Les Bloom - selected recordings

Les Bloom  

 

Why did I create this website? I guess it's because I feel that I've had the good fortune to have played with so many outstanding musicians over the years and I realized that I had quite a few reasonably well-recorded sessions that deserve wider public dissemination. While I made this website primarily for my musician friends to once again enjoy the fruits of their labor, I also feel that a larger musically appreciative audience exists. The recordings span the past 40 years, from the award-winning college big band I played in, to some of the more recent things I have done. Unfortunately, I couldn't include every band I've been a member of both for space reasons and because either no recordings or only poor recordings exist for many of these groups. The music is presented chronologically from most recent to earliest with the exception of the first "Collage ΰ Trois" CD, which is, in itself an earliest to most recent compilation of music.

The genres spanned in the included recordings are somewhat diverse, even though there is an overall jazz influence present in all of them. What do I consider the "cream of the crop"? That's a tough one, but I'll try to sort it out a bit. If you're a post-bop jazz enthusiast, you have to listen to "He Is Risen" and "Chant" (Les Bloom - Bruce Dondero Sextet). If you prefer a smoother jazz style, try "Night Walk", "Small Steps", "Unnamed Sources" and "Main Man" (Laughing Out Loud). Are you a free jazz aficionado? Try "Real Time Clock" (either the Laughing Out Loud version or the Tantra version) and "Fair Weather" (Les Bloom Quintet). If you like Miles Davis's electric jazz fusion music, check out the Incognito recordings, particularly "Nazca Plains" or try "Encounter" for a change of pace. Do you like funky, syncopated rock? Listen to "Diggin' on James Brown" (Loose Shoes and the Shoe Horns). How about Chicago and Blood, Sweat and Tears style horn-based rock with tight well-arranged vocal harmonies? Listen to Canon, particularly "Superhighway" and the opening few minutes of "Clown". Are you a blues fan? Try "Punishment Blues" (Les Bloom Quartet). If you like lush, well arranged female vocals, you should listen to "I Can't Make You Love Me" (Alexis Merte). You also have to check out the early work of a superbly talented uncategorizeable hip group of musician composer friends (alternative, folk, jazz, rock??) called Walrus, represented here with "Helen O'Loy" and "TV Twinkle".

The list goes on. I love them all.  I hope you have at least half the enjoyment listening as I've had playing with everyone over the years. Please drop me an email if you have any suggestions or comments at: lebloom @ yahoo.com (delete the spaces).

All the best,

- Les Bloom

- YouTube Channel

 

 

 

An Original Tune:  "Come Back To Me"

 

April, 2020

   COVID-19 symbol

 

 

This song grew out of this anxious period in our history.  My thoughts are with the patients, their families and frontline workers who are sacrificing so much.  On this tune, I used a MIDI keyboard, an alto saxophone, a microphone and Garageband software on a MacBook Pro laptop computer.

Click the image at the left to view the YouTube video of the Garageband digital audio workstation screen.  If you turn on Youtube captions, you can see the lyrics autogenerated by YouTube..

Personnel:  Just me (vocals, keyboards, alto sax, Garageband, mixdown)

 

 

Huron Valley Council for the Arts Jazz Workshop:

 

March 10, 2020

  

 

Joy Spring

This is a regular weekly jazz workshop in Highland, Michigan at the Huron Valley Council for the Arts.  This recording of  "Joy Spring" (Clifford Brown, composer) was made with my handheld digital Tascam DR-40 stereo recorder placed in the middle of the band using its dual, built-in microphones.

The musicians are:

Les Bloom - tenor saxophone
Joe Dorer - bass
Steve Dorer - piano
Nate Haddock - guitar
Steve Williams  - drums

 

 

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Walrus - Two newly released albums on a major record label

Walrus - "Greater Heights" and "Indian Summer"

Album releases - December, 2019

  

If you'd like to listen to a little bit of the music, here are two Amazon links that allow you to sample the tunes before you purchase.  You can also find the albums on Spotify, YouTube and iTunes.

