Gap Mangione

Gaspare "Gap" Mangione (pronounced: mændʒiˈoʊni, born July 31, 1938[1]) is a jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and bandleader from Rochester, New York, United States.

Mangione was born and raised in Rochester; according to the Sicilian naming convention, he was named after his paternal grandfather Gaspare Mangione, who was born in Porto Empedocle, Sicily in 1883 and emigrated to the United States in 1906. Gap's younger brother is Grammy-winning flugelhornist Chuck Mangione. Members of a music-loving family, both Gap and Chuck took up instruments. In 1958, they started performing together as the Jazz Brothers, eventually recording three albums for Riverside Records.[2]

In 1968, Gap Mangione released his first solo album, Diana in the Autumn Wind, featuring drummer Steve Gadd and bassist Tony Levin in their first recordings, and new compositions and arrangements by Chuck Mangione [3] who conducted as well.

The 1970s brought more solo albums along with tours with his own group and many as featured soloist in his brother's orchestral performances.

In the 1980s, Mangione began to spend more time playing in and around Rochester and less time on the road. In 1990, he formed the Gap Mangione New Big Band, which remains the premier dance and concert big band in the Rochester area. The New Big Band has released four CDs since 1998. Many major rappers and producers, including J Dilla, Madlib, J Rocc,Talib Kweli, Guerilla Black, Ghostface Killah, and Slum Village have sampled Gap's Diana in the Autumn Wind for their recent works.

Today, Mangione continues to make regular appearances at Rochester locations, among them the Woodcliff Hotel and Spa (since May, 1987) and the Rochester International Jazz Festival, as well as private engagements. He can be found playing solo, with the 14-piece New Big Band, the "New Blues Band" (a quartet) or his sextet. He and Chuck continue to play together, mainly for appearances with symphony orchestras, or with Chuck as special guest with Gap's big band.

In 2004 he received the Artist of the Year Award from the Arts & Cultural Council for Greater Rochester.[4]

In 2015, Gap Mangione was inducted into the Rochester Music Hall Of fame.

Mangione lives in the Rochester suburb of Greece, New York with his wife, artist Janet Mangione, (www.janetmangione.com). His children are Ardis Mangione-Lindley and Jason Mangione.[5]

Discography

The Salt City Six

The Jazz Brothers

Solo

With Chuck Mangione and Steve Gadd

The New Big Band

Appears on

References

  1. ↑ "Gap Mangione". AOL Music. Retrieved 2006-06-21.
  2. ↑ Spevak, Jeff (1997-06-11). "Release Takes Gap Mangione to a New Planet". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved 2006-06-21.
  3. ↑ "Gap Mangione Biography". Retrieved 2006-06-21.
  4. ↑ Arts & Cultural Council "Arts Awards Recipients" Check |url= value (help). Arts and Cultural Council for Greater Rochester. Retrieved 2010-03-19.
  5. ↑ "Meet Gap Mangione". The Daily Messenger. 1997-10-17. Retrieved 2006-06-21.

External links

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