Manteca

Mama Africa: The Very Best of Miriam Makeba

Excellent compilation from the most important female vocalist to emerge out of South Africa. She originally came to prominence with the Manhattan Brothers before leaving to play with her own all-female group the Skylarks. In 1958 she took on the female lead in the self-styled Jazz opera ‘ King Kong’ which electrified both black and white audiences with …

Learn more

Essential Ibrahim Ferrer

First things first: The Essential Ibrahim Ferrer is not a hastily assembled, dodgy collection of questionable sound and material designed to cash in on the man’s name and legend. Manteca’s Cuban Legends series has regularly compiled retrospectives of different artist’s works (see the The Essential Compay Segundo volume), paying careful attention to selection, sonic reproduction, and getting true …

Learn more