Walrus - "Greater Heights"

Walrus - "Indian Summer"

 

Something really interesting happened recently.  Back in 1973, when I first moved to Ann Arbor, I hooked up with a really talented bunch of musicians and got to join their band.  The band, named Walrus, went into the recording studio and we spent about 100 hours over the period of about a month recording an album of tunes, slightly less than an hour's worth of music.  It was a fantastic experience and I've remained friends with many of the musicians and have been in other bands with some of them.  However, shortly after our recording session, two of the band members moved out of town and the band broke up.  Prior to that time, however, the band had a significant following. The album tape, unfortunately, languished on a shelf and never saw the light of day --- until December 20, 2019.   45 years later!!!

It turns out the album was recently picked up by a rather major record label and released on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and YouTube.  They heard something they liked.  The record label, Fervor Records, licenses its library to major Hollywood television and movie projects.  Many of the tunes from their library are heard on HBO movies and various TV shows. 

Here's an article detailing the complete story.  Unfortunately, it doesn't mention my name, but I was an integral member at the time of the recording until the band broke up and my flute, clarinet and sax are heard throughout the albums.  The link to the story is here:

After 45 years, dreams do come true

 

Walrus – Summer, 1973, recorded at Morgan Sound Studio, Ann Arbor, MI.  Glen Quackenbush – recording engineer

Personnel: Les Bloom – alto sax, clarinet, flute; Jim Bowers – keyboards, tenor sax; Bill Etten – vocals; Don Kuhli – drums; Mike McKelvy – guitar; Randy Tessier – bass, vocals 

 

 

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Some on-going work with our jazz quartet:

"Live" at biweekly jam sessions:

Oct - Nov, 2016

  
 

Easy Living

Half Nelson

Days of Wine and Roses

The Duke

Bemsha Swing

 

Over the past several months, a new jazz quartet has been rehearsing every other week. Well, not really rehearsing - more like jamming.  A tune is called by someone and, whether we know it or not, we read down the melody and improvise over the chord changes.  Our goal has been workshop-oriented as opposed to trying to find an appropriate venue at which to play.  The following recordings were made with my handheld digital Tascam DR-40 stereo recorder using its dual, built-in microphones.  As a result, the sound quality varies somewhat due to varying distances from the musicians.  In addition, since these were jams and not public performances, there are some missed notes and mistakes.  However, there is also, hopefully, some respectable musicianship on display. 

 The musicians are:

  • Les Bloom - tenor sax

  • Steve Dorer - piano

  • Joe Dorer - electric bass

  • Brian Presson - drums

 

 

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Newly Found Recordings (added 11/13/2012):  "Les Bloom - Bruce Dondero Sextet"

Various Venues

"Sue's Changes" - WEMU Jazz Competition 1982:

 

 

 Les Bloom - Bruce Dondero Sextet Bloom in Love Aubree's Schedule Aubree's Schedule CoverFallen AngelsReturn to a Dream Return to a Dream - Harmony Apostacy He Is Risen - p1 He Is Risen - p2 Sunny Side Up Chant

Television Recordings

The following three videos were recorded at the television studios of WIHT, Ann Arbor during a live performance in 1983. Producer/Mixer- Zita Gillis, Director- David Dowdy, Tech. Director- Marty Timmel, Lighting/Camera- Cal Hazelbaker, Camera- Scott Mann, Jim Kruz, Peggy Watson.

 

  1. Milestones (Miles Davis)

  2. This One’s For Clayton (Bruce Dondero)

  3. Fallen Angels (Les Bloom)

 

Personnel:

Andy Adamson – piano

Les Bloom –tenor and alto saxophones

Karl Dieterich – drums

Bruce Dondero – acoustic bass

John Hetherington – trombone

Max Morden – trumpet, flugelhorn 

 

 


Studio Recordings

I recently discovered some old tapes I had forgotten about, and uncovered some rather inspired recordings of the "Les Bloom - Bruce Dondero Sextet" from around 1983, however they sound as fresh now as they did back then.  For now, I'm putting this section at the beginning of the website instead of in its chronological place so it won't get lost and buried.  Also, while not newly found, I'm starting out this section with 3 tunes that were already on this website (below) to group them with the rest of the band's tunes and also to bring them to the forefront.

