Gentlemen, 

It is with great sadness that I share the following information with you.  From Jazz Times...

Two members of flugelhornist Chuck Mangione's band were among the 50 people killed on the plane that crashed into a Buffalo, New York house Thursday night.  Publicist Sanford Brokaw told the Associated Press that flutist Gerry Niewood (pictured) and guitarist Coleman Mellett were aboard, en route to a Mangione gig in Buffalo Philharmonic that has now been canceled.  Niewood recorded and performed with Mangione from 1968-76 and sporadically since the late '90's, and also recorded with a wide range of artists including Peggy Lee, Patti Austin , Simon and Garfunkel, Bob James, Lalo Schifrin and Grover Washington Jr.  Niewood also recorded a number of albums as a leader.  Mellett's recording credits include appearances on albums by the Sugarman Three and Eddie Landsberg.  He also released a solo album in 2007 called Natural High.