Matt Darriau presents: WHO IS MANNY BLANC?

Matt Darriau's WHO IS MANNY BLANC?
Over the years, the composer and reed player for the Klezmatics and the Paradox Trio has had an enormous influence on both the Balkan and Jewish music revivals. His current and past projects have included tribute to Yussef lateef (Yo Lateef) Early Duke Ellington (Balling the Jack) and many more. His new project is an homage to Manny Blanc, a wholly original and nearly forgotten musician who released an astonishing LP in 1961 called “Jewish Jazz”. 

Manny Blanc was born into a musical family and his dad played Klezmer but also owned a music store. Manny attended Julliard and the Curtis Institute, became a serious classical composer all the while working as a drummer for Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and others. Little is known about his Jewish Jazz album, which was released on an independent label. The intricate arrangements are a far call from the usual Catskill fare and were clearly influenced by some of the exotica orchestras of the time. Manny Blanc also used an unorthodox panoply of instruments - two electric guitars, chromatic harmonica, basson, duck call. Manny Blanc could be the RD Burman or Esquivel of American Jewish Music, but until now had unexplainably failed to get noticed. As an interesting footnote, after years working as a musician,Manny Blanc became a full time painter, studying with Charles Seide at the Brooklyn Museum Art School.Matt Darriau’s homage brings the music back from oblivion while enhancing its thoroughly modern aspects.