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Perfection: Herbie Mann - Manteca

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Herbie Mann
Herbie Mann was a fascinating artist. Not only was he a masterful jazz flutist but he also crossed over to Latin, funk, soul, bossa nova and rock and pioneered world music. His curiosity and ability to adapt to various styles was almost unrivaled during the 1960s and '70s.

One of his most popular Latin-jazz albums was Latin Mann: Afro Bossa to Blues. Recorded in 1965 for Columbia, the album featured Oliver Nelson's Latin-jazz arrangement of Manteca, which was co-composed by Dizzy Gillespie, Chano Pozo and Gil Fuller in 1947.

The ferocious big band backing Mann included Carmell Jones, Jerry Kail, Joe Newman and Ernie Royal (tp); Quentin Jackson (tb); Tony Studd (b-tb); Jimmy Heath (ts); Danny Bank (b-cl); Jose Mangual (bgo); and Willie Bobo, Tommy Lopez and Willie Rodriguez (perc).

The track is perfect in terms of arrangement, energy and execution, and Mann's blowing is superb.

Here's Herbie Mann's Manteca without ad interruptions...

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This story appears courtesy of JazzWax by Marc Myers.
Copyright © 2025. All rights reserved.

Track Listing

Lets Boom Chitty Boom Herbie Mann 323; Whatd I Say Ray Charles 459; Seor Blues Horace Silver 352; Bijou Ralph Burns 325; Jungle Fantasy Esy Morales 354; Watermelon Man Herbie Hancock 409; Interlude Pete Rugolo 414; The Jive Samba Nat Adderley 503; Ave Maria Morena Fausto Curbelo 436; Manteca Dizzy Gillespie Chano Pozo Gil Fuller 435.

Personnel

Phil Woods
saxophone, alto
Oliver Nelson
saxophone
John Hitchcock
trombone
Tony Studd
trombone, bass
Danny Bank
saxophone, baritone
Willie Bobo
percussion
Earl May
bass
Dave Pike
vibraphone
Jimmy Heath
saxophone, tenor
Jerry Kail
trumpet
Ernie Royal
trumpet
Joe Newman
trumpet
Additional Instrumentation

Mark Weinstein - trombone; Danny Bank - bass clarinet; Bobby Rodriguez - bass; Tommy Lopez, Willie Rodriguez, Carlos Diaz, Rafael De Vila, Raymond Sardinis - percussion.

Album information

Title: Latin Mann (Afro To Bossa To Blues) | Year Released: 1965 | Record Label: Columbia Records

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