Musicians, fans mourn Banjo Buddies trombonist

Life story

Tim Stewart ~ 1938-2015

By Eileen O. Daday

Daily Herald correspondent

A prominent jazz musician, who played lead trombone for the Banjo Buddies Dixieland Band, has died.

Tim Stewart drove the band's distinctive upbeat sound, with his mastery on the trombone. He had trained classically and brought that high level of musicianship to the band.

Stewart passed away on Aug. 13 after a short battle with Hodgkins lymphoma. The Carol Stream resident was 77.

Known informally as Banjo Buddies, the band has played nearly every festival and parade in the suburbs, from Frontier Days in Arlington Heights and Rotary Fest in Elk Grove Village, to Buffalo Grove Days, all the festivals in Long Grove, and the Schaumburg Public Library's concert series, to name a few.

They also are a familiar sight at the United Center during Chicago Bulls or Blackhawks games, at U.S. Cellular Field during White Sox games and Wrigley Field for Cubs' games. At Arlington Park, the Banjo Buddies entertain customers near the gates as they arrive and then perform in the winner's circle between races.

“Their style put everybody in the mood to have a great time,” says Howard Sudberry, Arlington Park's marketing and communications director.

The band plays roughly 250 shows per year, and they include improvised jazz, Dixieland, swing and big band sound.

“The band can play all different styles, but Dixieland has always been our niche,” says Ann Stewart, banjo player and Stewart's widow.

Stewart grew up in East St. Louis, where as a teen he studied classical trombone with Dorothy Ziegler, first trombonist with the St. Louis Symphony. As he matured, he realized he wanted to play more styles of music, his wife says, and jazz gave him more freedom for improvisation.

As a young adult, Stewart went on to play short tours with Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, Tex Beneke and Glenn Miller, among others.

He moved to Chicago in 1980 and played with the Celebration Dixieland Jazz Band before joining Banjo Buddies in 1985.

“His trombone was always the predominant instrument in our band,” Ann Stewart said. “You'd think it would be trumpet, but we always played things at such a break neck speed, that no other trombone player could have kept up. He just played the instrument like nobody else.”

Verne Rind, the band's drummer and a Carol Stream resident, said Stewart's trombone was what gave Banjo Buddies its signature sound.

“It was always exciting,” Rind said, “but with Tim leading on his trombone, it gave the melody a deeper, rich and mellower tone.”

Stewart also did many of the band's arrangements, which were wide ranging. They played “Hail to the Chief” for several presidents, including George H.W. Bush (in Bolingbrook), Gerald Ford (at a downtown Chicago hotel) and Ronald Reagan (during a campaign stop at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg); as well as holiday standards for their Breakfast with Santa gig at Brookfield Zoo.

At this year's event, Stewart had to come up with an arrangement for “Let it Go,” from Disney's hit film, “Frozen.”

“What Dixieland trombonist can go from playing the South Rampart Street Parade to 'Let It Go' from 'Frozen'?” Ann Stewart asks. “His technique and improvisational skills were bar none.”

Stewart's work over the last 30 years with Banjo Buddies will live on through the Midwest Ballroom radio program, on WDCB 90.9 FM, where host John “Radio” Russell regularly plays their tunes. On Saturday, Russell dedicated a portion of his two-hour program to Stewart's memory.

At Stewart's request, no services have been planned. Instead, donations to the American Cancer Society would be appreciated.