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Ray Mantilla & The New Space Station: Man-Ti-Ya
By"Hop Scotch might very well be the deepest musical exploration in this recording. Fernández rearranges the Joe Chambers composition to include absorbing, swift, tight horn lines upon which excellently phrased and timed solos by Williams on soprano and MartÃ-nez on piano serve as a prelude to an exchange between Bill Elder's brushed drums and the leader's somewhat free congas. Its stress-free tempo belies its intensity and depth of expression.
The Gershwins' "The Man I Love is an expected gem of musicality, interpreted here as a jazzy bolero. Once again, Williams' reed work shines through with sensibility, a great and tasty sonic range, superb ideas and technique. MartÃ-nez brings the melodic feast to its rightful level, and Fernández's flute is a flowering caressing touch through and through.
The core of the date, however, has material analogous to Afro-Cuban fare from the rumba family, which readily lends itself for big band treatment. "Mantillon, "African Holiday, "Mother's Day, and "Eight Ball illustrate this point rather well. Mantilla's few recordings never disappoint. This one is not an exception. The lessons learned with figures such as Charles Mingus, Max Roach, Art Blakey, and Cedar Walton, among others, seem both obvious and quite satisfying.
Track Listing
1. Apple Turnover (R. Mantilla) 2. Mother
Personnel
Ray Mantilla
percussionBaritone sax & flute: Enrique Fern
Album information
Title: Man-Ti-Ya | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: Savant Records
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Ray Mantilla & The New Space Station
CD/LP/Track Review
Ray Mantilla
Javier AQ Ortiz
Savant Records
United States
New York
New York City
Man-Ti-Ya