Chuck Mangione - The Feeling's Back (1999) [2004 DSD64]

Chuck Mangione laid low throughout much of the '90s, perhaps the end result of a disappointing string of albums for Columbia during the '80s. He returned to the road in 1997 and evidently it was a positive experience, since he returned to the studio the following year to cut The Feeling's Back. For all intents and purposes, The Feeling's Back is a comeback album, finding Mangione returning to the smooth, melodic style of Feels So Good, but laying off the sappy pop tendencies that dogged his '80s efforts. Although the end result is a little monotonous – many of the tracks are quiet and slowly swinging, blending together into one long track – it's charmingly laid-back, mellow and melodic, all of the things that brought Mangione fame and fortune in the '70s. There isn't a whole lot in the way of "real" jazz here – the solos are extensions of the themes, and they never stand apart from the lite groove – but this has the "feeling" that Mangione fans have been waiting to feel again. And that's enough to make it a successful comeback.


Tracks:

01. Mountain Flight
02. Consuelo's Love Theme
03. Leonardo's Lady
04. Fotografia
05. Quase
06. Aldovio
07. Once Upon a Love Time
08. Manha de Carnaval
09. Maracangalha
10. La Vie en Rose

Personnel:

Chuck Mangione: Flugelhorn
Cliff Korman: Piano, Keyboards
Jay Azzolina: Guitar
Paulo Braga: Drums
Cafe: Percussion
David Finck: Acoustic bass, electric bass on "Mountain Flight"
Kip Reid: Electric bass on "Once Upon a Love Time" and "Leonardo's Lady"
Sarah Carter: Cello
Gerry Niewood: Fluter Alto flute
Maucha Adnet, Jackie Presti, Annette Sanders: Vocals