IN THE NEWS
“Stewardson is an exceptional jazz guitarist and a courageous leader. As a soloist he is full of boundless invention, turning the melody (and he knows what melody is) around on a dime and coaxing the music into places it didn’t know it wanted to go. As an accompanist he’s supportive and strong…” — Jeff Tamarkin, All Music Guide
“Jamie Stewardson is a striking player…[His] guitar has just a touch of distorted bite, recalling early John McLaughlin, or Kevin Eubanks with Dave Holland… This is advanced, tough-skinned music, meticulous in structure but without a hint of academic stiffness.” — David Adler, JazzTimes
"This 9-song set showcases Stewardson's wonderful mix of influences that, while including lots of jazzers, also adds elements of lots of rock players. The interplay between Stewardson and players like Tony Malaby on tenor sax and Alexei Tsiganov on vibes is a joy to hear. This is what jazz is meant to be." — John Heidt, Vintage Guitar.
“Echoes of serialism and Indian Classical music occasionally surface, but are never allowed to choke what is first and foremost an improviser’s freebop outfit… Stewardson’s unique frame of reference and well-chosen instrumentation give this group a refreshing identity.” — Fred Grand, Jazz Review (UK)
“Jazz criticism over the past sixty years has maintained that many performances are either too edgy or too smooth. With the liquid texture of his blues-based guitar performance and the consistent shuffle of his ensemble’s interpretations, Stewardson has come up with an equable solution.” — Jim Santella, All About Jazz
“Jamie Stewardson has stepped up to the composer’s plate and has rallied to the cause…. Stewardson’s compositional bent is something to be reckoned with. He uses rich, precise melodic and harmonic lines to paint his music…” — George W. Carroll, Ejazznews
“Firmly rooted in post bop harmony and odd-metered rhythms, Stewardson and company add an inventive twist to an often staid genre… Stewardson demonstrates the kind of creative potential that so few seem capable of in mainstream jazz.” — Troy Collins, All About Jazz
“4-stars. Stewardson is an excellent young guitarist and even better composer… the music is vibrantly alive and several notches above the pack.” — Ray Comiskey, Irish Times
“Simmering tension over a feeling of just-contained tranquility by an ensemble that bounces and stings on a set of cerebral but approachable compositions makes Jhaptal a very worthy modern jazz offering.” — Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
“Excellent!” — Bob Morello, Boston Post-Gazette