1.    Chant [5:17] (Kalle Nemvalts) – written by Kalle Nemvalts, the group’s former trumpet player.  Piano solo by Andy Adamson.

2.    He Is Risen [9:13] (John Hetherington) – a compositional masterpiece written and arranged by the group's trombonist John Hetherington.  This is one of the most difficult tunes a band could ever attempt to play, filled with tempo and mood changes, tightly arranged ensemble sections mixed with group free jazz improvisations, yet the group performs it flawlessly.  Solos by everyone.

3.        This One’s For Clayton [6:08] (Bruce Dondero) – Max Morden and John Hetherington display almost telepathic interplay between muted trumpet and trombone in this tune written and arranged by bassist Bruce Dondero.

Les Bloom – Bruce Dondero Sextet – March 13, 1983, recorded at Les Bloom’s home studio. Les Bloom – recording engineer

Personnel:

Andy Adamson – piano

Les Bloom –tenor and alto saxophones

Karl Dieterich – drums

Bruce Dondero – acoustic bass

John Hetherington – trombone

Max Morden – trumpet, flugelhorn 

The first image above is a photo of an earlier (1982) band incarnation. (Clockwise from the left):

 

Les Bloom –tenor and alto saxophones; Bruce Dondero – acoustic bass; Harvey Reed - piano; John Hetherington – trombone; Kalle Nemvalts – trumpet; Karl Dieterich – drums

 

 

Chant

He Is Risen

This One's For Clayton

 

 

Studio Recordings

These 2 tunes are originals that I wrote and arranged. They were recorded at the same recording session as above with the same personnel.

4.    Fallen Angels [2:21] (Les Bloom) – I've just included the opening "head" featuring the horn section backup and me playing the lead on soprano sax. For an earlier live version of the tune by a different group of musicians, click here.

5.    Return to a Dream [8:00] (Les Bloom) – I wrote this tune and arranged the horn section. It's a slow ballad in which I play the melody on the alto sax with horn section harmony followed by an up-tempo double-time middle section featuring a blazing trumpet solo by Max Morden.

 

 

Fallen Angels

Return to a Dream

 

 Live: WEMU Jazz Competition

The following tune was recorded on August 26, 1983 at a live performance at the WEMU Jazz Competition, an annual event which used to occur quite regularly for a number of years, sponsored by the WEMU jazz radio station.  The band had won the competition in 1982 and was first runner-up the year this was recorded.  The recording was taken off the live WEMU radio broadcast mix which was, at times, of varying audio quality due to the pressures of real-time, in-the-moment audio mixing, but still well worth listening to.  The personnel are the same as listed above.

6.    Sunny Side Up [5:13] (Andy Adamson) – a real crowd-pleaser written and arranged by Andy Adamson.

 
 

Sunny Side Up

Live at the "Blind Pig"

These 3 tunes were recorded during a live performance at the "Blind Pig" in Ann Arbor, MI sometime (date unknown) in 1983.  There is a little bit of a "bootleg" quality to the recordings because I recorded them with a portable cassette recorder that I set up on the corner of the stage.  The musicality, however, comes through loud and clear (although I wish the piano came through a little louder).  The personnel are the same as above with the exception that the piano player is Pat Stevanovich instead of Andy Adamson.

7.    Apostacy [10:07] (John Hetherington) – a beautiful Latin-style tune with John Hetherington playing the melody on trombone, backed by horn section harmony followed by up-tempo, double-time feel solos by all the horns and piano. Written and arranged by John Hetherington, 

8.    Footprints [9:16] (Wayne Shorter) – this is the band's take on this post-bop jazz standard by tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter, popularized by the Miles Davis Quintet.  Solos by all the horns and piano.

9.    Au Privave [7:22] (Charlie Parker) – a lightning-fast jazz bebop standard written by alto saxophonist Charlie Parker.  After solos by all the horns and piano, the horn players, in turn, trade four bar sections with the always hard-driving Karl Dieterich on drums.

