Paul Shaffer, Wynton Marsalis headline concert for Bedford’s Lew Soloff

Paul Shaffer, Wynton Marsalis headline concert for Bedford’s Lew Soloff: A prestigious group of the jazz world’s finest players including Wynton Marsalis and Randy Brecker will pay tribute to their colleague, legendary trumpet player Lew Soloff on Monday, June 8 at 7pm at the John C. Borden Auditorium at the Manhattan School of Music.

Lew, a longtime Bedford resident who is best known for his soaring horn solos in songs like “Spinning Wheel” for the legendary band Blood Sweat and Tears, passed away on March 8 soon after performing a local concert at the Harvey School in Katonah. Soloff was a fixture on the New York jazz scene for over 50 years in a career marked by a longtime collaboration with jazz pianist Gil Evans as well as his work with free jazz, sax pioneer Ornette Coleman. Lew spent six years as first trumpet for the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and appeared in concert and in studio with an incredible list of classical and jazz icons including the classical quintet The Manhattan Brass, The Kronos Quartet, Maynard Ferguson, Clark Terry, Tito Puente, Joe Henderson, George Benson, Benny Carter, Stanley Clarke, Paquito D’Rivera, Miles Davis, Quincy Jones, Lionel Hampton, Herbie Mann, Carmen McRae, Laura Nyro, Mongo Santamaria, Wayne Shorter and Stanley Turrentine, to name just a few.

The musical program for this celebration is under the direction of Soloff’s close friends Paul Shaffer and Noah Evans. Shaffer will also serve as Master of Ceremonies.  Some of the artists taking part include: Wynton Marsalis, Steve Tyrell, Bernie Williams, Randy Brecker, Jon Faddis, Will Lee, Chris Potter, Jimmy Owens, Adam Nussbaum, Ray Anderson, Sammy Figueroa and the classical quintet Manhattan Brass.

The event is free to the public. Mon, 6/8: 7pm. (John C. Borden Auditorium, Manhattan School of Music, 120 Claremont Avenue (entrance on West 122^nd Street, just steps West of Broadway), New York.