Let us celebrate.

Oh dear, I hear you saying, if he ever had it in the first place, the Sunday Tribune's jazz correspondent has finally lost it.

Too many dark days spent labouring over a keyboard, craning to hear the scratchings and noodlings of the avant garde.

Too many late nights seeking out the dens of improvisation and iniquity where the light rarely shines and the beer is dark and bitter.

It is no exaggeration to say that Dublin needs a regular gig from its talismanic guitarist. Quite apart from the sheer cultural value of having a weekly residency from one of the world's most celebrated jazz guitarists, successive generations of jazz musicians have been inspired to take up their quixotic calling by hearing Stewart play. For members of the now old guard like Tommy Halferty and Tom Harte, to young lions like Simon Jermyn and John Moriarty, Stewart has been a beacon of instrumental excellence, and proof that Irishmen can play bebop with the best of them.

A new gig generally means a new band, and as usual, Stewart has drawn the very best of the younger generation to his group.

Pianist Myles Drennan is a longtime colleague, whose finely honed instincts provide the combination of fluidity and support that any good improviser needs. Drennan's lazy style belies a formidable musical intelligence which can sense the ebb and flow of the leader's solos, and guide the harmony wherever it is required.

Joining Drennan is a rhythm section from the very top drawer in the Dublin scene. Bassist Dave Redmond has become the standard-bearer for double bassplaying in Ireland, with a big tone and propulsive sense of time that can be heard in the Phil Ware trio as well as various occasional groupings such as Oldsquarelines, whose recent debut album contained original compositions by Redmond.

Performing the drumming duties in Stewart's new group is Sean Carpio, who has become ubiquitous in recent years.

Capable of performing bebop and the avant garde with equal assuredness, Carpio reached the front row in Dublin jazz while still a young musician, playing in several of Ronan Guilfoyle's challenging groups as well as his own excellent Rocket projects.

The group is completed by flautist Colm O'Sullivan, who deserves credit for his tireless promotion of Stewart and his music. They are to be found this and every Thursday in the Bleu Note on Capel Street, where doors open at 8pm for the very reasonable consideration of 5.

Stewart is also set to join Scottish fellow guitarist Jim Mullen for a very special Christmas version of Phil Ware's summit at JJ Smyths in December. Every Monday, pianist Ware and his trio, including Redmond, are joined by a different guest musician for an evening of standards at the Aungier Street venue, and next month sees the return of the ebullient Mullen. But as if one world-class bebop guitarist wasn't enough, Ware has engineered a meeting between two by persuading Stewart to attend as well. JJ's hallowed upstairs room is likely to be even tighter than usual on the 18 December, but it will be worth it.

When Louis Stewart is on form, there are few musicians alive who can play bebop with such effortless artistry. And even when he isn't, he leaves most of his fellow musicians in his wake.

Don't miss any of the now weekly opportunities to hear him do just that.