On Rick Braun Plays Chuck Mangione, Braun performs every track on the same Couesnon flugelhorn he played as a student at the Eastman School of Music. The collection offers a fresh, joyous revisit of iconic melodies, featuring an extraordinary roster of collaborators, including original Mangione guitarist Grant Geissman, saxophonists Richard Elliot and Tom Scott, keyboardist Philippe Saisse, and flutist Steve Kujala. From the soaring orchestration of “Land of Make Believe” to an amped-up “Feels So Good,” Braun balances technical mastery with reverence. Lead single “Give It All You Got” was produced with Philippe Saisse. This “funky from the get-go” interpretation of Mangione’s second Billboard Hot 100 hit is highlighted by a powerhouse sax solo from the great Tom Scott. Describing the album as a labor of love that truly “took him over,” Braun captures the “overwhelming sense of happiness” that defined Mangione’s impact, marking an auspicious and emotional start to his fourth decade of recording.