Biography

Dr. Chris Stewart now known as “Doc Stewart” once stood at the crossroads of life and opted for a career in medicine over his alto sax. The emergency room is still a happening scene for him at the Mayo Clinic, but his fans are glad he never cut out of the gig. Doc Stewart has kept his chops in shape jamming and recording with big bands and artists like Louis Bellson, Tom Kubis, Matt Catingub, Toni Tennille, Bill Watrous, Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabakin, Woody Herman, Phil Woods, Eric Marienthal, John Patitucci, and others. Jazz critic Leonard Feather writes in the LA Times: “The lead alto saxophonist, Dr. Chris Stewart, practices emergency medicine for a living, but [leads] the reed team flawlessly.” His roots sink deep into Hard Bop having listened to the alto greats Charlie Parker, Phil Woods, and Jullian “Cannonball” Adderley. He possesses nearly every known recording of Cannonball and Bird. He has transcribed over six hundred of Cannonball’s solos and hundreds of Bird’s solos and has published with Hal Leonard Music. This, he says, is where he learns most of what he knows. He recorded “Supersax” arrangements of several Cannonball solos while actually playing Cannonball’s very own alto saxophone heard on Matt Catingub’s Your Friendly Neighborhood Big Band album. This love affair with Cannonball’s recordings exudes from his playing but clearly he has developed his own contemporary style without ever losing sight of his Be-Bop roots. A regular at the Studio Café in Newport Beach, you could catch the smokin’ Chris Stewart Quartet in the 1970’s & 80’s. Now playing regularly again, Doc Stewart is sounding better than ever. Reunited with his Southern California childhood musical protégés for a big bad session, he produced the CD Code Blue - Grammy nominated in 2015 for best jazz ensemble. Doc has authored three books with Hal Leonard Publishing. The latest is the Charlie Parker Omnibook, Volume 2 which was released at the January 2019 NAMM show. He has come a long way since winning the Disneyland High School Talent Showcase.