Ray Mantilla

Biography

Mantilla played in New York from the 1950s, inspired by Afro-Cuban jazz. He played with a number of latin jazz ensembles in the 1950s, including the La Playa Sextet, Xavier Cugat, Lou Perez, René Touzet, Miguelito Valdez, and Monguito Conjunto. He played behind Eartha Kitt in 1955. In 1960 he toured with Herbie Mann and recorded with Max Roach. He recorded with Al Cohn in 1961, and recorded with Freddie Hubbard, Buddy Rich, and Larry Coryell in the 1960s. From 1963 to 1969 Mantilla led his own band in Puerto Rico, and in 1970 joined forces with Max Roach's percussion ensemble, M'Boom.

Mantilla was a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in the 1970s, during which time the ensemble toured the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Following this he recorded with Gato Barbieri, Joe Farrell, Michał Urbaniak (1974), Richie Cole, Don Pullen (1976–77), Charles Mingus (1977–78), Walter Bishop, Jr., and Morgana King (1979). He toured Cuba with Dizzy Gillespie in 1977.

In 1979 he founded his own ensemble, the Ray Mantilla Space Station, and through the 1980s toured or recorded with Muhal Richard Abrams, Kenny Burrell, Shirley Scott, and Warren Chiasson. In 1991 he put together a new ensemble, the Jazz Tribe.

As leader

As sideman

With Mose Allison

With Gato Barbieri

With Ray Barretto

With Joe Beck

With Art Blakey

With Teresa Brewer

With Kenny Burrell

With Joe Chambers

With Richie Cole

With Larry Coryell

With Joe Farrell

With John Hicks

With Morgana King

With Herbie Mann

With M'Boom

With Jack McDuff

With Bob McHugh

With Charles Mingus

With Jeremy Steig

With The Players Association

With Mickey Tucker

With Cedar Walton