When it rains it pours. Just wondering who the 3rd shoe to drop will be…

On the complete other side of the musical spectrum from the Madman (Ozzy) we have the recent passing of (perhaps smooth) jazz legend, composer and trumpeter Chuck Mangione. This one hits kind of hard for me because of all the memories. It literally goes back to the single digit years, listening to my folks play Chuck Mangione records on the turntable. Anyone who has listened to Chuck Mangione recordings can tell there is a special sauce, a special feeling that comes from his music that is remarkable. His timbre and style on the multiple trumpet varieties (inc. flugelhorn and cornet) really captured the spirit and essence of his being and was something truly special–not just for the incredible melodies and compositions but for the feeling it gave the listener. Very few artists have this gift. Chuck was one of them. I was proud to have performed “Feels So Good” with my group and will likely look into a few other joints to play in honor of a true legend. I encourage the reader to do a deeper dive into his material when you have the time and space. RIP Chuck–you will be missed big time!

I stumbled upon this gem–a decent length excerpt from a live performance at The Palais Des Festivals Halla Cannes, circa 1989. This one sounds extra special. Enjoy!