Manteca (song)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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""Manteca" brought greater prominence to Latin and African music in jazz and pop music. Joe Cuba's "El Pito" appropriated its phrase "I'll Never Go Back to Georgia.""--Sholem Stein |
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"Manteca" is one of the earliest foundational tunes of Afro-Cuban jazz. Co-written by Dizzy Gillespie, Chano Pozo and Gil Fuller in 1947, it is among the most famous of Gillespie's recordings (along with the earlier "Night in Tunisia") and is "one of the most important records ever made in the United States", according to Gary Giddins of the Village Voice. "Manteca" is the first tune rhythmically based on the clave to become a jazz standard.
The piece refers to racial tensions in America; Gillespie is heard singing, "I'll never go back to Georgia". In 1965, the Joe Cuba Sextet got their first crossover hit with the Latin and soul fusion of "El Pito (I'll Never Go Back To Georgia)". The "Never Go Back To Georgia" chant was taken from Dizzy Gillespie's introduction to this seminal Afro-Cuban tune, "Manteca".
Notable recordings
- Dizzy Gillespie – The Complete RCA Victor Recordings (1947)
- Dizzy Gillespie - Dizzy Gillespie at Newport (1957)
- Red Garland – Manteca (1958)
- Phineas Newborn, Jr. – A World of Piano (1962)
- Oscar Peterson – Bursting Out with the All-Star Big Band! (1962), arranged by Ernie Wilkins
- Clare Fischer – Manteca! (1965)
- Cal Tjader – Soul Burst (1966); Cal Tjader Live at the Funky Quarters (1972)
- Ella Fitzgerald – Things Ain't What They Used to Be (And You Better Believe It) (1970)
- Quincy Jones – You've Got It Bad, Girl (1973)
- Art Pepper - Tokyo Debut (1977)
- Phish - A Picture of Nectar (1992)