 

 

Apostacy

Footprints

Au Privave

 

 

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"Bustin' a Gut" with iPhone "backup band":

 

Les Bloom - 2012

"There Will Never Be Another You"

   Powered By YouTube

Impromptu home recording during a surprise visit by an old friend  whom I hadn't seen in over 30 years. The "back-up band" is my iPhone running the iRealB app playing through my stereo system.  I didn't realize I was being recorded until midway through the tune.

Recorded on July 22, 2012

Videographer: Bryan Schuett

 

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Jon Smuk's interpretation of "Real Time Clock":

Jon Smuk - 2011

Real Time Clock

 

   Jon Smuk
 

Real Time Clock (Bloom, arr. Smuk)

 

This is a welcome departure for this website.  Here is a  tune that I wrote, but am not playing on.  Jon Smuk, normally recognized as a very fine Detroit area bass player, in this instance plays all instruments: bass, drums, keyboard, guitar. Arranged and digitally recorded by Jon on March 4, 2011 using ProTools.

Here are links to other versions of this tune on this site:

Real Time Clock - Laughing Out Loud, 1995

Real Time Clock - Tantra, 1981

 

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Some COOL POSTERS from a couple past gigs:

Futuredon Quintet - 2010

  Futuredon Quintet Poster Futuredon Quintet Poster
February 22, 2010

March 10, 2010

Futuredon Quintet – Unfortunately, no recordings exist, but check out the COOL POSTERS (click on the above thumbnails to enlarge).

Personnel: 

Jesse Clayton - keyboards

Bruce Dondero - bass

Tom Stoepker - guitar

Chuck Newsome - guitar

Sam Genson - drums

Les Bloom – tenor, soprano, alto saxophones and wind synthesizer

 

 

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Click on any song below to PLAY INSTANTLY.

Click on any thumbnail below

to ENLARGE.

 

LES BLOOM - 2007

"Collage ΰ Trois"

 Les Bloom - Collage a Trois - CD Case Front  Les Bloom - Collage a Trois - CD Case Back  Les Bloom - Collage a Trois - CD Label
Helen O'Loy

TV Twinkle

Apologies, No Remorse

Dr. Mobius

Chant

He Is Risen

This One's For Clayton

Punishment Blues

Dancer

Small Steps

The Darker Side of Lonely

Real Time Clock

Night Walk

I Can't Make You Love Me

 

1.    Helen O’Loy  [3:07] (Randy Tessier) - a song about a man who falls in love with a female robot.  Based on the classic 1938  science fiction short story by Lester Del Ray. Lead vocal by Randy Tessier, backup vocal by Bill Etten, clarinet “horn section” and clarinet solo by Les Bloom.

2.    TV Twinkle [2:09] (Randy Tessier) -  lead vocal by Bill Etten, backup vocal by Randy Tessier, flute background and solo by Les Bloom. 

Walrus – Summer, 1973, recorded at Morgan Sound Studio, Ann Arbor, MI.  Glen Quackenbush – recording engineer

Personnel: Les Bloom – clarinet, flute; Jim Bowers – keyboards; Bill Etten – vocals; Don Kuhli – drums; Mike McKelvy – guitar; Randy Tessier – bass, vocals 

3.    Apologies, No Remorse [6:10] (Wendell Bigelow) – bass solo by Hugh Hitchcock.

4.    Dr. Mobius [6:06] (Wendell Bigelow) - solos by Les Bloom (tenor sax), Andy Adamson (keyboards) and Hugh Hitchcock (bass). 

Tantra – July 6, 1981, recorded at Les Bloom’s house. “Big Ed” Larned – recording engineer

Personnel: Andy Adamson – keyboards; Steve Armil – guitars; Wendell Bigelow – drums; Les Bloom – tenor and soprano saxophones; Dave Cavender – trumpet; Hugh Hitchcock – Bass; Dave Koether – percussion 

5.    Chant [5:17] (Kalle Nemvalts) – written by Kalle Nemvalts, the group’s former trumpet player.  Piano solo by Andy Adamson.

