Biography
Born in 1934 in the South Bronx, percussionist Ray Mantilla drew early inspiration from his Afro-Cuban heritage and was already performing across New York by his twenties, fusing those roots with the prevailing jazz language. His first extended professional stretch came in Herbie Mann’s band, where he remained from the early sixties through the middle of the following decade. After leaving Mann he joined Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, touring the United States, Europe, and Japan before departing in 1972 to become a lifelong member of Max Roach’s all-percussion ensemble M’Boom. During the same period he also recorded and performed with Charles Mingus, Joe Farrell, Gato Barbieri, Sonny Stitt, Amina Claudine Myers, Diedre Murray, Fred Hopkins, and James White & the Blacks.
Mantilla’s profile rose further in 1977 when Dizzy Gillespie chose him for the first American group allowed to visit Cuba since the 1962 travel embargo. The following year he released his self-titled debut as a leader on Inner City. In the middle of the 1980s he formed the Ray Mantilla Space Station, which issued three well-received albums on Red, culminating with Dark Powers in 1989 that featured guest saxophonist Bobby Watson. Hands of Fire had appeared in 1984, followed by Synergy in 1986. He continued working steadily with James Spaulding, Lou Donaldson, Watson, and Myers, among many others.
A new ensemble, the Jazz Tribe, was assembled in 1991. In 1998 Mantilla organized the Ray Mantilla European Space Station to record Head Games with pianist Fabrizio Puglisi. Two albums resulted from his association with Cedar Walton—The Latin Tinge in 2002 and The Bouncer in 2011—while 2000 brought Next Step and 2004 saw the Space Station reconvene for Man-Ti-Ya. Good Vibrations, recorded with pianist Edy Martinez, vibraphonist Mike Freeman, bassist Cucho Martínez, drummer Bill Elder, and percussionist Steve Berrios, surfaced in 2006. The Connection, again featuring Martínez and Elder, appeared on HighNote in 2013.
In 2017 Mantilla stepped away from touring and sideman work long enough to complete the Joe Fields-produced High Voltage for Savant. Two years later he gathered longtime colleagues for one final project, finishing the sessions in early 2020 despite declining health. He died on March 21 of that year from complications of lymphoma. Rebirth, his tenth album as a leader, was released in late June.
Mantilla’s profile rose further in 1977 when Dizzy Gillespie chose him for the first American group allowed to visit Cuba since the 1962 travel embargo. The following year he released his self-titled debut as a leader on Inner City. In the middle of the 1980s he formed the Ray Mantilla Space Station, which issued three well-received albums on Red, culminating with Dark Powers in 1989 that featured guest saxophonist Bobby Watson. Hands of Fire had appeared in 1984, followed by Synergy in 1986. He continued working steadily with James Spaulding, Lou Donaldson, Watson, and Myers, among many others.
A new ensemble, the Jazz Tribe, was assembled in 1991. In 1998 Mantilla organized the Ray Mantilla European Space Station to record Head Games with pianist Fabrizio Puglisi. Two albums resulted from his association with Cedar Walton—The Latin Tinge in 2002 and The Bouncer in 2011—while 2000 brought Next Step and 2004 saw the Space Station reconvene for Man-Ti-Ya. Good Vibrations, recorded with pianist Edy Martinez, vibraphonist Mike Freeman, bassist Cucho Martínez, drummer Bill Elder, and percussionist Steve Berrios, surfaced in 2006. The Connection, again featuring Martínez and Elder, appeared on HighNote in 2013.
In 2017 Mantilla stepped away from touring and sideman work long enough to complete the Joe Fields-produced High Voltage for Savant. Two years later he gathered longtime colleagues for one final project, finishing the sessions in early 2020 despite declining health. He died on March 21 of that year from complications of lymphoma. Rebirth, his tenth album as a leader, was released in late June.
Albums
