Patches Stewart

When you hear Michael "Patches" Stewart play his trumpet, you know immediately he was born and raised in the city where Jazz was born — New Orleans.

It was during his high school years as one of St. Augustine's High School's "Purple Knights" that he acquired his nickname "Patches" from his habit of wearing a variety of patches on his blue jeans. On parade days, some used to say they could hear Patches before the St. Aug marching band came around the corner.

He started to gain a rep around New Orleans and while still a teenager Patches got a call to fill-in at a recording session with Allen Toussaint. It would be his first time in a studio, and it turned out to be an important one -- he was in the horn section session for LaBelle's international hit Lady Marmalade.

Patches' focus on performing led him to L.A. Those first years weren't easy, but he eventually landed a gig touring with The Brothers Johnson. Through them he met Quincy Jones, who remembered Patches when putting together the band for the highly successful The Dude Tour.

Not long after, Patches began touring with another jazz giant — Al Jarreau. In-between tours with Al, Patches could often be found in studio recording sessions or occasionally performing with world class artists like David Sanborn, Anita Baker, George Duke, Bonnie Raitt, and Rickie Lee Jones.

In the 90's Marcus Miller, the Grammy Award winning bassist, composer and producer Marcus refocused his attention on his own projects. Since then, Patches has been a regular in Miller's "best of the best" band of musicians.

To date, Patches has 3 solo CDs to his credit, the latest being the highly respected BLOW, produced by Marcus Milller.

For more information: www.patchesstewart.com