About
Matt Zimbel – Congas, Talking Drum & Percussion
Henry Heillig – Electric & Acoustic Basses
John Johnson – Alto Sax, Baritone Sax, EWI,
Penny Whistle, Piccolo, Flute, Alto Flute, Soprano Sax
Art Avalos – Timbales, Bongos, Cahone, Udo, Percussion
Charlie Cooley – Drums & Percussion
Steve McDade – Trumpet & Flugelhorn
Kelly Jefferson – Soprano & Tenor Sax, Bass Clarinet & Flute
Mark Ferguson – Trombone & Keyboards
Rob Gusevs – Piano, Organ & Synth
Download Press Materials:
Henry Heillig – Electric & Acoustic Basses
John Johnson – Alto Sax, Baritone Sax, EWI,
Penny Whistle, Piccolo, Flute, Alto Flute, Soprano Sax
Art Avalos – Timbales, Bongos, Cahone, Udo, Percussion
Charlie Cooley – Drums & Percussion
Steve McDade – Trumpet & Flugelhorn
Kelly Jefferson – Soprano & Tenor Sax, Bass Clarinet & Flute
Mark Ferguson – Trombone & Keyboards
Rob Gusevs – Piano, Organ & Synth
Download Press Materials:
Bio
"Fun Fun... a night in Montreal" is Manteca's tenth album, recorded live on Oct. 12, 2007, in Montreal on it's first tour in 9 years.
Manteca started as a salsa band in 1979 when a diminutive balding owner of a mid town fern bar and his supermodel girlfriend attended a rehearsal in a crowded basement in the west end of Toronto. After one song, bar owner turned to supermodel and asked, "whaddya think honey?" and, as if she was selecting a sectional, "ooooh..." she said, "I like... love it!"
"It" was a ten piece band with four percussionists, four horn players, bass and keyboards, reinventing salsa and samba and playing what today might be called New World Jazz.
The first show was a Sunday afternoon steady and the band's mission soon became twofold - learn enough repertoire for an afternoon of music, and make sure supermodel didn't dump him.
Manteca offered the citizens of Toronto a chance to dance without embarrassment. It became quite popular... No disco, more cowbell!
Fast forward a dozen years, a wack of awards, a bunch of records, sold out concerts and festivals in Canada, U.S. and Europe, and cut to the sun drenched palms of the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles for the Playboy Jazz Festival where Manteca has the prestigious slot of opening the festival in front of thousands. Long time MC Bill Cosby has introduced the band and returned to his special seat on stage right to smoke a big fat Cuban. The band has been warned,if Cosby likes the act he stays on stage the whole show and grooves. This can help ones career. On the other hand if you're not workin' for The Cos he gets up and leaves, usually during a song. Not good.
The band burns through the first tune, the crowd applauds wildly... Cosby gets up... oh fuck he's gettin' up... and runs to the front of the stage, grabs the mic and screams ‘Never hotter... this festival has never opened hotter – Manteca... give it up for Manteca."
And then he goes back and sits down and chomps on the Cuban. Manteca's career continues. Other honours include a Juno Award and the keys to the city of Duncan, British Columbia (don't laugh, the band was very honoured). Along the way the first 25 years of Manteca's archives are collected by the National Library of Canada, much to their wifes' collective delight; "You mean someone is actually going to pay you for those moldy boxes in the basement ?".
In 1998 the band decides to take a short holiday. When they get back from vacation in June of 2007, they release their ninth album, now called a "compact disc" or "CD" for short. The record is titled Onward ! And it is nominated for two Juno Awards. The critics say nice things, some of them through gritted teeth and the band hits the road for their first tour in 9 years.
The fall 07 soft seat theatre tour included the best shows the band has ever given in it's 30 year history and on the second night of the tour, in a dusty old Vaudeville theatre called La Tulipe in Montreal, Manteca recorded its 3rd live album "Fun Fun... a night in Montreal".
Which brings us to fall of 2008. A lot of stuff has been skipped such as historical detail, glowing quotes from famous people, a musicologists academic perspective on the band's role in the repatriation of salsa in post modern no-brow culture, but that's all available ad nauseam on the World Wide Web (www.manteca-music.com)
Oh yeah, almost for got the promo thingy: Here goes....
"Fun, fun– a night in Montreal": one hour of Manteca in concert; deep grooves, lickety-split ensemble playing and the live, joyous impact that has made Manteca a not to miss concert attraction for the past 30 years. New world jazz for the new world.
Good. Thank God that's over.
Manteca started as a salsa band in 1979 when a diminutive balding owner of a mid town fern bar and his supermodel girlfriend attended a rehearsal in a crowded basement in the west end of Toronto. After one song, bar owner turned to supermodel and asked, "whaddya think honey?" and, as if she was selecting a sectional, "ooooh..." she said, "I like... love it!"
"It" was a ten piece band with four percussionists, four horn players, bass and keyboards, reinventing salsa and samba and playing what today might be called New World Jazz.
The first show was a Sunday afternoon steady and the band's mission soon became twofold - learn enough repertoire for an afternoon of music, and make sure supermodel didn't dump him.
Manteca offered the citizens of Toronto a chance to dance without embarrassment. It became quite popular... No disco, more cowbell!
Fast forward a dozen years, a wack of awards, a bunch of records, sold out concerts and festivals in Canada, U.S. and Europe, and cut to the sun drenched palms of the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles for the Playboy Jazz Festival where Manteca has the prestigious slot of opening the festival in front of thousands. Long time MC Bill Cosby has introduced the band and returned to his special seat on stage right to smoke a big fat Cuban. The band has been warned,if Cosby likes the act he stays on stage the whole show and grooves. This can help ones career. On the other hand if you're not workin' for The Cos he gets up and leaves, usually during a song. Not good.
The band burns through the first tune, the crowd applauds wildly... Cosby gets up... oh fuck he's gettin' up... and runs to the front of the stage, grabs the mic and screams ‘Never hotter... this festival has never opened hotter – Manteca... give it up for Manteca."
And then he goes back and sits down and chomps on the Cuban. Manteca's career continues. Other honours include a Juno Award and the keys to the city of Duncan, British Columbia (don't laugh, the band was very honoured). Along the way the first 25 years of Manteca's archives are collected by the National Library of Canada, much to their wifes' collective delight; "You mean someone is actually going to pay you for those moldy boxes in the basement ?".
In 1998 the band decides to take a short holiday. When they get back from vacation in June of 2007, they release their ninth album, now called a "compact disc" or "CD" for short. The record is titled Onward ! And it is nominated for two Juno Awards. The critics say nice things, some of them through gritted teeth and the band hits the road for their first tour in 9 years.
The fall 07 soft seat theatre tour included the best shows the band has ever given in it's 30 year history and on the second night of the tour, in a dusty old Vaudeville theatre called La Tulipe in Montreal, Manteca recorded its 3rd live album "Fun Fun... a night in Montreal".
Which brings us to fall of 2008. A lot of stuff has been skipped such as historical detail, glowing quotes from famous people, a musicologists academic perspective on the band's role in the repatriation of salsa in post modern no-brow culture, but that's all available ad nauseam on the World Wide Web (www.manteca-music.com)
Oh yeah, almost for got the promo thingy: Here goes....
"Fun, fun– a night in Montreal": one hour of Manteca in concert; deep grooves, lickety-split ensemble playing and the live, joyous impact that has made Manteca a not to miss concert attraction for the past 30 years. New world jazz for the new world.
Good. Thank God that's over.
Tours
Manteca
Album: Fun Fun
Released: 11/11/2008
Album: Onward!
Released: 7/27/2007
