Wynton’s Blog

Lew Soloff… Tragic loss for music, irrecoupable loss for trumpet

2:48 am, I get a call from Marcus Printup.
“Man, Lew died.”
“What? Who?”
“Soloff. I think it’s true.”

Tragic loss for music, irrecoupable loss for trumpet. First Wilmer, then CT and now Lew. Damn! All I can think about is how is Jon Faddis handling this? They had the deepest personal and collegial relationship full of mutual respect, admiration and love. And each set a higher standard for our instrument, but together!……it was otherworldly. Both Lew and Jon have always treated me with so I much love and support for which I AM ALWAYS GRATEFUL!

Lew helped so many of us on so many levels there are no words. Always inquisitive, absolutely supportive, thorough musicianship in all styles of music: rock, jazz, classical, Afro-Latin. Musicians of all styles loved him and benefitted from his playing and spirit. He was an unapologetic foodie and lover and supporter of young trumpeters. Lew was always,“Man…have you heard?” Then a string of superlatives about their playing. He had a way of looking at you when he listened to you playing that made it seem like he was playing too. He elevated the lead chair in our Orchestra for 6 years and every rehearsal and concert was an absolute joy.

The last conversation I had with Lew was at CT’s memorial last Saturday. He was standing next to Jimmy Owens and said, “Man, I want to get with you about playing Blues Symphony. I’m playing the trumpet part with the American Composer’s Orchestra.” I looked at him as if to say, “C’mon Lew I can’t tell you shit about playing nothing.” He looked at Jimmy and said, “No man, we play music and the composers are usually dead. I want to hear from a live one.” We just looked at each other and said we’d get together, and the elevator doors closed.

One final thought for now on Lew is his oft heard quote. “Which one of these mouthpieces sounds better?” “They all sounded great Lew.” This is a true loss.

Our trumpet section is sitting at breakfast now trading so many funny stories about Lew. We all played at CT’s memorial, in the church and outside in the freezing cold. This is another type of frost. We have all just spoken to Jon and shared our collective grief. We are posting something we remember about Lew here. I encourage all musicians to do the same so we can give the record to his family.

Lew Soloff probably loved the trumpet more than any person on earth.

Wynton

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Comments

  1. Lew Soloff found time to teach and inspire my son and many other teenagers who played in the Jazz Standard Youth Orchestra, a group led by guitarist David O’Rourke on Sunday afternoons.
    Lew would sometimes visit the kids, listen, encourage, and play with them for a couple hours. Besides being a great musician, Lew was a real mensch.

    William T. on May 25th, 2015 at 3:21pm

  2. I played with Lew as a 19-year old rookie just starting out in NYC getting the gig of my life playing guitar with Dr. John. He was amazing, so supportive, so able to shift styles and always keep the horn section and the rhythm section locked together. He was the epitome of professionalism, class and intense talent–everything a musician should be. It’s hard to imagine how many musicians he’s influenced over the years but for sure his mark is indelible and as wide as the Blood Sweat and Tears horn section.

    Mark LeVine on May 17th, 2015 at 1:06am

  3. I played with Lew as a 19-year old rookie just starting out in NYC getting the gig of my life playing guitar with Dr. John. He was amazing, so supportive, so able to shift styles and always keep the horn section and the rhythm section locked together. He was the epitome of professionalism, class and intense talent–everything a musician should be. It’s hard to imagine how many musicians he’s influenced over the years but for sure his mark is indelible and as wide as the Blood Sweat and Tears horn section.

    Mark LeVine on May 17th, 2015 at 1:04am

  4. Lew and I went way back–to Eastman together, in the Catskill Mountains at Kutsher’s with Danny Leroy’s band, all before he was Lew Soloff! We were both learning and developing. Music–jazz was religion to us and became a huge part of our lives. Families, too, of course. Lew had a big heart, had an enormous capacity for affection, and was tireless in his determination to be really good, and then great. That he touched so many people and brought love to whatever he was doing is the heart of his legacy. I’ll always remember how easy it was to crack him up. He loved to laugh, and I reveled in his silliness!

    Tom Fay on Apr 13th, 2015 at 7:22am

  5. As a rocker who has always played with horns, this dude (Lou Soloff) didn’t know me and has no idea what a huge influence he had on my music life and much of the successes I’ve had over 4 decades – till this day. Blood Sweat and Tears are one of the few amazing jazz ensembles that cracked the rock genre. The trumpet solo in Spinning Wheel among my real fav music moments of all time, and has inspired and resonated in my head frequently for decades. I owed you this thought RIP.
    Good enough for Wynton, certainly good enough for me….gd

    gary dixon on Mar 14th, 2015 at 11:09pm

  6. Lew played the piccolo trumpet in jazz with unbelievable fluency and strength that surpassed many classical performers.. He did it all. When I was around him I only listened to his music and remember his love and concern for others at all times.

    john thyhsen on Mar 10th, 2015 at 9:43am