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Artist: Louis Stewart
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Louis Stewart:

LOUIS THE FIRST

Louis The First was released on Hawk Records, a local showband label. Following its success, the album’s producer, Gerald Davis, set up Livia Records, Ireland’s first jazz label, in 1977. Gerald, a Dublin painter, arts polymath, creative entrepreneur, and friend of Louis, based the label’s name on Anna Livia Plurabelle, a character from literary giant, James Joyce’s novel, Finnegans Wake.

Other Livia releases followed, each featuring Louis in different line ups: duos and small to medium size groups, and including Alone Together with flautist Brian Dunning, Spondance with Jim Doherty and Super Session with fellow guitarist Martin Taylor, plus other previously unreleased recordings.

Livia closed following Gerald’s death in 2005. With his family’s support, Dermot Rogers started a    reactivation project in 2021 that led to this release* and has unearthed a wealth of other live and studio recordings that are intended for future releases.
*(Out On His Own and Some Other Blues were released on Livia Records in 2023)

Louis Stewart:

Out On His Own

Livia Records announces the release of a newly re-mastered edition of Louis Stewart’s milestone and solo album, “Out On His Own”. Released in 1977 on LP and cassette and on CD in 1995, this new edition includes 3 previously unreleased tracks along with a 16-page booklet with several previously unseen photographs. “Out On His Own” is a fitting title for Louis Stewart as he is perhaps the only Irish jazz musician to attain international front-rank status. This solo record features a mix of lead only and rhythm with lead tracks with a repertoire of Jazz and American Songbook standards, contemporary composers (Chick Corea, Steve Swallow etc.) plus an interpretation of an Irish traditional tune and a self- composed blues.

The album was recorded in Bray, just south of Dublin, while Louis was at his peak and alternating between playing with Ronnie Scott’s band in London with the best of visiting musicians, and his frequent trips back to Dublin to play to packed clubs and bars. “Out On His Own” was Livia Record’s first release meeting with excellent press reviews as follows: