Mike Bloomfield Best Of Michael Bloomfield CD

THE BEST OF MICHAEL BLOOMFIELD is in fact a very nice anthology of the great guitarist's non-Paul Butterfield/Electric Flag work, from pre-Butterfield club shows recorded in 1963 (duets with singer/pianist Little Brother Montgomery) to studio sessions made at the end of his tragically brief career. These latter include "The Gospel Truth" and "See That My Grave is Kept Clean," both of which showcase Bloomfield's skills as a multi-instrumentalist.

Other noteworthy tracks include three live cuts with a five-piece combo reuniting him with Butterfield pianist Mark Naftalin. There's also an early '70s big band workout--"Hitch Hike on the Possum Trot Line"--in which he trades licks with jazz legend Woody Herman and gives as good as he gets.

Live Recording

Recorded between 1963 and 1980.

Personnel: Michael Bloomfield (vocals, guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar, tiple, accordion, piano, organ, Moog synthesizer); Little Brother Montgomery (vocals, piano); Roger Troy (vocals); Mark Adams (harmonica); Steve Lederer, Frank Tiberi, Gene Smookler, Sal Nistico (reeds); Woody Herman (soprano saxophone); Derrick Walker, King Perkoff (tenor saxophone); Hart McNee (baritone saxophone); Forrest Buchtel, Buddy Powers, Bill Byrne, Tom Harrell, Tony Klatka (trumpet); Don Switzer, Bob Burgess , Ira Nepus (trombone); Mark Naftalin (piano); Barry Goldberg (organ); Alan Broadbent (keyboards); Ed Soph, Bob Jones , Tom Rizzo (drums).

Audio Remasterer: Joe Tarantino.

Liner Note Author: Pete Welding.

Recording information: American Zoetrope (??/??/1963-11/29/1980); Beggs (??/??/1963-11/29/1980); Fickle Pickle, Chicago, IL (??/??/1963-11/29/1980); Hyde Street Studios, San Francisco, CA (??/??/1963-11/29/1980); Tamarin, Mill Valley, CA (??/??/1963-11/29/1980); The Old Waldorf, San Francisco, CA (??/??/1963-11/29/1980); Tres Virgos (??/??/1963-11/29/1980); Wally Heider Studio, San Francisco, CA (??/??/1963-11/29/1980).

Photographer: Norman Dayron.

Arrangers: Alan Broadbent; Michael Bloomfield.

Personnel includes: Michael Bloomfield, Little Brother Montgomery, Hart McNee, King Perkoff, Derrick Walker, Tom Rizzo, Barry Goldberg, Mark Adams, Mark Naftalin, Roger Troy, Bob Jones, David Shorey.