The Twelfth Of Never
M Music, 2020
8/10
Listen to The Twelfth Of Never
A Canadian outfit who started way back in the late ‘70s, Manteca brings 9 players to the table, many of which are multi-instrumentalists, where they mix jazz, orchestral and world sounds as instruments like accordion, congas, flugelhorn and piccolo, among many others, are part of their esteemed formula.
“Meanwhile Tomorrow” starts the listen with soft horns, playful percussion and warm guitar on the cultured jazz opener, and “Illusionist” follows with a sense of mystery as a cinematic quality develops amid tumbling drums, graceful keys and strategic flute.
At the halfway point, “Smoke And Mirrors” builds into a precisely textured display of timeless, atypical jazz ideas, while “Purple Theory” moves cautiously, with no shortage of rhythm in the saxophone friendly climate.
The last 2 tracks are among the best, and include the spacey turned hand clapping fun of the festive “Five Alive”, and “‘Twas Brillig” exits the listen reflective and dynamic as the many instruments interact with sublime chemistry.
All the tracks here are originals, and they certainly are innovative, too, as Manteca make it quite apparent just why they’ve won the coveted Juno award with this highly meticulous and fascinating 12th album.
Travels well with: Mario Romano- The Journey So Far; William Chernoff- Aim To Stay