Friday, June 21, 2024: Chuck Mangione - Feels So Good

 

I honestly don't remember this song being over nine minutes long, but it's glorious. 

Here's America's predominant flugelhorn player, Chuck Mangione, killing it with one of the greatest instrumentals to ever hit the pop charts.  

The term "Smooth Jazz" quickly became a derogatory phrase, and "Feels So Good" became one of the defining tracks of that cursed genre, but it's such an unfair cut.  

Chuck Mangione played with Art Blakey and his Jazz Messengers, for the love of God.  No jazz lightweight was he.  

Anyway, if it feels good to you, then it feels good to me, ok?

Tuesday, October 9, 2012: TWOfer Tuesday: The "Chuck Rainey Is The Man" Edition

In Sept of 2011, world renown bassist Chuck Rainey (noted for his classic work with Steely Dan, such as this track) suffered a stroke, which took him out of the game for a while.  He's only recently conducted his first interview since the stroke, which you can see here and here.

Just before his stroke he was working on a album, a rough cut of one of the tracks can be heard below.

For those not paying attention, that's a 70 year old dude bringing it, bringing it like most 20-somethings can't.

Or won't ever be able to.  Chuck Rainey is the man.  And one of the biggest, brightest stars in the bass galaxy.