6.    He Is Risen [9:13] (John Hetherington) – a compositional masterpiece.  Solos by everyone.

7.    This One’s For Clayton [6:08] (Bruce Dondero) – Max Morden and John Hetherington display fabulous interplay between muted trumpet and trombone. 

Les Bloom – Bruce Dondero Sextet – March 13, 1983, recorded at Les Bloom’s house. Les Bloom – recording engineer

Personnel: Andy Adamson – piano; Les Bloom –tenor and alto saxophones; Karl Dieterich – drums; Bruce Dondero – acoustic bass; John Hetherington – trombone; Max Morden – trumpet, flugelhorn 

Les Bloom - Bruce Dondero SextetAt the right is a photo of an earlier (1982) band incarnation. (Clockwise from the left):

Les Bloom –tenor and alto saxophones

Bruce Dondero – acoustic bass

Harvey Reed - piano

John Hetherington – trombone

Kalle Nemvalts – trumpet 

Karl Dieterich – drums

8.    Punishment Blues [3:18] (Richie Cole) – There are 8 million stories in the naked city.  This is just one of them. 

Les Bloom Quartet – recorded live at the Ann Arbor Art Fair, July, 1985 at the Eclipse Jazz Stage

Personnel:  Les Bloom – alto sax; Bruce Dondero – acoustic bass; Steve Dorer – electric piano; Don Kuhli – drums 

9.     Dancer [6:43] (Mike Ager) – a well-crafted studio mix layering live instruments, sequenced midi and sound samples.  Les Bloom solos with 2 horns simultaneously in the style of Rahsaan Roland Kirk. 

Mike Ager Project – recorded in 1998 at Big Sky Recording, Ann Arbor, MI. Geoff Michael – recording engineer

Personnel: Mike Ager – keyboards, sequencer; Les Bloom – alto and tenor saxophones; Pat Sorise – drum tracks 

10. Small Steps [6:19] (Mike Adams) – solos by Les Bloom (soprano sax), Hal Davis (guitar), Jim Merte (piano).

11.  The Darker Side of Lonely [6:25] (Mike Adams) – solos by Les Bloom (tenor sax) and Hal Davis (guitar).

12.  Real Time Clock [4:51] (Les Bloom) – drum solo by Mike Adams. 

Laughing Out Loud – recorded in 1995 at Big Sky Recording and Solid Sound, Ann Arbor, MI.  Geoff Michael and Rob Martens -, recording engineers.  “The Darker Side of Lonely” recorded in 1995 at Omnimedia Group studios, Ann Arbor, MI, Howard White – recording engineer.

Personnel:  Mike Adams – drums; Les Bloom – tenor, alto and soprano saxophones; Hal Davis – guitars; Jim Merte – piano; Ron Patterson – bass 

13.  Night Walk [4:01] (Mike Adams) – solos by Jim Merte (piano) and Les Bloom (tenor saxophone). 

Laughing Out Loud – recorded in 2005.  From the CD “Rolling on the Floor”. Hal Davis and Jim Merte – recording engineers

Personnel:  Mike Adams – drums; Les Bloom – tenor saxophone; Hal Davis – bass; Jim Merte – piano; Jeff Maxwell – electric guitar 

14.  I Can't Make You Love Me [4:44] (Bonnie Raitt) – Lush studio production/arrangement by Jim Merte with the Laughing Out Loud band personnel providing instrumental backing for Alexis’s soulful vocals.  Soprano sax solo by Les Bloom. 

Alexis Merte – recorded in 2004 at Solid Sound, Ann Arbor, MI.

