Following the passing of her husband and longtime musical partner, acclaimed composer, arranger, pianist and bandleader Gordon Goodwin, Vangie found herself confronting not only the personal weight of grief, but an equally consequential question: What happens to a lifetime of music when the person who created it is no longer there to lead the way?
Her answer has been emphatic. Gordon Goodwin's music will not simply be preserved. It will continue to be performed, discussed, examined and introduced to new audiences.
At the center of that commitment is Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, the celebrated large ensemble through which Goodwin built one of contemporary big-band music's most distinctive bodies of work. Rather than allowing the group to become a monument to what once was, Vangie is helping carry its identity forward while maintaining the musicianship, personality and creative spirit that made it so closely associated with Gordon.
But the stage represents only one part of that mission.
Vangie has also brought to life an idea Gordon had envisioned before his cancer diagnosis: a podcast capable of opening a wider conversation around the music, musicians and stories that shaped his career. That vision has become Vangie Gunn-Goodwin's Big Phat Pod, a weekly program hosted by Vangie alongside Andrew Kesler and dedicated to exploring Gordon's extraordinary musical world from perspectives audiences rarely had the opportunity to hear.
New episodes arrive every Monday across major podcast platforms and YouTube, taking listeners behind the arrangements, recordings, film scores and performances that defined Gordon's work. Rather than approaching his catalog simply as history, the program treats it as a living body of music—one filled with creative decisions, relationships, personalities and stories that continue to reveal themselves long after the final note of a recording.
It is an especially fitting extension of Gordon's own relationship with broadcasting and music education.
A 25-time Grammy nominee and four-time Grammy winner, Gordon also hosted the weekly jazz radio program Phat Tracks with Gordon Goodwin, using the format to share the music that fascinated him and to communicate the curiosity that existed beyond his own compositions. The show gave listeners another side of the bandleader: not simply Gordon Goodwin the composer, but Gordon Goodwin the enthusiast, educator and lifelong student of music.
The Big Phat Pod carries elements of that same spirit into a more intimate format.
Through conversations with musicians, examinations of individual compositions and recollections of Gordon's creative process, Vangie and Kesler are constructing something more substantial than a retrospective podcast. Each episode adds context to a catalog audiences may already know while creating an accessible point of entry for listeners discovering Gordon's work for the first time.
Vangie's presence makes that perspective particularly personal.
She was not watching Gordon's career from a distance. She shared a life with him and witnessed the work from within—the rehearsals, compositions, relationships, decisions and countless details behind a musical career that ultimately reached far beyond the bandstand. That proximity gives her an unusual ability to connect the public-facing accomplishments with the human stories that existed behind them.
Her role, however, extends beyond preserving memories.
Vangie is an accomplished vocalist and musician in her own right, and her understanding of the material allows her to speak about Gordon's work not merely as his wife, but as someone who understands the language and architecture of the music itself. On the podcast, those two perspectives—personal and musical—frequently intersect, providing listeners with insight into both the man and the composer.
That distinction is important because the work surrounding Gordon's legacy is not being framed as an ending.
It is being built as a continuation.
The same philosophy can be seen in the future of Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band. The ensemble remains active, with performances designed to celebrate the music while retaining Gordon's presence within the concert experience. His voice, archival footage and images of him performing and directing the band become part of the presentation, allowing audiences to encounter the history of the group alongside the musicians carrying that history onto the stage today.
And those musicians represent an extraordinary lineage.
The Big Phat Band's extended musical family has included some of the most accomplished players in contemporary jazz and studio music, among them trombonist Andy Martin, trumpeter Wayne Bergeron, saxophonists Danny Kaneyuki and Brian Scanlon, drummer Ray Brinker, percussionist Joey DeLeon, guitarist Andy Waddell, bass trombonist Craig Gosnell and bassist Kevin Axt, with Vangie Gunn-Goodwin contributing vocals alongside a broader roster of musicians who have helped define the ensemble's formidable sound.
What binds the project together is more than virtuosity. It is a shared understanding of the musical standard Gordon established and of the responsibility involved in carrying that standard forward.
For Vangie, that responsibility has become deeply personal.
There is an important difference between protecting a legacy and allowing it to remain alive. The former can be accomplished through archives, recordings and retrospectives. The latter requires musicians to continue playing the compositions, audiences to continue hearing them and new generations to be given a reason to explore them.
