German-born Uwe Stengel studied European classical and jazz traditions before touring Australia in the 1960s. Deeply inspired by meeting Dizzy Gillespie as a teenager, he named his band after one of Gillespie’s compositions. In 1973, he formed Manteca, a jazz-fusion group on the east coast that toured nationally. By the late ’70s, Stengel had moved to Western Australia to start a new version of Manteca, which became one of Perth’s hottest acts with up to 11 members. They sold out the Old Melbourne and Windsor hotels, ran full-page newspaper ads, and appeared on national TV. In 1980, they won the Radio 6iX WA Masters of Music Award, and the following year starred in a 10-part ABC TV series, Manteca In Concert.
Their self-titled debut, recorded in 1979 at Perth’s 720 6WF, blended jazz, funk, and rock. Half the album leaned toward funky rock with Alan Lyford’s vocals, reminiscent of mid-’70s Average White Band or Tower of Power. Their second album, 'Fusion' (1981, ABC Records), mixed instrumental fusion with vocal tracks, featuring highlights like ''The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter'', a mellow, Brazilian-flavored groove. The band disbanded in 1983 after numerous lineup changes, with members hailing from well-known Perth rock groups such as Paul Pooley (Matt Taylor Band), Ric Whittle (Fatty Lumpkin), Brendon Darby (SSARB), and Mick Glendinning (Fatty Lumpkin). In 2010, Stengel revived Manteca with a new all-star lineup, launching at the Perth Jazz Society Headquarters—but that’s another story.
''Hold On To Love / I Remember'' 1980 RCA
'Manteca' 1979 720 6WF
'Fusion' 1981 ABC
I feel honored to be credited for my contribution to Australian Music, along with my 'Fusion Band MANTECA' ... I assembled a group of 11 dedicated Jazz Musicians to help me create a cross-over audience from popular music to Jazz, as there seemed to be a big 'Void' crying out to fill this huge gap ... I have this story well documented and am willing to share this with any interested party and the music has been well documented at the early stage, by the ABC-TV Series "MANTECA in Concert" and consequently created a new chapter of Australian Music History ... (there are 75 videos, which have been recorded by the ABC-TV, which are now collecting dust in the ABC vaults ... cheers and Thank You --- Uwe Stengel ---
ReplyDeleteI have a photo, only the drummer can be seen though. Taken in 1975.
DeleteUwe thankyou for your reply and for your contribution to music. Cheers Kimbo
ReplyDeleteThank you. I have this photo of me singing with them in 1975, when I was 14.
ReplyDelete