The Blues Project-Reunion In Central Park (1973)

In 1973, The Blues Project reunited after a six-year hiatus. This took place at the Schaffer Festival in New York's Central Park. The Blues Project had formed nine years earlier in the city of skyscrapers by guitarists Steve Katz and Danny Kalb, along with drummer Roy Blumenfeld, bassist Andy Kulberg, and singer Tommy Flanders. Al Kooper joined in 1965, arriving in time for the recording of their first album, "Live At The Cafe Au Go Go" (1966). From there, the band toured extensively across the United States, subsequently releasing their second album, "Projections". After this album, departures began, the first being Al Kooper, followed by other members. Despite this, the remaining members released two more albums, "Live At Town Hall" (1967) and "Planned Obsolescence" (1968). After this last album, there was a general breakup, until in 1970 some of its former members, such as bassist Don Kretmar, along with guitarist Kalb and drummer Blumenfeld, joined guitarist Bill Lussenden and keyboardist Gabriel Mekler and revived The Blues Project, releasing the albums "Lazarus" (1971) and "Blues Project" (1972). Then in 1973, at the aforementioned Schaffler Festival, the original members of the band were reunited, with the exception of singer Flanders. In a memorable and historic performance, the band played an excellent repertoire of blues, rock and country, including versions of the blues classics “Louisiana Blues” by Muddy Waters and “Caress Me Baby” by Jimmy Reed, the country songs “Steves Song” and “Fly Away”, the melodic folk song “Catch The Wind”, the jam blues song “Wake Me, Shake Me” and the superb and hypnotic blues song “Two Trains Running”.