Vangie appears determined to accomplish all three.
The podcast creates a space where Gordon's compositions can be examined beyond their finished recordings. The continuing performances of the Big Phat Band return that music to the environment where it has always been most immediate—the stage. Together, the two projects create a bridge between Gordon's established body of work and the audiences who may encounter it years or even decades from now.
There is also something compelling about the way Vangie has approached the task. She has not attempted to position herself as a replacement for Gordon, nor could anyone realistically occupy that role. Instead, she has become an advocate for the work, a storyteller for the history surrounding it and a central force in ensuring that the community Gordon built continues to have somewhere to go.
That may ultimately prove to be one of the most meaningful ways an artist's legacy can endure.
Great music survives because people continue to engage with it. Musicians reinterpret it. Listeners rediscover it. Stories are passed from one generation to another. Context that might otherwise disappear is documented while the people who experienced it firsthand are still able to tell it.
With the Big Phat Pod, Vangie is helping preserve precisely that kind of history.
Listeners are invited not only to hear those stories but to participate in the conversation by submitting questions, memories and suggested topics to the program. That interaction gives Gordon's audience a place within the continuing narrative, transforming the podcast from a one-directional tribute into an evolving archive shaped in part by the community that followed his music.
For Vangie, however, the motivation behind all of it can be expressed far more simply.
“Just you wait—you will see—what Gordon brought to the world is not just a passing memory,” she says. “I was put on this glorious earth to be Gordon's messenger and to keep his legacy alive, I mean—Big Phat Legacy Alive! This is my life's purpose!”
It is an emotional declaration, but also an unusually precise description of what she is building.
The recordings already exist. The accolades are documented. Gordon Goodwin's place within contemporary jazz and big-band composition has been established through decades of work. What Vangie is protecting now is something less tangible but equally important: the connection between the music, the musicians who created it and the stories that explain how it all came together.
Through the continued evolution of Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band and the expanding conversations of the Big Phat Pod, she is ensuring that Gordon's creative world remains accessible rather than frozen in time.
For an artist whose career was built around movement, collaboration, education and an enduring curiosity about what music could become, perhaps that is the most appropriate legacy of all.
The Big Phat Band is still playing.
The stories are still being told.
And under Vangie Gunn-Goodwin's stewardship, Gordon Goodwin's music is not being treated as something the world has lost, but as something it still has the privilege to hear.
Read the full interview with Vangie Gunn-Goodwin below as she reflects on the music, the memories and the purpose driving the Big Phat legacy forward.
Talk about your new project coming out?
VGG: 25 Years of Phatness is both a celebration and a legacy. Marking a quarter century of Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, this album showcases Gordon's final collection of new compositions and arrangements. Music that reflects his boundless imagination, unmistakable voice, and relentless pursuit of excellence. Every note embodies the joy, humor, passion, and brilliance that defined his career. More than an anniversary release, 25 Years of Phatness is a tribute to an artist whose music continues to inspire, challenge, and bring people together. Gordon's voice lives on in every chart, every solo, and every performance, ensuring that his legacy will continue to resonate for generations to come.
Talk about your podcast? Who’s been on your podcast?
VGG: We have had all of the current band members on as guests as well as special guests including, Aubrey Logan, Matt Bates, Brian Kilgore, Ryan Mowrey, Singers Aria Gunn, David Loucks, Fletcher Sheridan, Alvin Chea, and more! Each future season will have more amazing guests.
What do you talk about?
VGG: Each episode focuses on one song from the album the season is about. Season 1 is exclusively about, 25 Years of Phatness. Season 2 will be another one of Gordon’s brilliant albums.
What inspired you to do a podcast?
VGG: This was Gordon’s dream in early 2025. We talked at length about starting the Big Phat Pod because he could break out a bit more on the pod than on his radio show. Sadly, due to his diagnosis the Pod never got off the ground with him. So, after the dust settled in life I decided to take up the mantel and get this podcast going to honor Gordon.
Do you think Gordon Goodwin would have loved this podcast?
VGG: Very much! He was a talker. I am a talker. We are both educators, musicians, and visionaries. He would love that I took his vision and ran with it to continue his life’s goals.
What’s the plan for the podcast?
VGG: I have at least 13 seasons already in the works! This will go on for a very long time focusing on the brilliance of Gordon’s music, mind, life and legacy along with amazing interviews and stories of his musical journey.
Who are some future guests that you are excited about?
VGG: Herb Alpert, Eric Marienthal, Take 6, Eddie Daniels, Brian McKnight, Lee Ritenour, Dave Gruson and more.
What is the plan for touring?
VGG: We are currently booking into 2027 all over the world.
What is the plan for local shows?
VGG: We will continue to perform twice a year at our home venue, Catalina Jazz Club, with an occasional showing at Vibrato and in San Diego.
Do you love performing live?
VGG: Yes, more than anything else that I do. Especially getting to stand and sing alongside the world’s greatest musicians in the Phat Band. What an honor, and Gordon opened the door for me which I will be eternally grateful.
What are your vocal techniques?
VGG: That is a broad question! Bottom line my technique is “trained” alongside “natural” and “real” to keep my voice working until I am very old! This means that I vocalize every day, I eat correctly, I drink correctly (water, tea) to stay hydrated, I have vocal therapy (manual manipulation) regularly, and I am constantly aware of how and what is impacting my voice. It is a lifestyle. I am a vocal athlete and take the routines extremely serious. Sleep is vital too! I also am very aware of how much I am talking as talking can be hard on a voice. That includes never yelling on rides or at a game. My voice is my life, so I must protect it at all times.
What’s a typical day for you?
VGG: Oh, my days change consistently being a free-lance musician and business owner, but what remains the same is vocalizing daily to keep my chops ready, working on the Big Phat Pod’s many details, booking the band, which is a huge responsibility, and continuing to look towards the future at what needs to be done in the next few months and years. I set goals and markers to hit each month and each quarter to keep the train moving smoothly.
I have the occasional recording session as a singer and vocal contractor for film, TV, and Video games, which I love to do and keeps me busy. I am also writing music daily as well including lyrics, arrangements, and more. That is pure joy, not work. I have a few things that are normal for me - I work out all the time (advanced Pilates, Barre, HIT, Heavy Weights, etc.), I sit in my backyard and drink tea with my puppy, I hang with my amazing 4 kids (Lexi, Emma, Levi and Aria) and their partners AND occasionally play with my wonderful grandkids (4 & 3). I have amazing friends who check in on me regularly. I am blessed! Then I try to get to the beach and hike here and there. I stay busy.
Talk about your music?
VGG: The music that is written and being finished for my album is a mix of jazz, R&B, Funk and Rock. It screams both Gordon and me. We were a wonderful team and combination musically. Can’t wait to get it done and get it out!
Talk about your inspiration for your music?
VGG: I grew up in gospel music. I sang in the church from age 5-45! It really shaped me. I also grew up listening to and loving jazz, vocal jazz, funk, R&B, black gospel, rock, and disco. My biggest vocal influences are Chaka Kahn, Janis Siegel, Pauline Wilson, Nancy Wilson, Michael McDonald, and Al Jarreau.
How has life changed since Gordon Goodwin’s passing?
VGG: It has been devastating, horrible, so sad, so lonely, and I want him back every day. And yet, through this unfathomable experience, I have found my purpose. My whole life and my whole life’s purpose is Gordon, his legacy and his music. It’s an amazing thing how one’s life starts to line up when you find its purpose, and that is exactly what is happening. During Gordon’s treatment we started to face the reality of what might happen, which was awful. It was at that time he asked if I would consider carrying on the Phat Band. I didn’t hesitate and yelled out a resounding, yes. Actually, I said, HECK YES. I watched the relief cross his face. He told me he knew I could handle it, and that I would take good care of all of it. So, I take that responsibility seriously with honor and focus. I want to honor Gordon in every way possible which means keeping the band strong and gigging, releasing new music every year, recording the Podcast, keeping his charts published, and growing all of it in whatever way possible. It is my honor and my joy to do all of this. Plus, I love it! Truly, my whole life has trained me for this. I am more than ready and more than capable to take this baton and role. And almost every day, I thank Gordon for everything he has given me.
Talk About Gordon Goodwin’s music?
VGG: The best way for me to talk about Gordon’s music is to say it In Gordon’s own words:
“The Big Phat Band has always been about taking the tradition of big band jazz and giving it a contemporary voice. I never wanted to recreate the past—I wanted to build on it. Whether drawing from swing, funk, film scores, rock, or modern production techniques, my goal has always been to write music that's exciting, unexpected, and alive with content. At the heart of it all are extraordinary and world class musicians whose artistry brings these compositions to life. If the music is hard to categorize and pin down, that's exactly the point.”
