Thug Life Army

Koch Records in conjunction with 3 Deuces Records continues to bolster its stable of jazz recordings, and announces the release of "Blow," the new album by Michael "Patches" Stewart on March 22nd. The album showcases Stewart's astounding trumpet playing, and boasts guest artists LeDon Bishop, hip-hop’s MC Lyte, Kenny Garrett, rap artist and producer DJ Quik and Will Downing. "Blow" includes new recordings of Stevie Wonder's "Overjoyed" and Herbie Hancock's "Tell Me a Bedtime Story."

Stewart is a protégé of another Koch recording artist, multi-instrumentalist and producer Marcus Miller (Miles Davis, David Sanborn, Luther Vandross, Chaka Khan, etc). All of the tracks on "Blow" were produced and arranged by Miller.

"Patches is a soulful player, influenced by Miles with his own brand of New Orleans funk. The audience cannot help but be moved and respond when he lifts his horn to play," says Marcus Miller.

Stewart originally hails from New Orleans, LA. In his teenage years, he was already a prodigy on the trumpet. It was during his teenage years, when he was invited to his first recording session for the smash Labelle record, "Lady Marmalade."

After moving to Los Angeles, he joined the Brothers Johnson band. Later on, Stewart joined Al Jarreau's band, a gig he kept for six years.

In the nineties, Patches joined Marcus Miller's band, and people really began to hear his solo trumpet voice. Stewart has toured with Miller for the last 10 years, and they will continue to tour together in 2005.