Flugelhorn player on the 1978 instrumental hit "Feels So Good"

MANGIONE

["Here’s a helpful hint for the clue:\n\n*\"Jazz musician whose first name is Chuck and whose last name ends with 'ione'.\"*\n\nThis hint:\n- Narrows down the musician’s genre (jazz).\n- Provides a partial name structure (first name + ending of last name).\n- Avoids repeating the original clue or giving away the full answer."]

The clue **"Flugelhorn player on the 1978 instrumental hit 'Feels So Good'"** leads to the answer **"MANGIONE"** through the following reasoning: 1. **Direct Reference**: The clue points to a musician known for playing the flugelhorn on a famous 1978 instrumental track titled *"Feels So Good."* 2. **Artist Identification**: The song *"Feels So Good"* is a well-known jazz-funk instrumental hit by **Chuck Mangione**, a Grammy-winning flugelhorn player. 3. **Surname Extraction**: The answer requires the musician's last name, **"Mangione,"** which fits the crossword's answer format. The clue relies on recognizing the artist associated with the song and instrument, making it a straightforward reference for those familiar with jazz or 1970s music. No wordplay or puns are involved—just a direct cultural reference.