R.I.P.: Lew Soloff Played Trumpet For BS&T

Lew Soloff

Lew Soloff, a trumpet player who was an early member of Blood, Sweat and Tears and whose jazz career included performances with his own ensembles and with Gil Evans, Ornette Coleman, Chuck Mangione, Maynard Ferguson and other giants of the genre, has died.

He was 71-years-of-age, according to The LA Times.

Soloff suffered an apparent heart attack as he walked down a New York City street Saturday night with his daughter Laura Solomon, her husband, and their children. He died early Sunday, Solomon said.

Soloff joined Blood, Sweat and Tears in 1968, about a year after the mega-group formed. He performed on their hit "Spinning Wheel" shortly after signing on with them. He played trumpet and flugelhorn on numerous Blood, Sweat and Tears recordings and was featured on the group's eponymous album that in 1970 won a best-album Grammy.

Soloff traveled the world with Blood, Sweat and Tears until he parted with the jazz/rock band in 1973, grateful for the exposure he had gained but yearning for the kind of free-form musical invention that he felt more accurately defined him.

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