Manteca is a Juno Award-winning, Toronto-based pan-cultural collective founded in 1979 by percussionist Matt Zimbel and bassist Henry Heillig. Renowned for their "jazz adjacent / heavy metal hoedown" sound, the nine-member ensemble blends diverse ethnic, musical, and geographical influences into hyper-original compositions featuring top Canadian jazz soloists. With a 44-year history, they've released 14 albums—including recent works like *The Offspring Project* (2023)—and earned global acclaim for their powerhouse live shows, performing everywhere from the Hollywood Bowl to the Montreal International Jazz Festival. ([manteca-music.com](https://manteca-music.com/?utm_source=openai))