Track Listing

1. Womb Booth

2. The Beatnik Sighed

3. Professional Lush

4. Stutter

5. Pearls

6. Upstairs to the Sea

7. I Slept with the Damned

8. Mummies

9. Funkier Than a Mosquito's Tweeter

10. Who Knows Where the Time Goes

11. Downstairs to Hell

Click on above buttons to hear samples of select tracks

  

More info and Reviews 

 'Sexjazz' is the third studio album from Melbourne vocalist Henry Manetta. A melismatic concoction of deep jazz thought, spatial blues and in-the-pocket soul fire, it features Adam Rudegeair on piano, keyboards and marimba, Ron Romero on saxophone, Adam Spiegl on bass, Scott Hay on drums and percussion, and Clare Moore on harmonies, vibes and percussion. Alex Taylor provides violins and Justin Ashworth programmed the synth sounds.

'Sexjazz' is an album of songs that explore the gamut of human desire, from the smouldering extravagance of 'Stutter,' the gothic opulence of 'I Slept with the Damned' through to the sexually electric 'The Beatnik Sighed.' It also includes Henry's gospel fuelled duet with Clare Moore on 'Who Knows Where The Time Goes.'

"Recorded and mixed in Port Melbourne, this soul-jazz release grabs your attention with its convoluted melody lines and percussive lyrics hammering away. Think of Aretha Franklin and combine that with Albert Ayler, Horace Tapscott and the bizarre but compelling rhythms of keyboardist Sun Ra and you have the idea. Vocalist Manetta has put together a work featuring originals that are highly innovative, even confronting, but still make captivating listening. That's no mean feat. It's due in no small part to a line-up that includes bassist Adam Spiegl, whose rock-solid lines hold everything together, saxophonist Ron Romero, Adam Rudegeair grooving away on the piano, Scott Hay on drums and percussion, combined with string arrangements featuring Alex Taylor on violin and Justin Ashworth providing synth backing that swings like fury. There are intriguing moments here, starting with the opener Womb Booth that has voices over the marimba and some gorgeous sax soloing including what sounds like circus licks on The Beatnik Sighed. Another is Manetta's voice against piano and bass on Professional Lush, culminating in a sax solo that seems to just ooze sex, combined with some vocalese capped off with the piano closing line straight from Chopin. This is worth listening to over and over.  " 

 Leon Gettler, The Age Green Guide.

"As the title suggests, there is a sense of humour at work here; A sly wink to let you know Melburnian Henry Manetta doesn't take this jazz lark too seriously, even if his singing is super cool, overtly clever and executed with considerable panache. You can hear echoes of Elling or Tom Waits but Manetta is carving out his own niche, with the help of songwriting partner Adam Rudegeair (on keyboards and marimba), by throwing R&B sassiness in amid the slippery jazz grooves and harmonies. Saxophone, bass and drums flesh out the songs, which keep Manetta's crooning, swooping, growling, scatting and generally zany voice and lyrics centre stage."

 "Imagine a world where Captain Beefheart and Tim Buckley decided to form a band with Sun Ra sitting in on keys. Defiantly individual and possessing a vocal range that that almost defies belief, Henry draws influences from the grand traditions of jazz and soul, as well as the world of the avant-garde, to create music that is nothing if not unique."

Matthew Frederick, The Age.

"An impressive range indeed, like some mystical combination of Tom Waits and Nina Simone."

 Cue,SYNFM. 

"Henry is Australian jazz's most unique vocalist bar none."

Matthew Frederick, The Age. 

  “Henry’s music is very individual and very spaced out and very physical and very OUT THERE.”

 – Dave Graney.

  “Manetta’s vocal improvisations have to be heard to be believed.”

– Beat Magazine.

  “Witty, clever, tremendous music.”

- Martin Lesley, Jazz Rivers, 3MBS FM.

    You can visit  Henry's website or e-mail him at henrymanetta@hotmail.com