Lew Soloff was born in New York City on January 20th, 1944, was raised in Lakewood, New Jersey. He took up the trumpet when he was ten and was fortunate to have been exposed to recordings of Louis Armstrong and Roy Eldridge from an early age. As a teen he worked in the Catskills in the summer and graduated to the New York scene during the Sixties, playing club dates and concerts at Radio City Music Hall. A brilliant high-note trumpeter long in great demand for big bands and session work, Lew Soloff is also a distinctive soloist and an expert with the plunger mute.

After studying at Juilliard, Soloff played jazz trumpet with several leaders, notably Maynard Ferguson and Gil Evans and the Latin groups of Machito, Tito Puente, and Chuck Mangione. He first came to prominence in 1968 with the Grammy Award winning jazz/rock band Blood Sweat & Tears where he remained for five years. Soloff's extensive performances have included gigs with Ornette Coleman, Frank Sinatra, the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Big Band, Machito, Marianne Faithfull, Barbra Streisand, Carla Bley, Dizzy Gillespie and numerous others.

These days Soloff is busy with a number of other projects, recording 16 albums with the Manhattan Jazz Quintet (he's a charter member of the group formed in 1984), US'N (featuring George Young, Will Lee, Steve Gadd, Rob Mounsey, and Sammy Figueroa), Pocket Brass Band (led by trombonist Ray Anderson), and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra. He recently finished recording a new album with his regular working ensemble The Food Group, comprised of Lou Marini, Joe Beck, Mark Egan, and Danny Gottlieb. He is also a featured member of Carla Bley's 4+4 group.

Lew demonstrates his versatility by playing classical music. A fiery, gutsy player, Soloff's broad repertoire has caused some jazz fans to overlook his work. He is, nevertheless, a musician of considerable depth, integrity and flair.

CD review by Scott Yanow

Trumpeter Lew Soloff is well-known for his virtuosity, versatility and shouting solos. This CD is very much a departure for most of the selections are taken at ballad tempoes, and Soloff is very restrained, usually playing with a Harmon mute in his horn. He is assisted by pianist Mulgrew Miller, bassist George Mraz, drummer Victor Lewis and (on two numbers) his wife, Emily Mitchell, on harp.

Soloff performs four standards (the title cut is the only one taken at an "up" pace and even here he is muted), two standards (the exotic "Istanbul" is most memorable), a melody from a Tchaikovsky symphony and two obscurities. Once one is used to the slower pace (and puts their preconceptions away),
the beauty of this set is apparent. A heartbreaking rendition of "I'm a Fool to Want You" is a highlight.