Rick Braun Plays Chuck Mangione (2026)

The title pretty much says it all. If you want more info, here's a bit from Braun's Bandcamp site:

Sparked by Mangione’s passing in July 2025, this project is deeply personal; Braun performs every track using the cherished Giardinelli mouthpiece gifted to him by the legend himself during a meeting at the 2007 Long Beach Jazz Festival. This beautiful sense of continuity is further enhanced by Braun’s use of the same Couesnon flugelhorn he played as a student at the Eastman School of Music

Hell, if Chuck Mangione gave me one of his mouthpieces, I'd not only use it, I'd probably figure out a way to wear the thing on a chain around my neck. The album is a well-polished tribute, mostly showcasing Mangione's writing skills. Braun is better on the flugelhorn than Mangione was, so Braun upstages the honoree on the playing side of things. Braun brought in guests on saxophone (Richard Elliot & Tom Scott) as well as onetime Mangione sideman, guitarist Grant Geissman. All in a tri-fold digisleeve with playing and production credits but oddly void of writing and publishing credits. Judging from the number of times I've listened to this CD since it hit my mailbox earlier this month, I greatly enjoy this effort. Recommend for fans of Mangione, for sure.

Album chart peaks:(to be determined)

• US Billboard 200:
• Billboard Contemporary Jazz:

Tracks:

1. Land Of Make Believe (originally from the 1973 album of the same name)
2. Doin' Everything With You (originally from the 1976 album, Main Squeeze) featuring Grant Geissman
3. Feels So Good (originally from the 1977 album of the same name) featuring Richard Elliot
4. Long Hair Soulful (originally from the 1988 album, Eyes of the Veiled Temptress)
5. Give It All You Got (originally from the 1979 album, Fun & Games) featuring Tom Scott
6. Do I Dare To Fall In Love (originally from 1983 album, Journey To A Rainbow) featuring Richard Elliot
7. Bellavia (originally from the 1975 album of the same name)
8. Love Wears No Disguise (originally from the 1984 album, Disguise)
9. Children Of Sanchez (originally from the 1978 album of the same name) featuring Grant Geissman

So most of the "hits" are here, plus a couple of deep cuts - it's a nice mix. I would have liked Chase The Clouds Away, but you can't have everything, right? For the most part, the arrangements aren't much different from the original tunes; the exceptions are Land Of Make Believe and Children Of Sanchez. I've heard this version of Give It All You Got on the radio, so I'm guessing that's the single release and a good choice for one. And I'll have to wait a little longer before I'm treated to a recording of Feels So Good that features a vocalist and Mangione's lyrics.

Full lyrics available here

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Nothing with this particular album as it is a new release, but hearing Mangione tunes always takes me back to my junior high school and high school days.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Groovin' (2002) with BWB
Shake It Up (2000) with Boney James
Body And Soul (1997)
Beat Street (1995)

BWB - Groovin' (2002)

BWB is a a smooth jazz "supergroup" in the same vein as Fourplay and Urban Knights. We're treated to Rick Braun on trumpet, Kirk Whalum on saxophone, and Norman Brown on guitar - there's also Christian McBride on bass, but for some reason he didn't rate a title credit. This is a covers album that offers up versions of tunes from a varied array of artists from D'Angelo to Leiber & Stoller to Joe Zawinul to George Clinton. Good stuff; definitely above average smooth jazz (I'm particularly fond of Brown's soloing). I'm guessing the trio originally envisioned this as a one-off covers album because they didn't release another album for 11 years, but I could be wrong.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: Did not chart
• Billboard Contemporary Jazz: #4

Tracks: My favorites are Groovin', Ruby Baby, the slow burn of Mercy Mercy Mercy, and It's Your Thing. I don't care much for the plodding cover of Alicia Key's A Woman's Worth.

This was released as an "Enchanced CD" and, amazingly, I was able to get it to play with a few work-arounds:

Contents: links to websites, a small photo gallery, and a 10 minute promo video.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:

Rick Braun:
Shake It Up (2000)
Body And Soul (1997)
Beat Street (1995)

Kirk Whalum:
The Babyface Songbook (2005)
Unconditional (2000)
Floppy Disk (1985)

Norman Brown:
West Coast Coolin' (2004)
Celebration (1999)

Rick Braun - Body And Soul (1997)

A used smooth jazz CD I picked up a few years to have some background music at work. For my tastes, this suits the bill perfectly, although I guess it would also be good late night with an adult beverage. I generally don't like trumpet smooth jazz, but I have to admit that I'm usually pleasantly surprised and pleased when I pick up a Braun CD.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart:  Did not chart

Tracks:  My picks are Notorious, Long Tall Judy, Angel, and Coolsville. I've often stated my dislike for a token vocal track on an otherwise instrumental album; we get that on this disc with Love Will Find A Way. Needless to say, I'll pass on that one.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Shake It Up (2000)
Beat Street (1995)

Boney James & Rick Braun - Shake It Up (2000)

A better than average smooth jazz collaboration. I've never been a huge fan of either one of these guys, but they play off each other well. When it comes to this pairing, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This is better than any of their respective solo stuff. Still, any CD I own by one of these artists was purchased used. For those of you that follow smooth jazz, you'll recognize Paul Brown's production style immediately.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #78
• Billboard Contemporary Jazz: #1

Tracks: Grazin' In the Grass is one of my all-time favorite instrumentals. There are two versions here (a needless version with vocals, and a better one without), and while the instrumental is my favorite cut on this disc, it don't come close to the standard set by the Hugh Masekela version. The title cut is also good.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Boney James - Body Language (1999)
Boney James - Sweet Thing (1997)
Rick Braun - Beat Street (1995)

Rick Braun - Beat Street (1995)

I first saw Rick Braun in an ad for Getzen trumpets. Because I don't like that particular make of trumpet, I had an instant bias against Braun. I was wrong (status quo for me); Braun's not a bad player and this music is easy enough to listen to. I wouldn't search for his CDs, but if I came across a used copy, I might pick it up if the price is right (that's how I got this one). There's a lot of Harmon mute on this album. I don't trust trumpet players that use a lot of Harmon mute because that gives me the impression that the player doesn't like his tone. Still, this CD is a nice addition to my "at work" playlist on iTunes. Most smooth jazz seems to feature piano, guitar, or saxophone, so it's a nice change of pace to hear some smooth trumpet every now and then.

Tracks: They're all mid-tempo funk-lite background music. The cuts that catch my ear are Philadelphia, The Promises, and Ian's Blues.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None