Blood, Sweat and Tears keeps its jazz-rock fusion legacy alive

Dylan Elise is careful not to forget Blood, Sweat & Tears’ legacy.

The jazz-rock band’s drummer, Elise wasn’t even alive when the Grammy Award-winning band made famous a combination of brass and rock band instrumentation in the late 1960s.

The original members have long since left. The current lineup, including lead singer Bo Bice of “American Idol” fame, is one of many incarnations keeping Blood, Sweat & Tears’ music alive.

“We all have our individual styles or original approaches,” Elise said, “but we try to make sure that when we add ourselves, we pay respect.”

Blood, Sweat & Tears is playing at 7 p.m. May 26 at the Historic Everett Theatre. The band will play its greatest hits — such as “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” and “And When I Die” — along with Bice’s favorite Southern rock songs that made him popular on season four of American Idol.

Bice, who sang “Spinning Wheel” on the reality TV show and later finished runner-up to Carrie Underwood, has been Blood, Sweat & Tears’ lead vocalist for the past five years.

“Bo just brings a whole other level to the band,” said Larry Dorr, the band’s manager. “He does a great job with all the hits, he brings his own fans to the shows and he responds with the audience.”

Blood, Sweat & Tears was formed in 1967 by eight musicians. Its fusion of jazz and acid rock led to the band’s commercial success between 1969-1971, including winning Album of the Year at the 1970 Grammy Awards.

The lineup, however, fluctuated over the next decade as members left to pursue solo careers or play with other bands. It has had over 160 different members since 1967.

Blood, Sweat & Tears declined in popularity in the late ’70s and disbanded between 1981-1984 following unsuccessful releases that steered away from its original sound.

Dorr, who became manager in 1983, said the break helped salvage the band’s integrity.

“We just went back to what made the band popular and the formula that worked,” Dorr said. “It’s been a lot of years, and it still works. People know where our place is in the world. We don’t reach to parts of music we don’t belong.”

The band is arguably one of the most popular touring acts of all time, having played on tour consistently for most of the past 50 years.

Dorr has high praise for the current lineup.

“It’s going to sound corny, but this is probably our best incarnation of Blood, Sweat & Tears so far,” Dorr said.

In addition to Bice and Elise, the band is made up of Brad Mason (lead trumpet), Jonathan Powell (trumpet), Ozzie Melendez (trombone), Leo Amuedo (guitar), Ken Gioffre (saxophone, flute), Glen McClelland (keyboard) and Ric Fierabracci (bass).

Dorr said they’re a mix of veteran players and up-and-coming musicians who are eager to live up to the band’s legacy.

“It’s exciting for everybody, including the audience, to see energetic people loving what they do,” he said.

The most experienced of the bunch is McClelland, who has played with Blood, Sweat & Tears for 20 years.

Elise, 28, is the youngest member of the band.

The New Zealand native grew up playing the drums. He recorded his best solos and put them on YouTube.

Original band member Bobby Colomby, who maintains ownership of the band’s name and oversees its musical direction, happened to see one of his videos about three years ago.

“He thought I should be playing with his band,” Elise said.

Elise tried out for the role of drummer and was an immediate hit.

“They loved me and I loved them,” Elise recalled. “Since then I’ve done 300 shows.”

Despite a consistent touring schedule, the band pushes itself to do better, Elise said. The musicians keep in mind the history of the band, its music and what it means to fans.

“We’re very careful we don’t take away from the music of how it was written,” Elise said. “If we’re playing the hits, we play them as people remember them.”

The band takes more creative liberties with other songs they play, such as “Midnight Rider” by The Allman Brothers, or its version of “Footprints” by Wayne Shorter.

Elise’s favorite two songs to perform are “You’ve Made Me Feel So Very Happy” and “Spinning Wheel.”

“It’s special because the vocals float over the top,” Elise said. “That’s when you see people break into tears.”

If you go

Blood, Sweat & Tears is playing at 7 p.m. May 26 at the Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave., Everett.

Tickets start at $60 and are available online at www.historiceveretttheatre.org or by calling 425-258-6766.

More about Blood, Sweat & Tears at www.bloodsweatandtears.com.