Bob Stewart

Bob Stewart was born in Sioux Falls, S.Dak., and over the last 40 years has established himself as both an innovative tuba player and equally creative jazz educator. In addition to embracing the tuba’s historical position as the original bass instrument in jazz, his focus on reintroducing it into a contemporary band setting has encouraged many tuba players and band leaders to explore this approach. As a band leader, recording artist, and featured soloist he has been featured on more than 80 recordings. He has performed and recorded with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie, McCoy Tyner, Charlie Haden, Gil Evans, Charles Mingus, Sonny Rollins, Carla Bley, Wynton Marsalis, Jason Moran, Lester Bowie, Elvis Costello, Henry Threadgill, and Arthur Blythe. With decades of experience in public education, Stewart now works with Jazz at Lincoln Center as an educational consultant, New York State Council of the Arts, and has helped create the curriculum for Jazz @ Lincoln Centers Middle School Jazz Academy. He received his bachelor’s degree from Philadelphia College of the Arts and his master’s from Lehman College. Stewart has been a faculty member since 2001.