Personnel:  Alexis Merte - vocals  with Mike Adams – drums; Les Bloom – soprano saxophone; Jim Merte – piano, arranger, producer; Jeff Maxwell – guitar, Ron Patterson - bass 

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LAUGHING OUT LOUD - 2005

"Rolling on the Floor"

 LOL - "Rolling on the Floor" - CD Case - Front  LOL - "Rolling on the Floor" - CD Case - Back  LOL - "Rolling on the Floor" - CD Label 
Hello and Welcome

Footprints

Night Walk

Hookah Spookah

Sea Journey

Equinox

 

1.  Hello and Welcome

Composition and arrangement: Mike Adams

Drums: Mike Adams

Keyboards: Jim Merte

Tenor Saxophone: Les Bloom

Bass: Hal Davis

Electric Guitar: Jeff Maxwell

A greeting written for LOL’s 2004 summer concert audiences

 

2.  Footprints

Composition: Wayne Shorter

Arrangement: Terence Blanchard

Drums: Mike Adams

Keyboards: Jim Merte

Alto Saxophone: Les Bloom

Bass: Hal Davis

Electric Guitar: Jeff Maxwell

New rhythms from Terence Blanchard for the Wayne Shorter standard

 

3.  Night Walk

Composition and arrangement: Mike Adams

Drums: Mike Adams

Keyboards: Jim Merte

Tenor Saxophone: Les Bloom

Bass: Hal Davis

Electric Guitar: Jeff Maxwell

A brooding latin number from our prolific drummer

 

4.  Hookah Spookah

Composition and arrangement: Jim Merte

Drums: Mike Adams

Keyboards: Jim Merte

Soprano Saxophone: Les Bloom

Bass: Hal Davis

Rhythm Guitar: Jeff Maxwell

Lead Guitar: Hal Davis

Inspired by the crowd at Oz, one of our favorite gigs in 2004

 

5.  Sea Journey

Composition: Chick Corea

Arrangement: Hal Davis

Drums: Mike Adams

Keyboards: Jim Merte

Soprano Saxophone: Les Bloom

Bass: Jeff Maxwell

Classical Guitar: Hal Davis

An obscure Chick Corea tune, also know as “Song for Sally” adapted to classical guitar

 

6.  Equinox

Composition: John Coltrane

Arrangement: LOL

Drums: Mike Adams

Keyboards: Jim Merte

Tenor Saxophone: Les Bloom

Bass: Hal Davis

Electric Guitar: Jeff Maxwell

A reggae version of the John Coltrane classic

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LOOSE SHOES and the SHOE HORNS - 2001

Live at "Top of the Park"

 Loose Shoes and the Shoe Horns  Dennis and Larry and the Shoe Horns  Powered By YouTube
Wine, Wine, Wine!

Pink Cadillac / Peter Gunn

Hey Baby!

Go To Pieces

Nothin' But A Woman

Diggin' On James Brown

Loose Shoes and the Shoe Horns– recorded live on June 20, 2001 at an Ann Arbor Summer Festival  "Top of the Park"  concert.

Note:  You can either listen to "Diggin' on James Brown"  and/or "Hey Baby" or, if you can stand looking at such a handsome bunch of guys, you can watch the live videos.

Video 1:

"Diggin' on James Brown"

 

Video 2:

"Hey Baby"

 

Personnel: 

Keith Bauserman - trombone, trumpet and vocals

Les Bloom – tenor and alto saxophones

Hal Davis – guitars and vocals

Jeff Ewald – keyboards, trumpet and vocals

Larry Largin – bass and vocals

Dennis Odine - drums and vocals

 

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TIME FRAME - 1999

Live in Redford, Michigan

   Powered By YouTube

Time Frame – concert video of "Divided We Stand"  (composed by Andy Adamson) recorded live on July 27, 1999 at  Capital Park in Redford, Michigan.

Personnel: 

Mike Adams - drums

Andy Adamson - keyboards

Bob Bedard - percussion

Les Bloom – saxophone

Gordy Shelest – guitar

Jon Smuk - bass

 

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LAUGHING OUT LOUD - 1995

"Laughing Out Loud"

 Laughing Out Loud
Unnamed Sources (Bloom)

Nothin' To It (Davis)

Interstate Five (Adams)

Main Man (Adams)

The Darker Side of Lonely (Adams)

Small Steps (Adams)

Real Time Clock (Bloom)

Laughing Out Loud (Davis)

 

Laughing Out Loud – recorded in 1995 at Big Sky Recording and Solid Sound, Ann Arbor, MI.  Geoff Michael and Rob Martens - recording engineers.  "Main Man" and “The Darker Side of Lonely” recorded in 1995 at Omnimedia Group studios, Ann Arbor, MI, Howard White – recording engineer.

