Manal was a precursor of the blues trio in Castilian, composed of Alejandro Medina (bass, vocals, keyboards), Claudio Gabis (guitar, harmonica, piano and organ) and Javier Martinez (drums and vocals), who along with Los Gatos and Almond, is considered the founding of the Argentine rock group and one of the pillars of the genre, influencing the decades after various musicians



The group's style was mostly influenced by African American music: blues, rhythm & blues, soul, rock and roll, cool, bebop, and also music Rioplatense: Tango and Candombe. Because of its trio format, were compared with the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Cream English group, and in reference to the latter, the first name by which they were known was "Ricotta", but they never used it for self-identified. By contrast, the name Manal proposed by Javier Martinez for a "brain storming", shortly after rising bond with Cassava label, was taken away by the group. Most of the songs performed by the group were made by Javier Martinez.



The early set back to when Javier Martinez and Claudio Gabis met in August 1967 at the Instituto Di Tella happening "Beat Beat Beatles" 3 Gabis, a young blues guitarist lover, participated in the show with his band Bublin 'Awe. Meanwhile Martinez (now a renowned drummer who had served alongside Moris and Pajarito Zaguri Los Beatniks, also passionate about African American music), it was with Gaston Group. Upon completion of the test audiovisual both chatted about their common tastes and quickly established a friendship that would give good results artistic shortly thereafter.



At the end of 1967, the group disbanded and Gabis Martinez left his. They then decided to create a set of blues and soul, but with letters in Castilian, as proposed at the outset Martinez. The project finally took shape in 1968 when they joined Alejandro Medina, bassist and singer who came from Beat The Seasons group, endowed with a lot of experience and remarkable mastery of the instrument. In principle the three came together to participate in the play and musical Vietrock, which was mounted at the Teatro Payró, but not in accordance with the working conditions they were offered, they decided to leave before the premiere.



They settled in the department of Medina, located on Avenida Rivadavia in the Once neighborhood, intending to prepare a repertoire of classic soul and blues in the short term English allowed clubs to get performances. However, the real goal of the trio was, from the start, develop and record their own style, so were devoted mainly to test the original Castilian themes that brought Javier Martinez.



Almost simultaneously, Jorge Alvarez, Pedro Pujó, Rafael Sanchez and Javier Lopez founded Arroyuelo Cassava, with the slogan "the mother of the boys", first Argentine rock label. At a party at home of journalist Pirí Lugones, the "Manales" met their future producer, whom they proposed to not only record, but act in concerts in theaters, something unusual for rock musicians at that time (the groups acted in neighborhood clubs for people to dance).



The seal Cassava was launched November 12, 1968 with a concert at the Sala Apolo de la Calle Corrientes (where it worked then Lorange film), in which participated Manal, Miguel Abuelo and singer Cristina Plate. In late 1968, the first single released Cassava Manal: "Too bad you give me" with "To be a man" as a B-side, and in mid-1969, the second, "No kid" with "I need love" as side B. Public response was positive and presentations began gathering more and more people.



The consecration came in Pinap Festival, organized in late 1969, when the audience invaded the stage of the amphitheater where there was (near the present Law School, now defunct), excited by the performance of the trio. That year the band had appeared frequently, achieving a remarkable instrumental correctness. With Manal, his first LP in 1970, demonstrated that they could do blues and rhythm & blues in Castilian. "Tomato juice" and "Avellaneda Blues" (song written by Javier Martinez and Claudio Gabis) are proof of that.



During 1970 Manal reached its greatest popularity, is following in his concerts not only by the rock audience, but also for jazz lovers, who appreciated the extensive improvisations of jazz trio and the sound of the guitar Claudio Gabis. In addition to the records, the trio performed the soundtrack for the film "coup de grace", directed by Ricardo Becher, one of the few examples of films that reflect the bohemia that characterized the Instituto Di Tella and Bar Moderno, Buenos Aires Underground epicenters of that time. This soundtrack contains songs written especially for the film (not included on any album) and incidental music, improvised in the studio, which shows the strength and creativity of the group. In the film Javier Martinez also debuted as an actor, playing one of the main characters in the story.



Meanwhile, multinational record labels, and convinced of the commercial possibilities of progressive rock groups (to which before had closed), decided to end independent labels competing with them at all costs by hiring their top artists. For various reasons, the relationship between the "Manales" and cassava had deteriorated, and a timely supply of the RCA record company finally convinced them to migrate to a major label. Manal signed with RCA and entered Ion Studios to record new songs.



The first single released was "Elena" to "Doña Laura" as the B side, and soon after was released her second album, The Lion in 1971. Perhaps due to mismanagement of the record (he did not know to deal with idiosyncratic artists "alternative" or promote their products properly), the material did not get the expected success. This, coupled with management problems and personal and professional differences between its members, caused the premature dissolution of Manal late 1971.



Manal met in 1981 (a decade after their separation) to offer several presentations in Works, which brought together nearly twenty thousand people. Also, the trio signed to CBS a new record deal and went into the studios to record company with album Meeting unpublished materials. Throughout that year performed concerts in major cities within the country, culminating his tour again in concert Works "Chau Manal". Recordings made during those concerts were subsequently edited (without the approval or oversight of the band) on the album Manal in Works. In late 1981 Gabis emigrated to Brazil, while Martinez and Medina and stayed in Argentina.



In 1994, and for a short time, Javier Martinez and Alejandro Medina met again to recreate Manal, but Claudio Gabis. They formed a new band with Claudio Rodriguez on guitar and Carlos Vidal on keyboards. In August, showed all the hits of the legendary trio in the nightclub The Roxy and recorded a live plate. In the nineties he also plays the renowned guitarist, Jolivet Rabbit, (also member of Sweet 16, Pappo's Blues, Alejandro Medina Band, rounds, etc). Performed together a live for Radio Alfa in Arcos De Palermo, it was re-broadcast live.


This song is the most famous song of Manal and is called "cold tomato juice." It was the first success of the band and was the first album recorded in 1970.


link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5agpHrZmd0

This song is titled "I need love" and was recorded in the band's second album released in 1971


link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpQ-2PZFEMo

This song was the first song he recorded during his career Manal. It was the first single released in early 1968.


link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_gcj-aUV9w

Another great song called "I ask myself all day"


link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuQBQnFEFUY&feature=related

This is the longest song manal and is entitled "Report of a day"


link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pm3ZSfW0qE&feature=related

This song was recorded on the album "reunion" of 1981 although clearly not as good as the songs of the old era


link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-QJvSIhexE