LS Electron is a collaboration between drummer/producer Lou Salvoni and composer/poet Sam
Fendrich. The collaboration was established in 2020.
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Meeting in 1966 through a mutual friend Lou and Sam formed the jazz group The Baron Sam
Quintet. The group mostly played around the jazz venues of London such as the 100 Club and
Marquee as well as a weekly residency at the Bedford College Jazz Club. Subsequently, in order
to expand their musical horizons, they formed Musica Eterna which after about a year
transformed itself to the more radical group Chronos. Chronos held a long term residency at the
Roebuck pub in the Tottenham Court Road and played at venues such as The Arts Lab and Royal
College of Music. In 1970 Chronos disbanded as Lou and Sam went on to follow divergent
musical directions.
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Lou started playing drums at age fourteen. He played in ‘Beat Combos’ and as the Sixties moved
on playing in Rock Groups. At about age eighteen he began his interest in jazz as well as
becoming a student of the Tabla Drums.
Following the disbanding of Chronos Lou formed the fusion rock group Pasha. After some time
with Pasha Lou had the drum chair in Moon. Moon became a highly successful group playing
funk rock eventually being signed by CBS. Following his spell with Moon Lou went on to be the
drummer for the group Sniff and the Tears. He produced their highly acclaimed first album which
featured the hit single ‘Driver’s Seat.’ Noel McCalla (who had been in Moon and also a backing
vocalist on ‘Driver’s Seat) teamed up with Lou in what proved to be a fruitful and long-term
association. They played and recorded under the name McCalla.
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Sam’s involvement in music started at age fifteen. He played double bass in his girlfriend’s
bluegrass group and in local jam sessions. Soon after he became the first bass player for the
London Youth Jazz orchestra (subsequently NYJO) and toured with them in France and Bulgaria.
From early on he started composing - NYJO recorded one of his pieces on their first album - and
he was also was the writer for the Baron Sam Quintet.
In the years 1969 - 1972 Sam attended the Royal Academy of Music. After Chronos disbanded
Sam formed the pianoless quintet Broken Biscuits - playing bass and composing. The group
mainly playing across the London Jazz scene.
In 1976 Sam began a twelve year break from music. He pursued his interest in mathematical
philosophy. In 1978 gained a place at the London School of Economics achieving a first class
honours and a PhD in 1987. He then returned to composing. The label Linear Obsessional issued
nine cds of his works. He also had works played on BBC Radio 3, Classic FM and at various
festivals. He scripted, composed and staged five children’s musicals for a local school. A book of
his poetry was published in 2009.
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Over the years Lou and Sam had kept in touch.
A mutual friend (actually a younger brother of that mutual friend mentioned above) who was a
talented singer-songwriter was scheduled to record at Lou’s studio with Lou as producer and
drummer. Sam was invited to work on keyboard and write some parts for the sessions. This all
went well until the Covid epidemic brought the project to a halt - the mutual friend having to
depart to his home far from London. However, over a casual cup of coffee, Lou and Sam
discussed the idea of trying a project of their own. This became the LS Electron project. Lou and
Sam collaborating again with a mere fifty year gap. So far they have issued two cds and are
looking forward to the next stage of the project.