Personnel: 

Mike Adams – drums

Les Bloom – tenor, alto and soprano saxophones

Hal Davis – guitars

Jim Merte – piano

Ron Patterson – bass

 

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CONTINUUM - 1992

"Working on a Love Letter"

"Freeway of Love"

 Powered By YouTube

Continuum – recorded in 1992 at Rockman Studios, Detroit, MI.  Produced/directed by Ronnie Rockman.  Jim Hannon - audio engineer.

Personnel: 

Mike Ager – keyboards

Les Bloom – tenor and alto saxophones

Ralph McKee – bass

Pat Sorise – drums

Carolyn Witte – vocals

 

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FREEFALL - 1990

 Powered By YouTube

Freefall – recorded in July, 1990. 

Video 1 (medley):

"My Funny Valentine"

"Since I Fell For You"

"Feel Like Making Love"

 

Video 2:

"Rock Steady"

 

Personnel: 

Les Bloom – saxophone

Hal Davis - guitar

Jeff Ewald - keyboards

Larry Largin – bass

Dennis Odine – drums

Rin Schmidt – vocals

 

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TANTRA - 1981

Live recording session

 Tantra - 1 Tantra - 2Tantra - 3  Tantra - 4Tantra - 5Tantra - 6
Apologies, No Remorse (Bigelow)

Dr. Mobius (Bigelow)

Real Time Clock (Bloom)

1.   Apologies, No Remorse [6:10] (Wendell Bigelow) – bass solo by Hugh Hitchcock.

2.   Dr. Mobius [6:06] (Wendell Bigelow) - solos by Les Bloom (tenor sax), Andy Adamson (keyboards) and Hugh Hitchcock (bass). 

2.   Real Time Clock [4:14] (Les Bloom)

Tantra – July 6, 1981, recorded at Les Bloom’s house. “Big Ed” Larned – recording engineer

Personnel: Andy Adamson – keyboards; Steve Armil – guitars; Wendell Bigelow – drums; Les Bloom – tenor and soprano saxophones; Dave Cavender – trumpet; Hugh Hitchcock – Bass; Dave Koether – percussion 

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LES BLOOM QUINTET - 1981

Live at the 1981 Ann Arbor Art Fair

 Les Bloom Quintet  Fair Weather  Fallen Angels  Waltz
Fair Weather/Fallen Angels (Bloom)

Les Bloom Quintet– recorded in 1981 at the Ann Arbor Art Fair from a live radio broadcast on WCBN radio.  Joe Tiboni – radio host.

Personnel: 

Marc Anderson - guitar

Wendell Bigelow - Drums

Les Bloom – tenor and soprano saxophones

Dave Cavender - trumpet and harmonica

Bruce Dondero – bass

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INCOGNITO - 1979

Live at Mr. Flood's Party - Ann Arbor, MI

 Flood's Schedule - 10/78  Flood's Schedule - 2/79  Flood's Schedule - 3/79  Flood's Schedule - 8/79
Secrets (Jacobi)

Uncle Pete (Jacobi)

Nazca Plains (Jacobi)

Encounter (Bloom)

 

Incognito – "Secrets", "Uncle Pete" and "Nazca Plains" recorded in 1979 at a live performance at "Mr. Flood's Party" in Ann Arbor, MI. Joe Tiboni – recording engineer. "Encounter" recorded by Randy Tessier at his house.

