John Blegen began playing professionally at the age of 16 in a Dixieland band and in a big band composed of Drexel Tech students. He toured Europe in the summers of 1961 and 1962 with a jazz band from Williams College, and played in mid-sixties with various Philadelphia and New Jersey groups, including a brief association with trumpeter Marcus Belgrave.
In the early 70's, Blegen was a member of the S.U.N.Y . Binghamton Jazz Workshop band, playing baritone saxophone, clarinet, and flute. With that group he appeared in concerts with Manny Albam, Marvin Stamm, Urbie Green, Frank Wess, and Eddie Daniels. In the 70's and 80's, Blegen worked in the Baltimore-Washington area with various bands including the Bay City Seven, the Fallstaff Five Plus Two, and the Bourbon Street Ramblers. He appeared as a featured guest with the Buck Creek Jazz Band, Southern Comfort, the Federal Jazz Commission, Big Bertha's Rhythm Kings, and the Peabody Ragtime Ensemble. During this period, he played in Europe and the U.S. with the New Reunion Jazz Band, working in that group variously with Eddie Hubbell, Bob Pratt, and George Masso. He also did trio work in Baltimore with banjo virtuoso Buddy Wachter and tuba player extroardinaire Ed Goldstein.
Since moving to the Chicago area in 1989, he has played with a variety of bands, including the Chicago Footwarmers Jazz Orchestra and has appeared with Max Hook, Danny Williams, Warren Kime, Eddie De Haas, Bobby Lewis, and Russ Phillips. At the Milwaukee Jazz Jubilee in 1992, he was a featured soloist with the Barrett Deems Band. In 1993, Blegen formed his own quartet, The Swing Thing, composed of vibist Henry Buckwalter, guitarist Frank Portolese, and bassist Wilson McKindra, performing in the Chicago area. He continued to appear with other Chicago groups, including Ted Butterman's Neo Passé Quintet and Jim Clark's Jazz People.
For five seasons, from 2003 through 2007, he was the regular clarinetist in the Chicago Cubs Dixieland Band, playing at over sixty home games each season.
Still playing as a substitute with that band, he is now a regular member of Pete Wood's Mississippi Mud Cats, performing regularly in the Milwaukee area. He occasionally substitutes for clarinetist Chuck Hedges with Chuck's Milwaukee Connection Band, and he often forms a group of his own with the likes of Frank Portolese, Dave Sullivan, Paul Libman, John Bany, and Charlie Braugham for performances in the Chicago area and in other midwest locations. In 2007 he performed for the Clinton [MO] Area Arts Council with a quintet including Dave Ivaz, Tom Hope, Eddie de Haas, and Jerry Coleman. He also appears regularly with the North Shore Senior Stompers.
A list of public gigs is kept on this website.
If you would like an example of John's recent playing, contact him at john@jcblegen.com.