“The Year of the Ear” was an eleven piece band based first in Boston and then in New York. They played compositions and arrangements by guitarist Baird Hersey, who led the band. What originally started as a recording project in 1975 quickly became a performing band that played virtually every club in Boston, The Boston Jazz Festival, The Jazz Coalition's Yearly All Night Concerts, The Copley Square Summer Concerts (WBCN) and many colleges. In New York they played many of the most respected jazz venues, among them: The Public Theater, The Village Gate, Seventh Ave South, the Other End, and Folk City. They played Monday nights at Rashid Ali’s Alley for an extended period. In 1980, they performed at the Berlin Jazz Festival. Their final performance was “Island” composed by Baird on a National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Composition Fellowship. Recorded in 1977,“Lookin’ For That Groove” was the culmination of the band’s time in Boston and encompasses the pieces that they played in clubs and concerts there. The regular working band was augmented for the recording with 2 trumpets, 1 trombone, and 1 tenor saxophone. Most of the album was recorded at Columbia Recording Studio. Three cuts were recorded at Greene Street Studio. Trumpet: Mark Harvey, Kenny Mason, Danny Mott, Tiger Okoshi Saxophone: John Hagen, Len Detlor, Stan Strickland, George Garzone Trombone: Tim Sessions, Ray Anderson Bass: Ernie Provencher Percussion: David Moss, Arnie Clapman Drums:.Tommy Campbell Guitar / Composer/ Arranger: Baird Hersey