15 Nov 2016

Onward! – 2007

Manteca: Onward! cover

Recorded in 2006 released in 2007. Our first album after the hiatus. For this record, we had trombone for the first time which was a great thing, as it seemed to lock the rhythm section to the horn section. We also used bass clarinet and alto flute, which changed the Manteca sonic palate substantially. This record was nominated for two Juno Awards, for Best Jazz Album and for Best Engineering… We did not win but you should have seen the gift bags!

Band members on Onward!
Matt Zimbel, Henry Heillig, John Johnson, Aaron Davis, Art Avalos, Charlie Cooley, Steve McDade, Kelly Jefferson, Mark Ferguson

2 Nov 2016

Extra Extra: Our 1992 Album

Manteca: Extra Extra - 1992

According to iTunes, as I would never remember something like this, Extra Extra came out on July 6, 1992. The tune Extra Extra is classic Aaron Davis, lots of call and response, a deep, heavily layered syncopated groove, an acoustic piano breakdown, lots of shots… , a lighting director’s dream. Art solo’s on this and kills it as usual. We opened the show with this tune for years. A great opening for Jazz Pyro…yes, I know you may not be familiar with that term. The voice in the role of the “paper boy” in the soundscape at the top of the tune is my eldest son Oliver. Which means both my sons have appeared on Manteca recordings as my youngest, played accordion on the Mensa Disco record. The Extra Extra release is mostly a compilation of the previous five recordings, but the other new tune on this disc was written by Rick Tait and is Beau Soleil en Soleil, which is a joyous Zydeco meets Manteca thing. Johnny Johnson rips up the ending on alto.

20 Oct 2016

Official Portrait For Onward

 

onward-portrait-by-denise-grant-sm

 

The official portrait for Onward, our 2007 release. Denise Grant who has done many beautiful portraits of us did this one at her studio in Toronto. In the age of photoshop many people thought that the apples were photoshopped in but no – we actually threw them in the air, Denise fired the shutter and most of us caught them. Getting nine people all looking good in a portrait at the same time is not easy, getting all the apples in the air at the same time while they look good is even harder.

Bottom Row: John Johnson, Matt Zimbel, Henry Heillig
Top row: Charlie Cooley, Aaron Davis, Steve McDade, Kelly Jefferson, Mark Ferguson, Art Avalos