Artist description Jazz Fusion Guitar w/Dennis Chambers on Drums, Gary Grainger on Bass, and Gary Thomas on Sax

Music Style Jazz Fusion

Musical Influences Al Demiola, Part Martino, Kenny Burrell, Django Reinhardt, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock

Similar Artists Al Demiola

Artist History Forget the American Dream, Stuart Hart is optimistically going for the Impossible Dream. After seven years of being sidelined with a career threatening case of tendonitis, which forced Hart into becoming a suit and tie, he is once again pursuing his goal to become a notable jazz guitarist. Setback after setback cannot keep this ambitious and experimental guitar virtuoso away from his music. He is driven by the endless possibilities of Jazz, thus naming his debut album, Inner Voice (Mother West Records), after his former band, and yes, his motivation. Stuart got turned onto the guitar at 16. Not the progeny of a musical family, he started out tinkling around with some basic chords. With an affinity for classic rock, it was not long before Hart was rocking on his own along with an early influence, Ozzy 0sbourne's guitarist, Randy Rhodes, who he is quick to point out was a deceptively melodious guitar player. By the time he was 18 at Towson University, Hart had been turned on to jazz and discovered that a G chord isn't just a G chord. With jazz, he found dozens of ways for music to reinvent itself. He began listening to and learning from the greats-from Trane, Davis and Hancock to Kenny Burrell, Pat Martino and Django Reinhardt. He spent 12-14 hours a day practicing, becoming a renowned jazz guitarist in the Baltimore area. Too transfixed with the music to even get up and stretch, hunched over his guitar and sheet music, a debilitating case of tendonitis in Hart's right arm kicked in just as he was about to start his final exams as a music major. With no earned marks to complete his major, he was forced to come up with a backup plan. Still of the same mind frame to do one thing and do it well, Hart became a CPA and way before long, built a multi-million dollar mortgage banking firm from the ground up. But with such a large and successful firm came all the aggravations, which gave way to putting in the same 14-hour days. The financial rewards were simply not worth the toll the job took on his family life and his soul and Stuart needed a release. The way out came in the form of a physical therapist that was able to help Hart regain the use of his arm. In 1997, he began playing again. His bright reputation that had waxed seven years earlier had not completely waned and Stuart started making some phone calls to some great area musicians to sit in with him for his new album. He began performing and/or recording with Paul Bollenback, the prodigious jazz guitarist, as well as bassists Gary Grainger and Scott Ambush (Spyra Gyra) and other innovators in modern and jazz fusion. As with all Hart's work, the album is a deeply personal labor of love. The album, along with one of the band's first public appearances, is dedicated to his mother, whom he lost in a tragic drunk driving accident. Recalling her inspiration and how supportive she was of him, he donated $10.00 from each $30.00 ticket to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.). He raised over $1,500 for the organization, proving once again that his heart is in his music and his music is in the right place. Finding more time to be a family man with his wife and young son, while returning to his music as well, Stuart has a deep appreciation for and a new lease on life. He aims to make as much headway in his music career as he can. Perhaps the best example of this philosophy is found at the end of Inner Voice on the track "Instrumentality," truly a unique blend of modern jazz. He simply loves recording and playing, rejuvenated by his first passion. Despite the hurdles and the anguish, Hart is tough and determined, finding a positive light in everything- ##### For interview requests or more information on Stuart Hart, contact Hoopla Media and Public Relations at (323) 852-9444.

Group Members Stuart Hart - Guitar, Paul Bollengack - Guitar, Dennis Chambers- Drums, Mark St. Pierre-Drums, Matthew Garrison-Bass, Gary Grainger-Bass, Craig Lee-Bass, George Hazelrigg-Pinao, Evan Miller-Keyboards, Tony Liberto-Saxophone, Gary Thomas-Saxophone

Instruments Guitar, Drums, Bass, Piano, Sax

Albums Inner Voice

Location Columbia, MD - USA

Copyright notice. All material on MP3.com is protected by copyright law and by international treaties. You may download this material and make reasonable number of copies of this material only for your own personal use. You may not otherwise reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, or create derivative works of this material, unless authorized by the appropriate copyright owner(s).