Manuel Manetta
Encyclopedia
Manuel "Fess" Manetta (October 3, 1889 - October 10, 1969) was an American jazz
multi-instrumentalist. He was a fixture of the New Orleans jazz
scene for much of the 20th century.
Manetta came from a family of brass players, and could play at least six instruments capably: violin, guitar, piano, cornet, saxophone, and trombone. He was able to play two brass instruments at the same time, including very late in his life. He played early in the 20th century with the Eagle Brass Band and the Tuxedo Brass Band
, and was a veteran of Buddy Bolden
's band.
He played in New Orleans for much of his career, but toured with Kid Ory
in 1919 and with the Martels Family Band as a pianist in the 1920s. He played on riverboat
s with Ed Allen
in that decade as well. He continued working up until his death, playing in the bands of Papa Celestin
, Arnold Du Pas, Manuel Perez
, and others.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
multi-instrumentalist. He was a fixture of the New Orleans jazz
New Orleans Jazz
New Orleans Jazz may refer to:*Dixieland, a style of jazz music*New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park*Utah Jazz, a professional National Basketball Association franchise that was previously based in New Orleans and known as the New Orleans Jazz, in recognition of the jazz music of New Orleans*A...
scene for much of the 20th century.
Manetta came from a family of brass players, and could play at least six instruments capably: violin, guitar, piano, cornet, saxophone, and trombone. He was able to play two brass instruments at the same time, including very late in his life. He played early in the 20th century with the Eagle Brass Band and the Tuxedo Brass Band
Tuxedo Brass Band
The Tuxedo Brass Band, sometimes called the Original Tuxedo Brass Band, was one of the most highly regarded brass bands of New Orleans, Louisiana in the 1910s and 1920s....
, and was a veteran of Buddy Bolden
Buddy Bolden
Charles "Buddy" Bolden was an African American cornetist and is regarded by contemporaries as a key figure in the development of a New Orleans style of rag-time music which later came to be known as jazz.- Life :...
's band.
He played in New Orleans for much of his career, but toured with Kid Ory
Kid Ory
Edward "Kid" Ory was a jazz trombonist and bandleader. He was born in Woodland Plantation near LaPlace, Louisiana.-Biography:...
in 1919 and with the Martels Family Band as a pianist in the 1920s. He played on riverboat
Riverboat
A riverboat is a ship built boat designed for inland navigation on lakes, rivers, and artificial waterways. They are generally equipped and outfitted as work boats in one of the carrying trades, for freight or people transport, including luxury units constructed for entertainment enterprises, such...
s with Ed Allen
Ed Allen (musician)
Ed Allen was an American jazz trumpeter and cornetist.Allen's family moved to St. Louis, Missouri when he was seven; he began playing piano at age ten and settled on cornet soon after. He worked as a truck driver in his teens and played in military bands...
in that decade as well. He continued working up until his death, playing in the bands of Papa Celestin
Papa Celestin
Oscar "Papa" Celestin was an American jazz bandleader, trumpeter, cornetist and vocalist.-Life and career:...
, Arnold Du Pas, Manuel Perez
Manuel Perez (musician)
Emanuel Perez – also known as Manuel - was an early New Orleans jazz cornetist and bandleader. Being a contemporary of Buddy Bolden, Perez is considered one of the originators, and was influential in crafting the early jazz and ragtime sound.-Life:Some details of his early life remain obscure...
, and others.