After completing a globetrotting tour with Brooklyn-Bhangra band Red Baraat, multi-talented trombonist/songwriter, Ernest Stuart is releasing a solo EP Love/Loss nationally on iTunes and Amazon.com on July 22, 2014. The three tracks will also be available for streaming on Spotify and Soundcloud. Listeners can stream the EP from www.erneststuart.com via Soundcloud or through their own Spotify account effective July 22.
Love/Loss is the long awaited follow up to the artist’s critically-acclaimed 2011 debut Solitary Walker, a sophisticated jazz CD steeped in the tradition of Philadelphia soul. Featuring nine tunes with four original songs, all tracks on Solitary Walkerwere arranged by Stuart.
After completing Solitary Walker, Stuart became a member of Red Baraat touring throughout North America, Europe and Australia. The group appeared at prestigious American music festivals such as Austin City Limits and SXSW Music Festival, among others. They were also invited to perform for NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kQD1P0_KUs&feature=youtu.be
“I traveled extensively over the past four years (the time since my last recording) and I’ve grown up. Musically my palette has been blown wide open, allowing me to take in influences from more sources than ever. I now try to convey feelings and stories, musically, without being boxed-in by genre,” said Stuart.
Love/Loss marks the first time Stuart has written and recorded from a genre-less perspective. His goal was to simply make music and not be tied down to a specific music style — jazz, R&B, hip-hop or rock. The outcome surprised him. He loves this new chapter is his music career with a focus on the art of making music. The three tracks are named after important moments in his life and below are links to the individual tracks.
4) “BMJ or Big Mama Jamma” is the character his mother would assume when chasing his sister and him around the house when they were small children.
5) Okay, One More for Razzy” is about an ex-girlfriend, who he didn’t appreciate as much as he should.
6) “Coldest Day of the Year” is about one night when he returned back to Philadelphia from New York City in mid-January and not having a place to go.
The EP cover photo “Plouf” was used by permission from internationally acclaimed water, surf and fine art photographer, Franck Berthout.
Prior to releasing Solitary Walker, Stuart made a name for himself as a gifted trombonist who shared the stage with legendary musicians such as The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Branford Marsalis, Billy Paul and The O’Jays. He has also played with The Roots, the house band for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as well as The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Reggie Workman, Terrell Stafford and Anthony Wonsey, among others.
About Ernest Stuart
Ernest Stuart’s love for music began at the age of 12, when he dreamed of playing the saxophone. His mother, a single parent of two, could not afford to buy the instrument, but he signed up anyway for a beginner’s music class without having an instrument or his mother’s consent. To avoid being kicked out of class, Stuart was given three options for sax substitutes: tuba, baritone horn or trombone. He picked the trombone and never looked back. He studied classical music and jazz in high school performing in top district orchestras and earning numerous awards in local Philadelphia jazz competitions. He attended Temple University in Philadelphia earning a B.A. in Jazz Performance.
While attending Temple University Ernest Stuart became known as a versatile trombonist who could play various styles of music from jazz, salsa, R&B, neo-soul to hip-hop. After college Stuart moved to New York City, where he was a freelance jazz musician performing at clubs such as The Village Vanguard, The Iridium, Smoke and The Blue Note, among others. In 2010 he returned to Philadelphia to record his debut CD Solitary Walker, which was released in 2011. In 2011 he became a member of the Brooklyn-Bhangra band Red Baraat, and continues to tour the world with them.
For more information on Ernest Stuart visit http://erneststuart.com/.
