Thus far, Michael "Patches" Stewart's role as a trumpeter has been primarily to fill in for the late Miles Davis. Playing muted with Marcus Miller, Stewart can often sound very similar to Davis during the latter's later years. He became a professional when he was 16, making his recording debut that same year on a Patti LaBelle record. Stewart has since worked with Quincy Jones, David Sanborn, George Duke. and Whitney Houston, and he spent eight years as part of Al Jarreau's backup band. From the mid-'90s on, Stewart's most notable association has been with Marcus Miller in a band that sounds eerily like Miles Davis' final group. In addition to his recordings with Miller, Stewart has recorded his own dates for the Hip Bop label. ~ Scott Yanow