Album lore

Then & Now, released in 2020 on Postcards Records, finds tuba virtuoso Bob Stewart in the company of Taj Mahal and trombonist Steve Turre, blending jazz funk with various strains of blues. The ten tracks range from the traditional — as heard in “Fishin’ Blues,” featuring Mahal’s distinctive vocals — to more expansive grooves like “Nubian Stomp,” where Stewart’s low brass anchors the rhythm. The inclusion of “King Porter Stomp” nods to jazz’s deep past, while originals like “Big Kneed Gal” showcase a supple dialogue between brass and blues guitar.This record’s pulse is rooted firmly in American musical vernacular, traversing classic and modern blues alongside jazz improvisation. Stewart’s tuba, rarely the lead voice in such settings, commands attention throughout, weaving through Afrobeat textures and blues rock inflections alike. The interplay between Stewart, Mahal, and Turre offers a fresh articulation within the lineage of jazz and blues, making Then & Now a quietly compelling artifact for those who cherish genre intersections with a brass edge.

Album lore

Then & Now, released in 2020 on Postcards Records, finds tuba virtuoso Bob Stewart in the company of Taj Mahal and trombonist Steve Turre, blending jazz funk with various strains of blues. The ten tracks range from the traditional — as heard in “Fishin’ Blues,” featuring Mahal’s distinctive vocals — to more expansive grooves like “Nubian Stomp,” where Stewart’s low brass anchors the rhythm. The inclusion of “King Porter Stomp” nods to jazz’s deep past, while originals like “Big Kneed Gal” showcase a supple dialogue between brass and blues guitar.This record’s pulse is rooted firmly in American musical vernacular, traversing classic and modern blues alongside jazz improvisation. Stewart’s tuba, rarely the lead voice in such settings, commands attention throughout, weaving through Afrobeat textures and blues rock inflections alike. The interplay between Stewart, Mahal, and Turre offers a fresh articulation within the lineage of jazz and blues, making Then & Now a quietly compelling artifact for those who cherish genre intersections with a brass edge.