Gerry Niewood

Gerry Niewood was most widely known for his association with Chuck Mangione. Niewood was a talented multi-instrumentalist who got appealing noises and designs on tenor, soprano, and flute. He went to the College or university of Buffalo and initial joined Mangione’s music group in 1968, but continuing learning until he obtained a degree through the Eastman College of Music in 1970. Niewood was with Mangione through 1976 and made an appearance of all of his well-known records, adding a solid jazz flavor towards the music; nevertheless, his solo profession never achieved genuine success (he documented two obscure albums, in 1976 and 1978, being a head for A&M). Niewood got a post-bop quartet with Dave Samuels from 1976-1977, led the Weekend Morning Jazz Music group in the first ’80s, and used Joe Beck a couple of years afterwards. But he mainly proved helpful in the studios and freelanced in low-profile careers until rejoining Mangione in the middle-’90s when the flügelhornist started his comeback — although Niewood’s 2004 record Facets demonstrated the saxophonist/flutist’s talents as a program head in his very own right through the 21st hundred years. He used Mangione until Feb 12, 2009, when, tragically, Niewood and bandmate Coleman Mellett passed away in the crash of Colgan Atmosphere Flight 3407 on the way from Newark to Buffalo, where these were scheduled to seem with Mangione as well as the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra the next evening.