Trumpeter Lew Soloff dies at 71

Trumpeter Lew Soloff died on Satrurday aged 71 after suffering a heart attack. Soloff had a long and celebrated career as a jazz trumpeter and key member of the funky jazz-rock band Blood, Sweat and Tears. 

He played with Latin jazz big band leaders Machito and Tito Puente in New York and jazz men Maynard Ferguson and Gil Evans. Soloff spent five years with Blood, Sweat and Tears from 1968 after Randy Brecker departed. As a much in demand studio session player Soloff played on albums by George Benson, Stanley Clarke, Roy Ayers, Art Garfunkel, Carla Bley and Frank Sinatra and was a member of the Manhattan Jazz Quartet. Like many great jazz musicians he also taught music, spending over 20 years at top schools like Julliard and the New School in New York.

Soloff had joined his family to spend quality time when he suffered the heart attack after visiting a restaurant and collapsed in front of his daughter and grand children. 

His daughter Laura posted on Facebook, “My dad was amazing. He loved his grandkids. He loved my sister and me. He was one of the greatest trumpet players in the world and I'm so proud to be his daughter. I'm so happy to carry on a fraction of his musicality in the now rare moments that I pick up my violin. Dad had more friends than anyone I know. He was always on the phone. Always. Even when it was totally inappropriate. He was so loved by so many. His life overflowed with people who cared for him. I am so thankful for you all. I am devastated. I can't picture my life or my kids' lives without him in it. It doesn't seem real. It's definitely not fair. But I am so grateful to have spent my dad's last day on Earth together in New York City.”