RUFFIN: NOW, A JAZZ MOMENT

AS A KID GROWING UP IN NEW YORK CITY, NEA JAZZ MASTER EDDIE PALMIERI WORKED AS A SODA JERK IN HIS FATHER'S LUNCHEONETTE. EDDIE WASN'T ONLY FAMOUS FOR HIS EGG CREAMS.

PALMIERI: I controlled the jukebox.

Manteca up and under

RUFFIN: NEA JAZZ MASTER, EDDIE PALMIERI.

PALMIERI: We had the hippest jukebox in the Bronx and it was called “The Mambo.” I would have Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez, Machito which was THE orchestra. And Mario Bauza was the musical director, he was Machito's brother in law. And Mario also played with Chick Webb, so he knew Dizzy Gillespie, that's why he met Dizzy Gillespie. And that's how Dizzy Gillespie met Chano Pozo when he arrived from Cuba, which was the first Latin Jazz in concert. You know in 1940. And they did Manteca.

RUFFIN: THIS JAZZ MOMENT WITH EDDIE PALMIERI WAS PRODUCED BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS.
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Excerpt of "Manteca" composed by Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo and performed by Dizzy Gillespie and His Orchestra, used courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment and by permission of Music Sales Corp and Modern Works Publishing. (ASCAP)