Who is your mentor?
VGG: I don’t have a Mentor necessarily, but I do have a very small circle of close friends and family that I trust to fall apart to and discuss life decisions. I am very grateful for them.
Who was the first recording artist that you remember hearing?
VGG: My mom’s piano playing, plus - Andrae Crouch, Earth Wind and Fire, and Michael Jackson.
What’s on your playlist right now?
VGG: Big Phat Band, 70’s Funk, Jacob Collier, Dirty Loops, Israel Houghton, Michael McDonald, and Chaka Khan.
Talk about some of the producers you have worked with?
VGG: Oh, lots! Gordon Goodwin (My favorite of all time!), Tommy Vicari, Michael Lloyd, John Debney, Russell Brower, Danny Jacobs, Charlie Brissette, Scott Erickson, Nelson Kole, Michael Giacchino, Jeff Kryka, Nami Malamud, Charley Pollard, Wayne Bergeron, Gregg Fields, and Mark Kibble.
Talk about your podcast?
VGG: This has been a labor of love and purpose. About a year and half ago Gordon and I were approached about starting the Big Phat Pod. Both of us were very excited about the prospect and wanted to get it going. Sadly, Gordon got sick before we could really get it up and running. A few weeks after my love passed, I started working on all the Phat Band items I promised I would do for him including releasing 25 Years of Phatness. I began thinking about ways to promote it more effectively than the podcast idea popped back into my mind. Within an hour I had mapped out 13 seasons of this incredible Podcast with each season focusing on one of Gordon’s perfect albums. So far it has been very fun, a lot of hard work, and very successful. I love creating the show and honoring my sweet Gordon all while keeping his music and the history alive.
How did you get involved with Gordon and The Phat Band?
VGG: Many years before Gordon and I fell in love I worked for him as a session singer working on his films, Disney parades, and more. I always enjoyed working for him in the studio. His writing, arranging, communication skills, and more were evident in those recording days too. Plus, the sessions were just fun. One day a few years into working for him, I told him that I should and would love to sing with the Phat Band. He completely agreed and I ended up singing on a gig soon after that. It was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life. It changed my life, and to this day is the most joyful time I have in music. I am grateful for my extra family with the Phat Band.
How does the Phat Band carry on without him?
VGG: I promised Gordon that I would continue the Phat Band while he was going through chemo. When we had to face the reality of his prognosis, he looked at me and asked me if I would be willing to carry the Phat and on. I Immediately responded with a strong, YES. So, it has become my life’s purpose. We keep Gordon’s spirit alive in every performance not only through his music, but through video, spoken word and more. It is really beautiful and the audience feels his presence in every concert.
How do you prepare for a show?
VGG: Preparation starts weeks in advance. I make sure we have the set list. I make sure the charts are in order, I make sure we have the proper amount of merchandise. I also have to make sure all of the players are secure for each gig. If they cannot make it to one of them, they must provide an approved sub for the gig weeks ahead so that we are not missing any seat. Ryan, our sound and tech guy, and I speak regularly to make sure we are on track for all things sound, video, and tech. This is a complicated part that takes a great deal of time to dial in. And all of this is only just a fraction of what we have to do to guarantee a smooth and solid show. it truly is a full-time job.
Where do you see your music going in the next 5 years?
VGG: We will continue in the journey we are on, but I also have new recordings planned for release for at least the next 5 years. It is exciting. We will also continue to tour around the world.
When did you know you wanted to be a musician as a career?
VGG: I am lucky. I knew from a very young age. For a while however, I thought about being a doctor because I excelled at school, love being a “healer”, and had a science and math brain which contributed to the desire to be a doctor. After a great deal of thought and reflection, however, I decided that music was the driving force in my life. I am glad for my choice though it has been more difficult financially, I am sure. Music is in my DNA. I sang my entire childhood and adult life and have pursued all things music. It has been an incredible life filled with challenges and excitements, sacrifices and rewards, and so much more. I have no regrets at all and am thankful I chose this path.
If you were able to say one thing to Gordon Goodwin now, what would it be?
VGG: Thank you, my love, for changing my life, for encouraging me, for lifting me up, for protecting me, but mostly for loving me full hearted and without question. You are everything to me. I love you, forever.