Personnel: 

Les Bloom – alto, tenor and soprano saxophones

Rick Jacobi – guitar and clarinet

Bob Sweet – drums

Randy Tessier – bass

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INCOGNITO - 1978

At the 1978 Ann Arbor Art Fair and with Perry Robinson

 Cobb's Corner Schedule (Outside Cover)  Cobb's Corner Schedule  Delta Lady Schedule (Outside Cover)Delta Lady Schedule  RJ (hidden in tree), Les and Randy  RJ and Les
3rd Stone from the Sun / Flight to Spain

(at 1978 A2 Art Fair) (Jimi Hendrix/Bigelow)

Daydreams

(at 1978 A2 Art Fair) (Jacobi)

Nazca Plains

(with Perry Robinson) (Jacobi)

Secrets

(with Perry Robinson) (Jacobi)

Flight to Spain

(with Perry Robinson) (Bigelow)

 

Incognito – "3rd Stone from the Sun/Flight to Spain" and "Daydreams" were recorded live by WCBN radio at the 1978 Ann Arbor Art Fair. "Nazca Plains", "Secrets" and "Flight to Spain" were recorded by the band at a jam session with internationally renowned avant garde jazz clarinetist, Perry Robinson.

Personnel: 

Wendell Bigelow - Drums

Les Bloom – alto, tenor and soprano saxophones

Rick Jacobi – guitar and clarinet

Randy Tessier – bass

 with

Perry Robinson - clarinet

 

 

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CANON - 1972

Live at the Roundup - Erlanger, KY

 Pete, Rick Powell, Les, Ron and Mike  Canon Newspaper Article - 1972


Superhighway

Clown

Clown (shortened version)

Love of a Woman

Child of Storm

Down to the Bone

Jumpin' Jack Flash

Redemption

Lowdown

Down by the River

Down by the River (shortened version)

 

Canon – recorded in 1972 at a live performance at "The Roundup" in Erlanger, KY.

Personnel: 

Les Bloom - alto saxophone, flute (on "Down by the River")
Dan Conley - trombone, vocals
Ron Crosby - Hammond B3 organ
George Miller - trumpet, arranger
Pete Mollett - bass
Mike Pallotta - trumpet
Rick "Bam" Powell - drums, vocals
Rick Rebman - guitar, vocals

 

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THE SAME AS LAST WEEK - 1969

Live at a CWRU Fraternity Party - Cleveland, OH

"The Same As Last Week" Anagrams (Courtesy of Jeff Bloom - 2011):

A Tasteless Weak Hem
A Shameless Wet Take
The Meatless Awakes
A Weakest Ass Helmet 

 Left to right: Dave, Jeff, John, Les, Mike, Lee, Eric, BillThe Same As Last Week - promo photoThe Same As Last Week - promo photoThe Same As Last Week - promo photoThe Same As Last Week - promo photoThe Same As Last Week - photo from 1970 Case YearbookThe Same As Last Week - photo from 1970 Case Yearbook CWRU campus newspaper article on the band CWRU campus newspaper article on the band 1969 Case Homecoming Poster more...




 

The Same As Last Week – After returning from a 1969 summer "Woodstock era" road tour in Akron, Indiana and Chicago this set was recorded in at a live performance at a Case Western Reserve University outdoor party.  It was released as an album in 2023:  "Live in Cleveland - 1969" and is available at all streaming sites and stores.

Personnel: 

Eric Blecher - bass

Jeff Bloom - guitar, backup vocals

Les Bloom - alto saxophone, flute

John Bogo - drums

Lee Branst - lead vocals

Dave Featheringham - lead vocals

Bill Jaros - Hammond B3 organ

Mike Kaplan - vibraphone
 

 

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CASE CONCERT JAZZ ENSEMBLE - 1969

Live at the 1969 Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival

 1969 National Collegiate Jazz Festival Poster  NCJF 1969 Program - requires Adobe PDF Reader to view
3 Points of McKeller (Gerry Wondrack)

Case Concert Jazz Ensemble (Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio) – recorded in 1969 at the annual Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival in South Bend, Indiana.  This performance won the band the first runner-up position among all collegiate jazz bands in the country that year.  I played baritone sax in this group.  The Best Saxophone Soloist at the festival was won by Charles Barone who played alto sax in this group.  The band was managed and directed by internationally renowned trombonist and former Stan Kenton music director, Bob Curnow.

Music Director: 

Bob Curnow
 

Festival Judges: 

Thad Jones

Gary McFarland

Dan Morgenstern

Sonny Stitt

Clark Terry

Ernie Wilkins

 

 

 

applause

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