Way back in the day, the music industry devised the term “supergroup” to denote a collaborative project featuring individual members of different bands that were commercial powerhouses. (Blind Faith, with Cream’s Eric Clapton and Traffic’s Steve Winwood, was among the first to be so designated.) Eventually, the term became diluted when it was applied indiscriminately to generate interest in any band that featured members associated with larger acts — say, a new group with the drummer from The Association and the second cousin of the guitarist from Looking Glass.
Thankfully, the term has generally returned to its rightful place in music’s lexicon due largely to a proliferation of projects that are comprised of an impressive array of ridiculously talented players from sources that are both hugely successful and critically lauded (even if relatively obscure). The New Stew is one such outfit. At the mic is Corey Glover, lead singer with the popular Rock band Living Colour, and that would be enough to raise interest. But wait, as the purveyors of Ginsu knives once implored, there’s more.
The New Stew features a murderer’s row of musical greatness: lap steel/pedal steel player Roosevelt Collier (The Lee Boys); percussionist Yonrico Scott (Derek Trucks Band, Royal Southern Brotherhood); guitarist Dave Yoke (Susan Tedeschi, Dr. John); pianist Matt Slocum (Col. Bruce Hampton’s Aquarium Rescue Unit, Oteil & the Peacemakers); and drummer Jared Stone (Stone’s Stew). It’s a mind-boggling collection of talent and chemistry.
While the potential for original music from The New Stew would seem to be limitless, the band formed with the intent of paying tribute to and reimagining albums that meant a lot to the musicians. The initial undertaking focuses on one of the best live albums ever released — Bill Withers’ Live at Carnegie Hall. The band’s limited weeklong string of shows (which launches in Cincinnati) is the first in a series that will find The New Stew honoring other full albums in a similar fashion.
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This article appears in Apr 27 – May 4, 2016.