prix de la Radio Suisse Romande”. He turned down a scholarship to Berklee School of Music, Boston , because at the time he was with Tubby Hayes' Quartet and Big Band and had been engaged by Benny Goodman for three European tours.

In the 70s and 80s he continued to enhance his standing in both the UK and the USA, as a member of the Ronnie Scott Quartet in London and playing and recording with Stephane Grappelli, Don Burrows, George Shearing and others. He also toured Europe , attracting considerable attention everywhere he played. An award winning composer, he has written a number of pieces based on the works of James Joyce, several of which appeared on the albums Milesian Source and Joycenotes.

His playing with Scott's quartet, on his solo and duo albums and on recordings with George Shearing, Clark Terry, Martin Taylor and Heiner Franz among others, his brilliant sound allied to a crystal-clear tone has helped make Stewart one of the outstanding guitarists in history of jazz. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by Trinity College Dublin in 1998.

Louis has appeared at many international jazz festivals and this is his first co-appearance with Sandro Gibellini at the Tuscany International Jazz Festival in 2005. They will be accompanied in Sligo Jazz Festival by Myles Drennan on Drums, with whom Louis performs regularly on the Dublin scene,and the great Rufus Reid on bass. Norma Winstone will join this quartet as special guest for a memorable night's music.