FEELS SO GOOD

The Jim Self & John Chiodini Duo

A COLLABORATIVE SEXTET ALBUM FEATURING THE BEST OF THE WEST

Although JIM SELF recently retired from his teaching position at the University of Southern California that he held for nearly 50 years, he has not slowed down one iota. He’s actually busier than ever. The tuba master, prolific recording artist, and in-demand studio musician is not only presenting FEELS SO GOOD, his 23rd album (including all of his jazz and classical releases), he has also lined up a tour to nine universities across the country, performing and teaching master classes.

Self has once again teamed up for this recording project with guitarist JOHN CHIODINI. This is the fifth project for which the two have shared top billing. Their most recent outing together was Touch and Go (2023). Contemporary Fusion Reviews says the album is “collaborative masterful wizardry,” and All About Jazz described the album as “an excellent hour-plus of contemporary jazz, admirably performed by Self, Chiodini and their virtuosic teammates.”

Self has worked for all the major Hollywood studios since 1974, performing on over 1500 motion pictures and hundreds of television shows and records. A favorite of John Williams, Self’s solos have been featured on Williams’ scores to Jurassic Park, Home, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, and Hook. He was also the “Voice of the Mothership” from Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Like Self, Chiodini has an extensive resume. Besides his many movie and TV credits, he was a member of the Boston Pops Orchestra under Arthur Fiedler and performed and recorded with a Who’s Who of top jazz artists, including Peggy Lee, Buddy DeFranco, Maynard Ferguson, Louis Bellson, and Tony Bennett.

Joining Self and Chiodini as guest soloists are A-list Los Angeles musicians, including STEVE MARSH on sax (Lyle Lovett, Mel Tormé, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr., Jack Sheldon), PHIL FEATHER on sax (California Philharmonic, Burbank Symphony, Pasadena Pops Orchestra, Bill Watrous, Harry James, Barry Manilow, Bette Midler), BILL BOOTH on trombone (Principal for John Williams and many other film composers, the L.A. Opera, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestras and Pasadena and Pacific Symphonies), and KRIS BERGH on trumpet (a rising star on the LA jazz scene, he’s an in-demand jazz and studio musician).

Self and Chiodini call the album FEELS SO GOOD because it perfectly describes its overall mood. The album comprises a mix of originals and standards, and like all of Self’s recordings, he elevates the tuba by playing with great sensitivity and fluency.

Self opens the album with Cole Porter’s “You’d Be So Nice to Come Home,” a duo number with Self on the F tuba and Chiodini on guitar. Self says, “With John’s swinging accompaniment, we thought this nice, easygoing standard would be a good way to say, ‘welcome to this CD.’” Chiodini adds, “Jim’s soft, resonant sound stating the melody and his melodic solo make this an inviting tune.”

Other standards include “Cinema Paradiso,” the title tune “Feels So Good,” “Isfahan,” “Polkadots and Moonbeams,” “Sidewinder,” and “Blues Connotation.”

“Cinema Paradiso” by Ennio Morricone is the love theme from the film. Self says, “This is the kind of melody I love to play—in my most comfortable register.” Chiodini adds “Jim’s choice of the low octave is perfect.” Chuck Mangione’s “Feels So Good” features the Fluba (a unique instrument conceived by Self and designed by Robb Stewart who assembled it from parts) and 12-string guitar. Self was able to copy Mangione’s beautiful flugelhorn sound on his super-sized Fluba.

Self and Chiodini are joined on Billy Strayhorn’s “Isfahan” by Feather on alto sax, whose great tone and feel shine on his lyrical solo. Jimmy Van Heusen’s “Polkadots and Moonbeams” features Booth’s heavy-duty jazz chops on trombone. Self and Chiodini get funky on “Sidewinder” by Lee Morgan. This duo tune features the Fluba and electric guitar playing their greasiest best. The closing number is Ornette Coleman’s “Blues Connotation.” This fast-paced tune is the only one where the whole band gets to play together, and each gets his own solo.

Self and Chiodini also contributed compositions to the album. Self wrote “Little Beauty” for his niece’s wedding. She passed away from cancer before hearing the record, but Self finds some consolation in having this beautiful ballad for her family to cherish. Chiodini wrote “Midsummer,” with an 8th note groove, which features a tasty Chiodini’s solo, and “I Forget,” about which Chiodini says, “This song is fun to play. Jim’s phrasing of the melody is perfect. I love the way the solos follow each other—tuba and guitar completing one idea.”

Self and Chiodini include two songs that are off the beaten path. “Riddle of the Mode” was written by Raymond Reed, an up-and-coming young jazz trumpeter. Kris Bergh brought this tune to the project. Although Self and Chiodini are serious musicians, they like to inject some lighthearted fun in their music and included “Super Mario,” the theme song for the computer game, composed by Koji Kondo.

Over several albums, tuba master Jim Self and guitarist John Chiodini have demonstrated that great musicians, who might be the most unlikely musical pairing, can make beautiful music together. Their arrangements are always fun and often surprising, and their choice of material is offbeat and entertaining.