DK Stewart

D K Stewart was given an early opportunity to develop his own piano style. The result of his departure from traditional classical piano lessons at age 14 was his discovery of Jazz, Rhythm and Blues. This unusual pursuit at such a young age afforded D.K. the opportunity to meet and perform with a multitude of living blues legends; Big Walter Horton & S.P. Leary, Hubert Sumlin & Sunnyland Slim, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells, James Cotton, Willie Dixon & the All Stars, Albert Collins, Sunnyland Slim, Sonny Terry & Browny Magee, Junior Walker, Clifton Chenier, Ray Charles, Paul Butterfield, George "Harmonica" Smith and BB King. All these influences before he was age 28.

Stewart began his stage career by writing and performing with the "Nighthawks Band" out of Eugene, Oregon. This was the group that inspired the creation of John Belushi's "Blues Brothers", and later became the hardy force of road warriors that introduced Robert Cray to the west coast during the late 70's. DK went on to rejoin Curtis Salgado in the early 2000’s for two more records.

Producing and performing with NW giants Lloyd Jones, Robert Cray, Jim Mesi, and Paul deLay, Stewart inevitably put his stage expertise to work for himself in 1985 by creating the "D.K. Stewart Trio". This effort produced his first solo project "The Sun Valley Sessions"(CR33-07), released in 1988, followed by "No Excuse for the Blues" (CR33-16), released in 1992. This last release of his third solo project "Don't Call Home" (CR-CD010) and induction into the "Muddy Hall Of Fame" by the Cascade Blues Association, has vaulted D.K. into the top echelon of the Northwest's finest performers

Mr. Stewart now performs regularly throughout the Northwest. DK's vocal work is a fine tribute to Chicago-style blues singing mixed in with a little New Orleans soul. This mixture of spicy "Barrelhouse" piano and hard driving southern rhythms, always produces a performance that's hard to forget and easy to dance to.

DK's bands come in various sizes and shapes depending on the nature of any given performance. The DK Sextet has been shaking the foundations of most NW Music Festival stages since it's inception in 2007, and features a wide range of blues and roots music that is tailored for swing dancers and family-style events. This band features the Soul Survivor Horns (Chris Mercer & Joe McCarthy) and the Quartet is more designed for long-range travel and features a hearty band of road dogs who bring the funk, blues, swing and rock. The 3-DK Trio and Trio One feature Mike Klobas on drums (also in the DK Duet) and Joseph Conrad on bass. Saxophonist Tim Jensen solo's with the "Plus-One" quartet as well as both Peter Dammann and other soloists of note from the Portland Music Scene. These smaller versions of the DK bands (Duet and Trio) feature a deeper, more introspective take on jazz stylists such as Percy Mayfield, Charles Brown, Nat Cole and Ray Charles in his formative years.

Send email to receive stage plot and room requirements.