February 20, 1944 – March 8, 2015

Trumpeter Lew Soloff was born on February 20, 1944 in Brooklyn, New York.

He studied trumpet at the Eastman School of Music and Juilliard.

Soloff, who first recorded in 1966 and was in the Maynard Ferguson big band, was a regular member of Blood Sweat & Tears during 1968-73, appearing on all of their key records and also working with Mongo Santamaria.

A superb lead trumpeter who was also a strong jazz soloist, Soloff kept very busy during his career.

Among his many musical associations were playing with Members Only, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the Mingus Big Band, the Manhattan Jazz Quintet, Gil Evans and Carla Bley; he also led at least eight albums of his own.

Here is Lew Soloff early in his career playing at a concert in Barcelona, Spain in 1976.

-Scott Yanow

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