By Dave Siderski

I was introduced to jazz at an early age by my father. Listening to Chuck Mangione with him one day, I enjoyed it but remember saying: “Dad but there are no words!” He told me that with music like this: “No words are needed.” As I grew into adolescence, I discovered bands such as Van Halen, AC/DC, Rush and Black Sabbath. Listening to jazz definitely was not cool at that point. However, as I got older, I rediscovered an appreciation for jazz as an art form. Not cool? What the hell was I thinking! Musicians like Miles Davis, Etta James, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, and Louis Armstrong were the epitome of cool!

At that point, Chuck Mangione became one of my favorites. Born on November 29, 1940, Chuck grew up dining with and listening to numerous jazz legends play in his very own living room. The visitors included his musical idol, Dizzy Gillespie. Mangione cut his teeth in the music business in the late 1950’s and 1960’s and vaulted into stardom in the 1970’s. After receiving numerous Grammy nominations over the course of the decade, Chuck finally won his first in 1976 for his song “Bellavia”. His most famous hit song: “Feels So Good” reached #4 on the U.S Charts in 1978. The Album itself went double platinum. Mangione also won his second Grammy for his album: “Children of the Sanchez”, which was released later that year.

My personal Chuck Mangione must listen to tracks are:

• El Gato Triste (1973)
• Memories of Scirocco (1982)
• Land of Make Believe (1973)
• Bellavia (1975)
• Chase the Clouds Away (1975)
• Hill Where the Lord Hides (1970)
• Children of the Sanchez (1978)

Listen to these with an open mind and, like me, you’ll realize my father, Charlie Siderski, was right. With music like this you don’t need words. Mangione’s brilliant flugelhorn, blended with the dynamic combination of instruments included in his background orchestra provide a rich musical experience, evoking a full range of emotions. Joy, sadness, ecstasy, despair, excitement, wonder and ultimately a sense of calm. It’s all there if you just listen closely enough. You will feel the words and this is what the enjoyment of music is all about.

As Chuck nears his 75th birthday, let’s pay tribute to him and the musical genre of jazz. All so-called modern forms of music have been touched by the influence of jazz, including Rock and Roll, R&B, and Hip Hop. It is a wonderful art form that is still very much alive today. Note to the younger generation, yes jazz is cool! Check it out! I promise that you won’t be disappointed.

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