Chuck Mangione Performing with the Napa Valley Symphony December 7, 2008

The first Pops performance of the Napa Valley Symphony’s 2008/2009 season gets underway on Sunday, December 7 when "Feel So Good" Grammy winning composer and Flugelhorn player Chuck Mangione appears with the symphony.

Given the pain induced by the recent almost catastrophic economic downturn and the ensuing hopeful and buoyant mood following the election of a new president, Mangione’s performance of perhaps his most well know song—Feel So Good—may now seem more a determined Rockie-like declaration rather than the happy-go-lucky and feel good number that audiences remember.

Such was the pervasive popularity of "Feel So Good" that it was once deemed the most recognized tune since the Beatle’s Michelle.
Mangione has been making music for decades. Since 1960 he has recorded 60 albums and won two Grammys.

Though known for crafting melodic pop that was upbeat, optimistic and sometimes uplifting, his roots have always been in Jazz. While growing up, Dizzy Gillespie was a family friend, and his resume includes stints with both Woody Herman and Maynard Ferguson. Stylistically his music ranges from Pop and Crossover Jazz to Neo Bop and Smooth Jazz.

All Napa Valley Symphony performances this season are dedicated to the memory of the late Robert Mondavi

Official Website: http://www.napavalleysymphony.org/