A four-song performance as part of a four member band including Chuck Mangione on flugelhorn, trumpet and background piano, Gerry Niewood on tenor, soprano and flute, Tony Levin on electric bass and Steve Gadd on drums, the album Alive! by Chuck Mangione Quartet was first released in August 1972. Landing in the jazz, easy listening genres, the album additionally lands in the contemporary jazz, instrumental pop, jazz-pop and crossover jazz sub-genres.
High Heel Sneakers was written by Tommy Tucker, along with being first released by Tucker in 1964. The upbeat presentation nearly extends to eleven (11) minutes of joyous energy. The multiple movements of this presentation offers range among the performers, featuring an extemporaneously jazz flavor.
Legend of the One-Eyed Sailor was recorded live for this album, as were the other songs presented here. The sentiment here is more subdued than High Heel Sneakers, though the energy remains strong. The August 1972 recording of this song, coming in at slightly more than eleven (11) minutes, occurred at the Nazareth College in Rochester, New York.
St. Thomas offers more than more than six-and-a-half (6.5) minutes of saxophone led tribute. The song was first recorded as Get Happy by The Randy Weston Trio in August 1955.
Sixty-Miles-Young offers the clearest example of the style easy listening on the full album. Playing for more than twelve (12) minutes, the song stands in as much contrast to the other songs of this album as the album does in contrast to Mangione‘s better known albums. That the performance of this is rare is no understatement; that rarity perhaps makes this song my favorite on the album.
Matt – Wednesday, August 23, 2023
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