GAP
MANGIONE'S NEW CD "PLANET GAP" IS OUT OF THIS WORLD
by
Marcia Morphy
Wolfe Publications
[June
16, 1997] -- Gap Mangione claims his new album is "not only
a dream, but in another sense, almost miraculous."
"I'm
happy, I'm proud, I'm glowing," he admitted in a recent phone interview.
"The album was miraculous because we completed 12 songs in six hours,
playing them only once. They were perfect the first time around."
Certainly,
the Mangione family has had their share of "miracles" come true.
The Jazz Brothers have made it big -- Chuck "Chasing the Clouds
Away" in "The Land of Make Believe" of New York City and Gap (Gaspare)
playing premiere performances back home -- soloing with the Rochester
Philharmonic Orchestra, performing with his New Blues Band at the
Lodge at Woodcliff, and composing/recording/producing a new album
with the Gap Mangione Big Band.
"My
wife Janet, came up with the name Planet Gap for the album,
and I believe it really describes who we are - something out of
this world," said Gap with a laugh. "The variety of songs on the
album are uniquely us - everything from our version of 'Take Me
Out to the Ballgame' to 'Calypso for Janet' and 'The Gap Theme.'"
Red
Wings fans most likely have danced/clapped to Gap's rendition of
"Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during recent games at Frontier Stadium.
"It
sounds just wonderful, really gets people into the spirit of the
event" said Gap, who is hoping "it will become the official victory
song of The Rochester Red Wings."
"My
brother Chuck and I are avid fans and we watched many games through
the years at Silver Stadium," Gap admitted. "We would catch the
first five innings before we had to leave for a jazz club downtown
- back when we were know as the Jazz Brothers."
As
most Rochestarians know, Gap and Chuck, were raised in a closely
knit, Italian family, grew up on pasta dinners and impromptu jazz
sessions.
"Papa
Mangione would invite musicians home to dinner and we'd all end
up playing the blues," Gap said. "Back then, my dream was to accompany
Dizzy Gillespie in concert one day." (His dream came true, Gap's
jazz quintet performed with Gillespie in 1991.)
"My
brother and I have remained very close through the years and we've
been on many tours together," Gap said. "Chuck helped me celebrate
the New York City premiere of Planet Gap at the famous Blue
Note. Every time we play in concert, there are huge lines of people
trying to get in."
Gap's
Big Band consists of 14 members, with a complement of three trumpets,
three trombones, four saxophones, a rhythm section and vocalist
Cindy Miller. With the Planet Gap recording, the repertoire
arrangements went from old to new, from the swing-era bands to popular
music.
"The
emphasis was on style, quality, and variety," Gap said. "There are
four players who are the alumni of the band and have come back for
this particular recording. They are Steve Gadd, John Patitucci,
Pat LaBarbera and Gerry Niewood."
Would
Gap like to recognize anyone else?
"Sure,
the rest the of players in my Big Band, Ramon Santiago for the knockout
cover for my CD, and my wife, Janet, who still makes me smile with
my heart to whom - I dedicated Planet Gap."
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