Bellavia

by Richard S. GinellThis quick follow-up to Chase the Clouds Away was designed as sort of a portrait of the bustling Mangione family home (Bellavia being his mother's maiden name). Certainly there is more energy on tracks like "Listen to the Wind," the big band streaks of "Torreano," and the appropriately revolving riffs of "Carousel" than on the previous record, with Joe LaBarbera, Gerry Niewood, and Chip Jackson forming the core of support for Chuck's more vigorous orchestral writing. Chuck appears on the conductor's podium, flugelhorn, Rhodes electric piano and -- on "Dance of the Windup Toy" (otherwise dominated by an unnecessary LaBarbera drum solo) -- celeste, acquitting himself well in all regards. While you don't get the instant buzz of the best Mercury-period music here, this is still one of Mangione's better A&M releases.