Gap Mangione - Diana In The Autumn Wind Gap Mangione

Gap Mangione's monumentally influential Diana In The Autumn Wind.And, without question, Be With's White Whale.They said it could never be done.And with good reason.We've spent the past 12 years trying to license this legendary 1968 recording from Gap and, after much work, it's finally here.Remarkably, this is the first ever vinyl reissue of Gap Mangione's Diana In The Autumn Wind, produced with the full and extensive participation of Gap.An exceedingly rare album, it's been coveted by funk, soul, jazz and hip-hop sample fiends for decades.It's unarguably *the* most sought after album for J Dilla / Madlib sample collectors.It has also been brilliantly sampled by A Tribe Called Quest, Large Professor, Ghostface Killah, Kendrick Lamar and Talib Kweli.But this record is so much more than a sample-spotters curio.It's solid gold throughout.Bursting with killer funky-jazz grooves and tracks adorned with warm electric piano, the release is notable for featuring some extremely significant players at the very outset of their careers; Tony Levin, at 21, whose superb playing on both acoustic and electric bass was the harmonic mainstay of the trio and Steve Gadd, at 23, one of the greatest drummers of his generation.With acceptable copies of this holy grail changing hands for $400, to call this reissue "much-needed" underplays just how vital it is.Gap's story is told in his words alongside rare photos across a sumptuously designed 2-page insert and, to augment this deluxe edition further, its all wrapped up in a beautiful, no-expense-spared luxury tip-on sleeve, as per the original hens-teeth release.And, while we're talking packaging, just take a look at that cover - a work of art in and of itself.The tracks are short but complex, with that extraordinary rhythm section backing the beautiful piano, organ and electric piano work of Gap.It's like the best ever library funk breaks record you have never heard - but all your favourite golden age rap producers were all over it, long ago.It's a stunning blend of the vibrant, driving music of the Gap Mangione Trio coupled with the sensitive composition and superb orchestration of Gap's legendary brother, Chuck Mangione, who helmed an amalgam of seemingly disparate elements – rock, big band jazz, solo improvisation and "classical" music - into a spectacularly cohesive whole that has aged wonderfully well.As Gap himself notes in the liners, "with this group I was able to explore and add new and exciting elements from rock, Brazilian and then-current pop music."Opener "Boy With Toys" triumphantly swaggers out the gate, all big band horns, flutes and dextrous organ work.The synthesis of everything going on is nothing short of stunning.When one wise YouTube commentator called this tune "old school superhero music", Gap agreed.Rap luminaries did, too, amongst them Talib Kweli, who rapped over DJ Scratch's chopped up intro for "Shock Body" on his Quality album back in 2002.You've barely recovered from that incredibly affecting opener when you get hit over the head with the exquisite title-track.And now you see how two of the greatest beats of all time emerged from one single track produced nearly 50 years earlier.Unforgettably utilised by Dilla for Slum Village's heartbreakingly good "Fall In Love" and then Madlib for his "Official" beat for Dilla to rap over, on the Jaylib record.Regardless of the records it went on to spawn, this is just a staggering tune in its own right.Be beguiled by the flutes and the flutter tonguing, the counter-melody from the trombones, the soprano sax solo.All of it.Simply beautiful.