Featured Artist: Chuck Mangione

Jazz CD cover CD Title: Everything for Love

Year: 2000

Record Label: Chesky Records

Style: Contemporary Jazz

Musicians: Chuck Mangione, leader, composer, flugelhorn, muted trumpet. Gerry Niewood, soprano and tenor saxophones, and flute. Grant Geissman, acoustic and electric guitar. Charles Meeks, electric bass and vocal on "Freddie's Walkin.'" Corey Allen, keyboards, and all solos. Darryl Pellegrini on drums. Additional guest musicians are Emidin River on percussion and Tim Regusis on keyboards. Paulette McWilliams and Cindy Mizelle background vocals on "Freddie's Walkin.'" Executive producer, Norman Chesky.

Review: Recorded at St. Peter's Church, Chelsea, NYC on May 8 -11, 2000, Chuck Mangione's EVERYTHING FOR LOVE is one of his finest recordings during his 30 years of recording exceptional jazz. This CD is classic, straight-ahead, and contemporary. For the Chuck Mangione fan, and all jazz listeners, this is one to have in your home collection.

Mangione and his band put together one of the greatest renditions of "Amazing Grace" you could ever hope to listen to! This version is arranged by Mangione and features individual solos from Mangione, Grant Geissman, Corey Allen, and Gerry Niewood. It would be hard to find so much talent together again in such a memorable recording of this old standard.

Overall, what makes this CD such a beautiful and soulful listening experience is the stylings of each musician individually as well as a group performance. Captivating! The CD has high production values and is one of the clearest and sound articulate CDs any jazz listener could ask or hope to have!

"Freddie's Walkin'" is an energetic selection dedicated to Mangione's godson and interesting for its harmonics. There are 10 selections on this CD, including compositions by Chuck Mangione. The 10 selections are: "Peggy Hill," "Slo Ro," "Amazing Grace," "Seoul Sister," "Viola," "Fox Hunt," "Annalise," "I Do Everything For Love," "Papa Mangione," "Freddie's Walkin.'" The Brazilian-influenced "I Do Everything For Love" is one of the great pieces on this CD, among others.

EVERYTHING FOR LOVE is Chuck Mangione at his finest, and the solos in this collection by all the musicians are perfect. A charming collection which blends melodies in sensual, whimsical, gentle, beautiful motifs that will please all who listen! Five stars!

Record Label Website: http://www.chesky.com

Reviewed by: Lee Prosser

Copyright© 2001 JazzReview.com®. All Rights Reserved.