This Wednesday, February 12 the late guitarist Coleman Mellett’s album Sing You a Brand New Song will be available on the digital platforms. The release comes 16 years after a plane crash took the lives of two members of Chuck Mangione’s band, Coleman Mellett and saxophonist Jerry Niewood. The musicians died on their way to meet Chuck for a concert in Buffalo.
Ever since that day, Coleman’s widow, New Jersey’s renowned recording artist Jeanie Bryson, the only child of Dizzy Gillespie, has made it her life’s work to complete the songs her beloved Coley was working on six days prior to his death. Many of them are loved songs to Jeanie. Her favorite on the album is “Come On Home” with the legendary James Taylor on background vocals and rhythm guitar.
Bryson and Coleman Mellett started their love affair shortly after meeting at the Cape May Jazz Festival.
Co-producer of the album Barry Miles was able to collect a host of influential musicians to play on the album, including Chuck Mangione, Steve Gadd, Larry Goldings, Will Lee. Jeanie Bryson performs backup vocals on one song and Barry Miles plays keyboards.
You can SEE my Doug Doyle's entire conversation with Barry Miles and Jeanie Bryson here.
