A brilliant high-note trumpeter long in great demand for big bands and session work, Lew Soloff was also a distinctive soloist and an expert with the plunger mute. After studying at Juilliard, he freelanced in New York with Maynard Ferguson, Joe Henderson, and Clark Terry, among others, and then was a part of Blood, Sweat & Tears during 1968-1973. Soloff was closely associated with Gil Evans from 1973 on, and also played with George Gruntz's Concert Jazz Band, the Manhattan Jazz Quintet, and Carla Bley; he was also teamed with the colorful trombonist Ray Anderson on several often-humorous recordings. ~ Scott Yanow