BLUES PROJECT:

Tommy Flanders (lead vocals)Steve Katz (rhythm guitar, vocals)Danny Kalb (lead guitar)Andy Kulberg (bass, flute)Roy Blumenfeld (drums)

(1965)June Origins of the band are laid by Kalb and Blumenfeld in New York, with the concept of mixing urban country and blues on electric instruments. Adding vocalist, Flanders from the Boston based group, The Trolls, The Blues Project is completed with the addition of bassist/flute player, Kulberg (who is recruited from Greenwich Village's jazz scene), and guitarist, Katz (b. May. 9, 1945, New York, US); previously a member of The Even Dozen Jug Band, which also included John Sebastian of The Lovin' Spoonful. Band makes its live debut atthe Cafe Au-Go-Go in Greenwich Village, where it rapidly gains a reputation for its unique fusion of musical styles.

(1966)March Through producer Tom Wilson, the group is introduced to keyboardist/vocalist, Al Kooper (b. Feb.5, 1944, New York, US), who has already made a name for himself as a songwriter and session musician: in 1965 he co-penned Gary Lewis and The Playboys chart topper, This Golden Ring and has also backed Bob Dylan at the controversial July '65 Newport Folk Festival, as well as adding organ to Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde On Blonde albums. Kooper joins the band and immediately makes an impact in its live shows, most notably when it performs in New York's Central Park.April (22-23) The group appears at San Francisco's Avalon Ballroom with The Great Society.May Band signs to Verve Folkways Records, and releases its debut single, a cover of Willie Dixon's Back Door Man, which fails to chart. Group's debut album, Live At The Cafe Au-Go-Go; recorded at its home base on Bleeker Street is also released that month and reaches US #77.(13-14) Group returns to the Avalon Ballroom for a series of shows with The Sons Of Adam.July A cover of Donovan's Catch The Wind is issued but fails to chart.September (7-10) The Blues Project appears at San Francisco's Matrix club.(11) Band is supported by Country Joe & The Fish at the Tilden Park, Berkeley, Bay Area.(12-15) The Blues Project returns to the Matrix for a second series of shows.October Group's version of blues favourite, Goin' Down Louisiana is released, but does not chart. Flanders leaves and Katz and Kooper assume vocal duties.

(1967)January Band's second album, Projections reaches US #52, while single, I Can't Keep From Crying So Sometimes fails to chart.February (10-12) The band is supported by Jimmy Reed at San Francisco's Fillmore Auditorium.(17-19) Group returns to the Fillmore for a series of dates with Frank Zappa's Mothers Of Invention.March (17-26) Café Au Go Go, NYC.

April (8) Kooper's No Time Like The Right Time is the group's only hit single, reaching US #96. May Kooper drops out weeks before the group's appearance at The Monterey International Pop Festival (citing a bad acid trip as an excuse) and is replaced by ex King Bees keyboardist/vocalist, John McDuffy.June (16) Band appears at the Monterey International Pop Festival in California; its set includes the traditional, Wake Me, Shake Me, which is taken from its forthcoming album. (Kooper is also present at the festival, helping with its organisation as well as performing solo).July Kooper briefly rejoins to contribute to the next album, but friction with Kalb (who is developing drug problem), leads to his departure shortly after the album is recorded. August Final single, Gentle Dreams (both sides of the single are nn album tracks) is released but fails to chart. September Album, Live At The Town Hall is released and reaches US #71. Band begins to fragment as Kalb drops out ill and Katz quits to rejoin Kooper in the formation of Blood, Sweat & Tears. As group have already begun work on a new studio album, Kulberg and Blumenfeld decide to carry on and finish the project and recruit new members, John Gregory (lead guitar, vocals), formerly a member of San Francisco outfit, The Mystery Trend; Richard Greene (Violin), previously a member of Jim Kweskin's Jug Band and Don Kretmar (sax). Band is now based in Marin County, California.

(1968)March (1-3) New line-up appears at San Francisco's Avalon Ballroom, where it is supported by the American Genesis.April (5-7) Band returns to the Avalon Ballroom to play alongside, It's A Beautiful Day. Soon after the group add lead vocalist, Jim Roberts and evolve into new outfit, Sea Train.December Band's final album, Planned Obsolescence is released but fails to chart.

(1969)Compilation album, The Best Of The Blues Project reaches US #199. Kalb guests upon Stefan Grossman's Crosscurrents and Jimmy Witherspoon's Blues Singer albums. Tommy Flanders, meanwhile, releases solo album, The Moonstone for Verve Records.

(1971)Original members, Kalb, Flanders and Blumenfeld revive the band, adding latter day member, Don Kretmar and guitarist/keyboardist, David Cohen from Country Joe & The Fish. New line-up signs to Capitol Records and release album, Lazarus, which fails to chart.

(1972)With the addition of guitarist, Bill Lussenden, the group releases another album, Blues Project, which is equally unsuccessful and the band splits.

(1973)June (24) Kalb and Blumenfeld reunite with Kulberg, Katz and Kooper for a live show in Central Park, which is recorded by MCA and released as Reunion In Central Park.

(1981)March (17) Second reunion (once again) for a one-off concert at Bonds, New York.

(1995)Danny Kalb releases solo album, Livin' With The Blues on the small Legend Records label.

Sources: Clifford Mike. The New Rock Handbook. Salamander Books Ltd, 1986.Grushkin, Paul D. Art Of Rock - Posters From Presley To Punk. Artabras Cross River Press Ltd, 1987.Hounsome, Terry. Rock Record 6. Record Researchers Publications, 1994.Joynson, Vernon. Fuzz, Acid And Flowers.Borderline Productions, 1993.

Peeples, Stephen K. Liner notes to Rhino Records CD boxset of The Monterey International Pop Festival.Rees, Dafydd and Crampton, Luke with Lazell, Barry. Guinness Book Of Rock Stars 1st Edition. Guinness Publishing Ltd, 1989. Roxon, Lillian. Lillian Roxon's Encyclopedia Of Rock. Grossnet & Dunlap Publishers, New York, 1969.

Selvin, Joel. Liner notes to Monterey Festival Pop book. 1994.Whitburn, Joel. Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual. Billboard Record ResearchInc, 1995.Village Voice, February 16, 1967, page 29.

Copyright © Nick Warburton, 2008. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any from or by any means, without prior permission from the author