Sixteen-year-old bassist Cheo Mangum is currently a 2025-2026 Ensemble Arts Philly All-City Jazz Fellow and an 11th grader at The Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA). With a passion for jazz, Cheo actively engages in several ensembles, including the CAPA Jazz Ensemble, a jazz quartet through the MIC’d Up Philly program, and an independent jazz trio with friends. Additionally, Cheo participates in the Temple Music Prep Community Music Scholars Program jazz ensemble, further honing his skills and artistry.
Recognized for his talent and commitment, Cheo has won the 2024 I AM PHL Contest in the Music Category. His achievements also include a Second Place finish in Advertising Design at the 2025 SkillsUSA Pennsylvania District 3 competition and the 2025 College Board School Recognition Award. Cheo's academic excellence is underscored by his inclusion on the 3rd Quarter Pastor’s Honor Roll at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, where he achieved the second-highest ranking.
Outside of playing the bass, Cheo expresses his creativity through songwriting, music production, graphic design, and video journalism. With a dynamic blend of musicality and artistic expression, Cheo continues to inspire those around him.
10 Questions with Cheo Mangum:
1. Can you describe the role of the bass in a jazz ensemble?
As an essential piece of the rhythm section, the bass serves to provide a foundation both in a rhythmic way and in terms of pitch. The bass can support the other instrumentalists by emphasizing the root notes of chords, usually being played in a lower octave to create a fuller sound for the band. The bass and the drums can work in tandem, as both can drive the tempo in a certain way.
2. What was one thing about the bass that surprised you when you started learning to play?
One thing that surprised me is how important the bass is in many songs and how things can feel different and sometimes emptier when it’s not present. Over the years, it’s allowed me to be more experimental with how I approach making space sonically. This includes experimenting with dynamics, duration of notes, and amount of notes per musical phrase.
3. Do you have any favorite pieces or composers that you love to perform?
I really love to perform Stevie Wonder tunes. I think his music can be musically interpreted in a variety of ways, and he’s got some grooving bass lines. His songs are primarily classified as R&B and soul, but they definitely show influence from blues and jazz in tunes like “Golden Lady” and “Boogie On Reggae Woman”.
4. How do you approach improvisation in your performances?
I tend to approach improvisation, specifically during solos but also overall, as almost telling a story. I try to build it up from simpler, quieter ideas to a more evolved sound by the end, repeating different motifs and themes as the solo progresses.
5. What does your typical practice routine look like?
My typical practice routine usually begins with warm-ups, including repetitions of various technique exercises and different types of scales. I then try to zero on specfic parts of songs or moves that may be challenging me, and work on some new content as well. One thing I'll do is just put one of my playlists on shuffle and try to pick up the bass part in songs by ear as a fun activity.
6. What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a bassist, and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge I’ve faced was not having confidence as a bassist when I started to become more active in group settings. At the time, I didn’t know how to apply ideas I previously knew to my playing, so I ended up playing quietly and playing very mundane lines. What helped me was consistently practicing and focusing on working through problem areas that would hold me back from feeling comfortable playing the bass.
7. Can you share a particularly memorable performance experience?
A memorable performance experience for me was when I performed as part of the house band for a jam session at World Cafe Live. I got to play a variety of different songs with lots of different musicians. It was a really great experience and a fun way to put my aural skills to the test, as I had to pick up a lot of the songs on the spot.
8. What do you hope to achieve in your music career over the next few years?
I hope to continue studying music in college and assemble a group in the future. I definitely want to try recording bass in studio sessions and developing my song composition as a jazz musician.
9. Is there a specific venue or festival where you dream of performing someday?
I would love to perform at the Hollywood Bowl. I really like the vibe of the place, and I could see myself putting on an electric show there. Plus, I love Los Angeles!
10. What’s your favorite thing about Philadelphia?
My favorite thing about Philadelphia is how much opportunity there is, no matter what someone’s interest lies in. The passion that people have make it such a creative and diverse city that’s rich in community all throughout. I’m very grateful to live in a place that has given me many creative outputs, even from a younger age.
Cheo's Recommended Playlist:
